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Incremental & Differential backups: What’s happening exactly?

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Can anyone tell me what’s happening exactly when creating an incremental or differential backup in relation to the initial full backup? New files are added of course. But when I recover from a full + a few incrementals:

• Will moved files be in their new location or in their old and new location?
• For changed files, is only the latest version restored or will True Image also restore older versions?
• Will files that are deleted somewhere along the backup chain not be restored?

If the answers differ for disk image backup and file backup, please specify.

Thanks a lot!

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When performing a disk or partition backup, the program stores the sectors which are used.

When restoring a backup, the restore will put your system back the same way it was at time of backup creation.

An incremental backup backs up only the changes since the last incremental.

If you have 3 incs, and choose to restore #3, it will restore your system to what it was at time of #3 creation.

If restoring #2 inc, it will restore your system to what it was at time of #2 creation; or if you restore only the full, it will restore to what the system was at time of full creation.

A differential disk back will backup used sector which have changed since last full.
The restore of a diff backup will restore the system to what it was at time of diff backup. If used sectors had both active and deleted data, the sector would be restored with both types data--or at least that is my understanding. Basically, you system will be restored to the same condition that existed at time of backup.

I don't do file backups.

Thanks, Grover (also for your great guides!). I guess I was looking at it the wrong way when it comes to disk or partition backup. Thanks for pointing out that the restore will put your system back the same way it was at time of backup creation. It's an image, as opposed to stuff happening on the individual file level.

Since you don't do file backups, I still wonder how my original questions applies to file backups though..

Someone else should comment. I would expect that the files backup would be restored and the disk would remain the same as before the restore and then the restored files would be added with the only changes to the disk is the files or folders added.