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Why a big difference in size of "full backup" between 2 laptops with same content?

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I've recently transferred all my programs and work files from a W7 HP Pavilion to a W7 Toshiba Portege. I exported my Acronis backup settings "as is" to the Toshiba as a complete duplicate for a daily "Full" back up (System and C Drive).

The backups from the HP show a regular size of 54GB. The backup size from the Toshiba shows only 27GB (same "Full" settings), yet Acronis tells me that 52GB of the Toshiba is "used". Therefore, if 52GB is showing as "used", why is the "full" backup showing only 27GB?

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Backup images are compressed, so the .tib archive will be smaller than the used disk space on the source disk. Also, the backup will exclude some things such as the swap file, Pagefile.sys, Hiberfil.sys.

Thanks for the reply but my question may not have been interpreted as I meant. I'll rephrase the question; If I've backed up the same data on 2 different laptops, why is one backup showing around 54GB, the other 27GB?

Philip Brown wrote:

Thanks for the reply but my question may not have been interpreted as I meant. I'll rephrase the question; If I've backed up the same data on 2 different laptops, why is one backup showing around 54GB, the other 27GB?

Your post is still unclear, as your choice of preposition is ambiguous. Do you mean:

Backed up same source data to two laptop drives.
Or,
Backed up similar source data from two laptops.

Okay, well then it's definitely not "the same data". There will be any number of differences. One thing that can make a large difference is the number of system restore points, but there are many reasons why size will differ.

In addition to what Tuttle has said, the two drives will probably be using a different amount of sectors even if the sector size is the same on both disks.

Thankyou both, I'll rest easy now. (Given the backups from my new laptop are around 50% less (GB's) I'd assumed some elements of the backup must have been missing, though I'd previously checked programs and work files were OK.)

To check out the differences between two computers for size or folder, etc. I like to use
Treesize Free
which will illustrate and rank each folder based on size, etc. It is easy to use and takes no resources except when in actual use--which is invoked by the user as needed.

http://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/

I also like Treesize Free (man GroverH is a smart guy!). To have 1/2 the size in your new laptop does imply to me that your older laptop has an awful lot of System Restore points on it. Either that or some hidden file that Treesize should help you find.

Re: System Restore points, make sure you look at the setting(s) for the "Disk Space Usage" for both laptops. Mine is set to only 5% on this PC which means only 6GB (and could not explain of course a 27GB size difference). Note also that CCleaner Free will let you look at (and delete if desired) old System Restore points.