I don't understand 9.0.2323 differential backup behavior

I'm using TI 9.0.2323 on XP Pro SP2. My original full backup image is 4Gb. My first differential backup is also 4Gb and was created after deleting a small folder that was present in the original full backup image . My second differential backup is 8Gb, which was created by pointing to the original full backup image and was created after deleting a second small folder that was present in the original full backup image and the first differential image.

A differential image is supposed to contain all changes that have been done after the full image creation. Why is my first differential backup the same size as the original full backup image? I would think that it would be much smaller and only contain any changes from the original full image.

Also, why is my second differential image twice the size of the original full backup image?

If differential images are at least the same size as the original full image backup, I don't see any reason to use differential instead of just replacing your original full image with another full image.

Is this the same behavior that other users are seeing who use the differential backup option?

Brad

 

Anyone else doing differential backups?

 

I did one on a 4.3GB original and got a 1.3GB (which seems about right for the changes since the original). I'm not sure how to confirm it, except to restore both images and see what it puts back.

 

Hello bctf1,

Thank you for choosing Acronis Disk Backup Software.

Please accept my apologies for the delay with the response.

First of all, please download and install the latest build (2337) of Acronis True Image 9.0 which is available at: http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/support/updates/

To get access to updates you should create an account at:
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/my/
then log in and use your serial number to register your software.

Please uninstall any previously installed build by following Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> Acronis True Image, prior to installing build 2337.

Please also check each partition of your hard drive by Windows utility. To do this please use Windows menu Start -> Run and then enter the command "chkdsk c: /r" "chkdsk d: /r" for every partition of your hard drive. Note that you will need to reboot your computer in order to scan the system partition.

If the problem still persists after installing the update and checking the hard drive then please download the latest version of Acronis drivers and install it with disabled logging.

If that does not help then please provide us with the following information:

- Create Acronis Report and Windows System Information as it is described in Acronis Help Post;

- Have you created a disk\partition image or a file-based backup?

- Have you created an image of the entire hard drive or an image of a single partition?

- What is the exact size of the data you are imaging?

- What are the exact sizes of the resulting full and 2 subsequent differential images?

- Create new full and two differential images when your PC is booted from Bootable Rescue CD created using the latest build (2337) of Acronis True Image 9.0 and see whether the problem still persists;

- Describe actions taken before the problem appears step-by-step.

Please submit a request for technical support. Attach all the collected files and information to your request along with the link to this thread. We will investigate the problem and try to provide you with the solution.

Thank you.
--
Alexey Popov