Time Machine Back Up too SMALL!

Some things are excluded automatically -- but they're usually relatively small. Logs, caches, system work files, and trash are the most common; if some of those are huge, that might explain the difference (and point to another problem as well). See #11 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum), for more info on what's excluded.

To check some of that, from a Finder window's menubar select +Go > Go to Folder+ and type /var in the prompt (I find this easiest with the Finder in List view). If any of those folders are in the GB range, take a look. In the log folder, if anything is more than about 500 mb, something's likely going wrong. Investigate and/or post back with the name(s).

To check your caches, look at these folders:

/Library/Caches
/System/Library/Caches
<each home folder>/Library/Caches

If any is in the multi-GB range, that's likely a problem.

Another thing you can do is a bit tedious, but might help. Note the sizes of each of your home folders on your system (and any large folders you might have that aren't in a home folder), then go into Time Machine's "Star Wars" display and do the same.

Post back with your results, and we'll see what to do next.

David Milgrim wrote:
Thanks for the reply, Pondini.

Nothing big in /var, or the caches. The only thing over 500MB was a 750MB safari cache.

It's a little hard to compare sizes on home folders, as the computer doesn't want to calculate some folders. I open a get info box and all it says is calculating size, even after 20 minutes. Not sure what is up there.

That's not a good sign; it may take a while, but not forever. Something may be corrupted; try a +*verify disk+* on your internal HD, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

David Milgrim wrote:
Thanks, again. Podini. I ran a verify disk from my boot clone over the weekend, but nothing came up.

Try the Whatsize app, from: http://www.id-design.com/software/whatsize/index.php , or a similar app.