Why does my Time Machine have more files than my hard drive?

Question

Level 1

28 points

Why does my Time Machine have more files than my hard drive?

After having some major restore problems following a new hard drive installation I am finally back in business and things seem to be running smoothly as far as my backups are concerned.

I have read through Time Machine 101 and have a bsic understanding, I think. What confuses me is that my Time Machine currently shows it has used 156Gs, while my hard drive only has 151Gs, and that includes what is in the trash.

What am I not understanding?

MAC OS.X

Posted on Jul 31, 2012 9:08 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Jul 31, 2012 10:12 AM in response to topcop1

Time Machine will keep multiple iterations of a document and also keep copies of files that have been deleted from your Mac (that's the major point of Time Machine or any other backup). It's therefore completely normal for a Time Machine volume to show more files and take up more space than your hard drive currently shows.

Regards.

Reply

Answer 2

Jul 31, 2012 10:19 AM in response to topcop1

For starters, what is in Trash is not backed up. So anything that is there can't be recovered by Time Machine.

The information that Varjak posted is why they recommend that the Time Machine disk be at least 2 times preferably 3 times the size of the disks that are being backed up.

Allan

Reply

Answer 3

topcop1 Author

Level 1

28 points

Jul 31, 2012 10:27 AM in response to varjak paw

Thank you all for the answers.

I am aware that Time Machine doesn't back up what is in trash and my backup is 1T in size while my Hd is only around 500gs

Reply

Answer 4

Jul 31, 2012 11:19 AM in response to topcop1

From you comment about Trash, I was not able to tell if you were aware items in Trash are not backed up. This is true of the vast majority of backup software not just Time Machine.

You will not believe how many times users came to me complaining because they were not able to recover items in Trash from the backups.

Allan

Reply

Answer 5

topcop1 Author

Level 1

28 points

Jul 31, 2012 11:30 AM in response to topcop1

Allan,

Thanks again for the advice and help.

I knew all about Trash after my restore. When I was done restoring through Mozy, I Trashed the folder.

The Apple tech and I couldn't figure why my hard drive had so many more files than my Time Machine and Mozy backups until I remembered that folder. It meant the HD had most of my files twice (two copies).

And, yes I understand that once Trash is emptied it is gone forever. That is why I try to to keep my trash for awhile.

Jim

Reply