Windows 10: Macrium Reflect image size has increased unaccountably

I have a desktop PC and a DELL laptop both running Windows 10 Home, 20H2 build 19042.630. I use Macrium Reflect Free v7.3.5321 to create images on both machines.

The DT is my main device on which I save all my files and Restore Points are enabled so I expect the image file size to change. I create an image once/month on this machine.
I only use my DELL for browsing internet and emails (via Thunderbird email client). No files are saved on the DELL so the only changes to that machine are due to software updates. Restore Points are disabled so I do not expect the image size to vary much. I only create an image once every two months on this machine.

In a nutshell the image size suddenly increased by 3 GB on both machines. The desktop image increased from 60 GB to 63 GB and the DELL image increased from 45 GB to 48 GB. Bearing in mind that these are compressed file sizes then the actual data increase may be 5 or 6 GB per machine.

The only thing I did that is common to both machines is I installed Nitro Pro PDF software but then uninstalled it after a week of trying it out. I have run Disk Cleanup since on both machines including the Clean up system files option and selecting the Windows update Clean-up option but this only found about 80 MB to delete. I also ran BleachBit and this removed some stuff but nowhere near 3 GB.

I noticed this on my 1st November backups so I am wondering if Macrium Reflect have changed their compression algorithm recently which is causing larger images.

Question: Has anyone else noticed a jump in the MR image size that cannot be accounted for?

:)

 

Restoring Windows 10 Image using Macrium Reflect


In addition to the above. Here's my suggestion in step by step.
I assume you have Macrium Installed in your current HD and already made a backup copy.

1. Connect your new HD via USB port and boot up.
2. Run Macrium, click on Restore tab then select the Backup Image that you made to restore
3. click on "select a different target disk" then select your new HD as destination
   
   
   
4. Proceed to restore then Shutdown and disconnect the old HD and replace with the new HD
5. Boot up with your new HD.

 

Increase image file upload size cap

that's a good idea

 

increase text size

Hello,



Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.



Follow the steps to change the font size:

• Click on "Windows logo" and select "Settings".
• Select "System".
• You can change the font size here.

Follow the steps to go to Control Panel:

• Type "Control Panel" in the search bar.
• Select "Control Panel" from suggestions.

I hope this helps you. If you have any further query in future, feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help you.



Thank you.