Loss of Bytes...

M

matlaw

Hello all,

Recently I've built a machine and decided on moving files from one
machine to the other through the use of two ethernet cables and a
router. I shared the data from the old computer and the new computer
found the old in Network Neighborhood, I then simply copied the files
to the new.

The data consists of numerous files housed in several folders. To do
a
very very lazy and basic integrity check, I compared the folder sizes
from the old and new machine. Since they house the same files, the
same folders, they should be identical right?

Now I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I noticed discrepancies, bytes that
are
unaccounted for. The differences seem arbitrary, on one folder there
are 199 less bytes, in another there are 1,304,200 more bytes.

When there are less bytes, the difference is in the "Size" value when
you go to the properties for that folder. When there are more bytes
than there should be, it's in the "Size on Disk" value. The number of
files and folders are identical for every folder transferred. What
could cause a loss or gain of bytes after transfer without loss of
files or folders?

1. The first time I noticed a discrepancy on the first folder I
transferred, I changed some attributes of the original folder,
deleted
the one that made it through and transferred again. The folder came
out identical in both "Size" and "Size on Disk". I do not know why
this occurred.

2. Since then every folder to come out on the other side has a
discrepancy either in the "Size" or "Size on Disk" values.

3. I removed the internet cable from the router to remove possible
internet problems from the equation during transfer. The only parties
to the transfer were the two computers and the router.

4. I've tried transferring a single folder over and over to see if
random discrepancies occur in size to show some kind of corruption is
occurring through travel. The result? Only a static discrepancy (if
the folder made it through first time with 199 bytes less, every
subsequent transfer of same folder yields same result).

5. The total size, roughly more than fifty gigabytes transferred.

Does anyone have any idea what could be going on here?

1. Could data have been corrupted through travel?

2. Could it be something like alternate data stream files such as
thumbnails that were left behind? Though this doesn't explain why
some
files grew in bytes, or does it?

3. Is it safe and reliable to transfer files like I just did or is
this why my result is like this?
 
J

Jack \(MVP-Networking\).

Hi
These minute differences might mean nothing and can be related to
differences of the underline hardware.
What count is the integrity of the data.
You can actually check a sample of the data, or use an application like this
to check the integrity of the files.
http://www.kvipu.com/CDCheck/ (It is called CD Check but you can check any
drive or and folder with it).
Jack (MVP-Networking).
 

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