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.
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?