Solved 6 GB size growing mystery between two backups!

I have a full system backup done with AOMEI on 22 December 2025 (The size is 49.5 GB). I restored my PC with that image and updated windows + windows store apps. I then did a cleanup with Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool and also disk cleanup (cleaning temporary files from storage). I then made a full backup image exactly like the original restored image and the size of that image is 56.0 GB! Is it normal for windows to grow 6GB in size after an update. As old image was from 22 DEC windows was missing 3 updates <-- JAN, FEV and March. April update is not yet out.

rezpower said:

I have a full system backup done with AOMEI on 22 December 2025 (The size is 49.5 GB). I restored my PC with that image and updated windows + windows store apps. I then did a cleanup with Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool and also disk cleanup (cleaning temporary files from storage). I then made a full backup image exactly like the original restored image and the size of that image is 56.0 GB! Is it normal for windows to grow 6GB in size after an update. As old image was from 22 DEC windows was missing 3 updates <-- JAN, FEV and March. April update is not yet out.

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Sometimes it helps to do a reboot or two before you make the backup.
The image size will grow a little over that time.

Another cause is updating an Nvidia driver, and not first disconnecting the internet.

If you haven't already done so... DISABLE drivers included with Windows Updates.




Also, keep and eye on the size of C:\hiberfil.sys ...if you use Hibernate.
Lastly, if you have the page file set to System Managed... it will grow and shrink occasionally.

Thanks Ghot,
You pointed out what exactly happened between the two images! windows updated both Nvidia and Intel graphic drivers + few other drivers.
I just checked and my hiberfil.sys file is 12.5 GB (13,501,198,336 bytes). I never hibernate my laptop. I turn it Off or put it to sleep. Maybe I should disable it!? But I also checked and there is a hiberfil.sys file in the older smaller image and it's the exact same size. so it should not be that causing the increase. I even now wonder why backup software include those files! doesn't windows create them if they are missing automatically ?

rezpower said:

Maybe I should disable it!?

Click to expand...

I did on all Windows versions...



I also disable System Restore (I use backup software), and I set my Page File to a fixed size.
I set the max and min sizes at 8192 (8GB)

Thanks a lot for the very helpful replies. I already had system restore disabled. But I disabled hibernate which I never used and gained 12 GB