Help with backup feature

I got norton through Comcast and ran the system backup feature.  Before i started I had 19.4 gig free on my hard drive.  Noorton couldn't finish backing up because there was not enough space.  After deleting some stuff from it, I now have 4.2 gig left.  What happened?  I lost 15 gig.  Is there a way I can get the 15 gig back?