Reinstall or throw away
I have been an Acronis user since 2009. I believe I have felt pretty good with them. However, the most recent version I have 2013 has been nothing but problematic. Not fully understanding the ramifications of deleting the ".tif" files for a variety of reasons (i.e., stopped backups, crashed backups, changing the backup type from incremental to full, etc...), I have on numerous occasions deleted these files in hopes of starting over.
On my latest start-over attempt was this past week. I deleted all jobs and ensured all the ".tif" files were deleted as well. I cloned the "files" backup and deleted the disk backup jobs.
Of note is the fact that while I deleted the disk jobs the system still thinks there are other versions. Some backups have files created yesterday (11/2/2013) but they system does not think there is anything backed up yet. I have attached a screen shot of these examples.
As for the file backup I started to do, since I had not used my PC very much yesterday, I was surprised to see the sizes of the "incremental" backups that were being done every 2 hours (approximately 500-800 mb). So I attempted to do a recovery to see what was in the file. After being notified that the system could not find version 1 and then me ignoring this error (a valid option in the error notification window); selecting the drive (i.e., I have logically partitioned drive) and waiting for several minutes (about 5 min), the system crashed.
I just tried the recovery again and it appeared to work. However as you can see from the second attachment, it backed up files that were last modified in 2004 and created July of 2013 (i.e., reinstall of software). Why was this backed up?
I am also attaching the most current export of my settings file in hopes that someone is able to help with this perplexing problems.
If not can someone recommend a different backup solution. I really don't like going to the "cloud".
Thanks
Michael
I'm with you. Seems to work fine on my custom built desktop but nothing but headaches on my HP laptop. I've had some similar issues. I'm wondering if uninstalling TIH 2013 and running something like CCleaner and then rebooting, maybe running CCleaner again and then reinstalling TIH might help.
Mike,
1. As for the "not backed up" issue, this is the program's method of advising you that a "scheduled" backup has not been scheduled or created. Once a scheduled backup occurs within that task, the message will go away.
2. As for the too many files listed, the easiest method is to start over but to correct, you can try performing a validation on that task and work your way through all the errors to the point where the backup will validate. Once validated, the number will correct itself.
3. My recommendation is to avoid editinig a task. If correction of configuration need, stop using the task and create a new task with correct settings.
4. Deletion of files outside the system causes problems. Do future deletions from within the Acronis Backup Explorer (time slice screen).
5. Create a new task which will perform its own automatiac deletion so manual deletion is not needed. My recommendations for a controled automatic cleanup backup is review link #2 below and set up according to illustration 11-Inc or 11-Full and this will work for file type backups.
Remember too many incrementals backups on a single full is unwise for security of your data. Do take the time to understand the restore differences when restoring Incremental or Differential backups. This info is covered in the illustration 11-X referenced above.
6. When creating a new task, point the task to an empty target folder.
http://forum.acronis.com/system/files/forum/2009/11/5940/example-folder…
http://forum.acronis.com/system/files/forum/2009/11/5940/example-folder…
7. I don't know how to read you cfg files.
Grover:
Thanks for all the useful information. I did many of what you suggested (I will promptly do/explore the others) by just re-doing all of the tasks. It appears they are all working now.
Especially, useful was knowing that Acronis has a "Backup Explorer". I am assuming this is the "Browse for Backup" in 2013. However, I did try this and TIH crashed and the program aborted. I restarted the program and it again crashed. Do you have any clue as to why this would happen.
As to point #1 above, I still have that problem. Currently I have tasks with that problem (see attached screenshots with timestamps).
I too cannot read the "cfg" files. I just included them in case someone that could read them would find them useful. I have never modified them either.
One way to access the Acronis Backup explorer:
From inside any of your backup tasks on main screen,
Click the gear wheel or the "setting" option.
Click the Recover files option.
The resulting window showiing the last chain along the bottom is the Acroins BAckup Explorer.
From this screen, you can recover or delete selected files, etc.
From that screen, right click on one of the backup files to see some of options offered.
Grover, I appreciate your help, but it appears that the version I am working with 2013 the recovery option is achieved in one of 2 ways.
- There is a Recover option in the "ribbon" toolbar
- Each task that has it's own Recover button underneath the "Back up now" button
The problem I am having now is I did re-do all of my tasks. For a brief bit they all listed that they had been backed up and I had various versions. I had scheduled all the tasks. Now as you can see from the various pictures I have posted (the most recent with your last post), True Image Home thinks some things have not been backed up. NOTE: one of my has "not been backed up" tasks is scheduled and appears to be getting backed up. But alas, True Image Home doesn't think is has been backed up.
Now 2 of my tasks indicate that they have "not been backed up". As you can see I have recent pics of backups were actually performed. I was trying to think what I could have done to "screw" the process up. Sometimes at night, when my screen saver doesn't come on, my I put my computer to "sleep". I am guessing this may have caused the or a running/queued backup task to get confused. Nonetheless, I would expect one of 2 things to occur within True Image Home:
- If possible prevent an end user from placing the computer in sleep mode if tasks are running or queued
- For the various tasks, scan the computer location (the task still knows this location) specified to see if there are ".tib" files and rebuild the history. I would think this is very do-able. It also appears that the developers were attempting to do this as in the "More features" button (see attached) there are 2 options that may have served this purpose but do not obviously work at this point: (1) Update backup list and (2) Search for backups at startup
As it sits now, it appears my only option is redo the backups and possibly never put my computer to sleep.
During this whole debacle, I did try a competitor (Novastor). While their support policy is much better than Acronis' (i.e., they have an annual plan that includes support and updates versus the incident model that could cost more for some having issues like mine that are difficult to debug), I have not been able to get a reliable "image" backed up. This may be due to my house not having any wall plug-ins and having to use wireless communications.
I will digest your posting later. In the meantime, you can change the default setting (enabled) on "Scan for Backups at Startup" to disabled at this next link. The link shows both 2013 and 2014 settings.
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/31895
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If your backups shows "Not backed up yet", this is the programs way of saying you have not commpleted a "scheduled" backup via the automatic schedule. There is no harm here--just has a nuisance value. Manual backups will not remove this message but the manual backups are perfectly fine if they have been validated.
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Here are a listing of some miscellaneous topics which may be of interesta. These are for reading. Any questions would need to be placed within your existing topicl
http://forum.acronis.com/forums/other-home-home-office-products-discuss…
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I will post later once I read your posting in detail and have some time.
In addition to the preceding posting,
At this point, I am not sure what still needs to be covered.
1. Recovery: Primary means of recovery for a partition or disk is to do the recovery when booted from the TI Rescue CD.
Many of the backups listed will not be accessible as the listing is pointing to a Windows letter folder but the CD uses Linux so the paths may differ.
When I want to do a restore from the CD, I always browse manually to the known location of backup and then use the "Add to backup list" option.
Even inside Windows, if desired file not listed, use the "Browse for backup" option and once located, use the "Add to backup list" option.
2. I have my "Scan for backups at Startup" turned off. I do need or want such a function;tion. I do NOT want any backup files listed on my main listing of tasks except for my tasks which are actively used either via a scheduler or via manually running of the backups.
3. Here is a recent addition of mine related to restoring single files or folders from within Windows and TrueImage.
http://forum.acronis.com/forum/46511
Also, this next link on restoring single files s or folder. A pdf link below
http://forum.acronis.com/sites/default/files/mvp/user285/guides/2012_co…
4. Your suggestion that:
If possible prevent an end user from placing the computer in sleep mode if tasks are running or queued
For the various tasks, scan the computer location (the task still knows this location) specified to see if there are ".tib" files and rebuild the history. ....."
There is no program restriction that will prevent the computer from being put to sleep prior to a backup, however, when wakeup time arrives or a backup is in process, the computer should awaken or stay awake. There are settings in the Scheduler/advanced settings which are supposed to work regarding wakeup and sleeping. (Note: some power configuration settings have been known to interfere with these sleep or wakeup functions--such as having the cpu in performance mode within the power settings.
I have a guide which illustrates how to keep the computer awake during backup time and then restores the power settings back to normal--for those that such a need.
http://forum.acronis.com/sites/default/files/forum/2009/11/5940/keep_wi…
There is no rebuild history option but sometime adding specific files back to the "Add to backup list" will achieve the same thing.
5. If you should want your suggestions considered, add them to the Acronis wish list, etc.
6. Not sure if all question answered, Sorry if no answers as to the fixes for your specific issues--if not covered by my comments.