Backup on external hard drive
I have installed Acronis true image home 2010 and have backed up my pictures with a validation onto my external hard drive. When I try to access these pictures they come up in wordpad with what I can only discribe as computer language. Any ideas what the problem may be, my computer runs Windows 7 64 bit.
I have tried these two links and none of them work. I have been onto the live chat and all I am getting is information that is useless, I seem to be going round in circles. Have you any suggestions where I go now other than getting my money back on this programme ?
Exactly how are you trying to access the backed up pictures?
Can you post a screenshot of what Explorer shows when you browse to the picture files?
If you right-click on a picture and select Open with..., is the default the correct program?
Thanks for your reply. When you say Explorer are you meaning Windows Explorer because if this is the programme I need to open this tib file then I have not got it. I have looked in my default programmes and it is not there. I have a Windows 7- 64 bit computer.
Yes, I mean Windows Explorer (Start >> Computer).
I was just trying to find out the exact steps you're using to access the pictures. It's not clear from your post and it's not clear if you're trying to access the originals or the backups.
Are you accessing them from "inside" the backup (Explore, Mount) or are you restoring them first?
What type of backup did you make -- an image or a files & folders (data) type backup?
I used Acronis true image 11 on my old computer with XP home. I backed up files to an external hard drive and all I had to do is double click the hard drive to show the contents on the hard drive and then I d/clicked the acronis file and all the backed up data appeared . This I could view and make any adjustments if needed. With this 2010 edition, I can back up files to the same hard drive and do a validation without any problems. It is when I d/click the file at the moment it just comes up in Wordpad with computer language on it. I have tried other programmes such as notepad, word etc, and nothing seems to let me see the contents of this tib file. It seems that Windows 7 is not reconising this file. I hope this is clearer for you.
It sounds like the TIB file association is incorrect. The file should be opening with TI.
If it's not easy for you to try fixing the association, have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling TI? A repair install may also work.
I have not come across this TI and I am not sure where to find it or how to fix it. Could you help me futher with this please.
Right Click on the .TIB file and select "Open with". Acronis should be one of the choices. If not select Browse and navigate to C:\Program Files\Acronis\TrueimageHome\ and select Trueimage.exe.
This is how it is done in XP Pro. This is the same as described by Thomas except in a little more detail.
First, you need to do a file search for TrueImage.exe so you confirum its path as to where the file is stored.
Using Windows Explorer, search/browse/locate any of your backup files created by TrueImageHome. These will have a file extension of .tib which may or may not be showing on your computer.
1. RIGHT click on any of the *.tib files.
2. Click on the "Open With" option ( do select the "open" option.)
3. Choose the "select from list" option
4. Scroll down the listing of possible programs and select TrueImage.exe
a. If TrueImage.exe is not one of the programs listed, then continue downward choose the "Browse" option located at the bottom of the open window, and browse to the folder where you pre-determined that TrueImage.exe is located.
5. Select/click on the TrueImage.exe file listing.
6. Checkmark the "always use this program..."
7. What you should be seeing is that TrueImage.exe is the selected program and the option "always use this program" is checkmarked.
8. Click OK to close the Window and you should be returned back the same file folder where you began in Step 1.
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Now, anytime you double click on a TrueImageHome backup file (*.tib), it will cause TrueImage to open--just as if you selected it from any of your menus or shortcut keys.
Be also aware of these other options available to you.
RIGHT click on any of the *.tib files.
Look at the options presented. One of the options listed is the "Explore" option.
Another option listed will be the "Archive" option which has a sub-menu of 3 items. These 3 items are Mount, Recover, Validate.
A third right click option may appear which is "Acronis Recovery" which is a duplication of the same listing inside the Archive menu option.
Both the Explore and the Mount option offer you the possibility of finding and copying any file or group of files from inside the backup to a location of your choosing. Using either explore or mount, if you browse inside a backup file to a designated picture file and dbl click on that file, it will open or execute the same action that it would if you dbl clicked this file inside Windows Explore. Should you want to copy from the backup to your computer, you can right click on the picture file and choose the copy option and then paste it into any location of your choosing.
I have put Acronis as my default option. When I ' open with', I select Acronis and it brings up the Backup or Restore page. I have then clicked the files and folders in the restore section and selected the folder I want to open up but when I right click this file and then choose explore an error message is saying that Windows cannot find this file with aload of numbers and letters
David,
I am not sure we are understanding each other.
In post #3, MudCrab asked whether Windows has the correct program associated- with the picture file you are trying to open. Has this been confirmed?
As a test, if you are looking for a picture file inside the backup and you believe the missing file is a jpg file type. Then find any jpg picture file on your computer and dbl click on the picture to confirm whether the correct picture program opens the file. Advise whether the correct picture program opens the test file. If yes, then we can proceed but if the wrong program opens the file, then this has to be corrected within Windows before you can open the missing file inside the backup.
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When looking inside the *.tib backup file using the Explore option, you will NOT have an "open with" option. Your choices will be to dbl click on the file which will open the picture file in the same program as opened the test file. Or, you can right click on the picture file and your choices will be either to open or copy and if you choose open, the same program will open the file as opened the test file.
So, if you want to try the explore option again, these are the steps.
1. Close TrueImageHome if it is open. We have no need for the program during the explore option.
2. Use windows explorer (dbl click on MyComputer) and browse to your *.tib backkup file you wish to check.
3. Right click on the *.tib backup file and choose the Explore option.
4. This will cause a Windows Explorer window to open and will list the backup file you just selected. Click on the backup file again to reselect this backup file.
5. Your reselecting the backup file should cause a new window to open and all your drives and folder included in your backup will be listed. Select the folder where you believe the missing picture to be. If you find it, then as mentioned before, you can dbl click to open the file or your can right click on the file and choose either the open or copy function. If you choose the copy function, then can then paste the copy onto your desktop or other normal folder of your choice.
If this is a jpg file and you open the file, it will be opened by the same program that opened your test picture. Another option instead of left or right clicking file would be to use the Windows drag & drop process where you drag a copy from inside the backup and drag it onto your desktop or other folder.
6. As you seen, the TrueImage Home backup program was not needed or used.
7. The steps above are for the Explore option only. Print these instructions if necessary so you can follow each step. These were written for XP but should prove satisfactory.
8. If you choose the Mount option, that is a different set of procedures.
I am sorry if I am getting you confused. My back up file I want to open is stored on my external hard drive. When I right click the 'open with' option I do not have Windows explorer as a programme to open this file . Should I have this as another option programme ?
I am not understanding your need to use the "open with" option to open Windows Explorer. Can you tell me where in the instructions this is listed or where in the instructions is causing confusion?
Windows Explorer is a program listed on your Start/Program/ menu. But it is almost never necessary to use that approach/path to cause this file to open. Most users open Windows Explorer by clicking on their "Computer" (or "MyComputer") desktop icon (or from their Start Menu) which displays the directory tree and click on the disk or folder or file that they wish to work with. The term "Windows Explore" will NOT appear at the top left to identify the program in use. What you will see is just "Computer" or something similar for Win7 as I am using XP. When you see a listing of your disks or your folders, Windows Explorer is already open.
You may find it easier to create a desktop shortcut pointing to your external drive. Then, when you click on the shortcut, Windows Explorer will automatically open to the desired location.
To create a desktop shortcut, find an open spot your desktop
Right click and click new and click shortcut
In the open window, type the following (or use the mouse and copy that text so you can paste it)
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /N, /E, Z:\
After adding the above text, Click NEXT to continue
In this Window, change the shortcut name to Drive Z
Click Finish to complete the shortcut creation.
Note: change the two instances of Z to the drive letter associated with the drive you are creating the shortcut for. You may wish to create two shortcuts. One for your drive C and another shortcut for your external drive. You can modify the paths to the shortcut so the shortcut is pointing to a specific folder such as Z:\MyBackups\
Then, when you click on the desktop shortcut, you are automatically opening Windows Explorer to display the directory or folder tree.
I understand what you are trying to do, but I'm really unsure as to why you want to do this. For the record, I'm running Win 7 64-bit on my computer, and double-clicking on a .tib file opens it and allows me to see what files are in there. I can even access and open those files if I want to.
But, I'll ask again: Why do you want to? I'm a bit confused by your statement that you can "adjust things."
A back-up is meant to be static storage. It should stay just the way it is until you either restore it or supercede it with a new backup -- which I assume you are doing on a regular basis. You shouldn't be modifying the backup itself in any way -- not ever. Doing so runs the risk that you will corrupt your backup, and then if you need it it won't be there.
If you want to see what's in it, you can mount it as a volume from within Acronis True Image Home, and then use Windows Explorer to look at it. That option is available under "Tools" in the TI menu. You can also use the "restore" feature to restore specific files, if you don't want all of the data in the backup.
If you insist on being able to open the .tib file by double-clicking, I suggest you start by reinstalling Acronis True Image Home. If that doesn't work, reinstall Windows.
If the terms I have used are unfamiliar, I suggest that you check with any local computer store to see if they have a "getting to know your computer" type class where you can learn more about Windows in a hands-on environment. Because, really, it's hard to explain this in words.
Judy,
Thank you for your very appropriate comments. Hopefully you would be willing to perform a quick check of your system.
Would you go to the Control Panel/Folder option/File types and and advise what file association is assigned to the "tib" file type . I am curious as I have seen it to be various ways and I have no clue as to what the installer program does for this file type. My system is changed so often that I do not know what is the norm. I have seen varioius extension status as:
a. File type "tib" not listed at all"
b. assigned to Windows Explorer
c. assigned to TrueImage.exe
And it is unconfirmed whether a normal clicking on a picture file within Windows is opened by its normal program on David's system.
Thank you.
Hi Grover. The "tib" file type is not listed at all in my file associations. That's why I suggested either reinstalling Acronis or Windows. I'm not sure what's going on behind the scenes there.
When I double-click a .tib file, it opens a new Windows Explorer window with a disk icon in it--sort of as though it is mounting the backup as a disk at that location, but the TI program never opens. When I double-click on the disk icon, it opens a regular Windows Explorer representation of the contents of the backup. Any of those files that I double-click open in their associated programs. In my system, .jpg files are associated with Photoshop. If I double-click on a .jpg, it opens as expected in Photoshop, .doc files open in MS Word, etc.
Hope this helps. But I still would like more info about why the OP wants to do this. I really am concerned that "adjusting" would corrupt the backup.
Thank you Judy,
Like you, I am not sure the part that Windows Explorer plays here. The device manager has a listing "Acronis Backup Archive Explorer" and its stated purpose is to assist in the mounting of images and to explore archives--which explains why the non-listed extension has no bearing on the execution of exploring archives. If TrueImage.exe is assigned to open the tib extension, the only result that I see is that dbl clicking a tib image will then cause TrueImageHome to open; whereas, if the tib extension is not listed or assigned to Windows Explorer, then the dbl click on the backup file will allow the user to progress down the chain to the ultimate file.
So... I am not sure what is the norm and why for the tib file extension. My best guess is that Acrnis does NOT create any file association within Windows for this extension.
The program I have assigned to all my picture file types is Faststone Image Viewer because anytime I dbl click on a picture file, all I want to do is see its content. If I want to edit the picture, then I will right click and choose the various open options I have assigned to that file type. The viewer is really fast in displaying the picture so there is no delay waiting for a program to load--just for me to see its content for a few seconds.
Until David confirms that dbl clicking a picture in Windows is working correctly and any other current viewing problem, I am not sure we can be of any more assistance to him. Perhaps his doing a repair to his installed TrueImage Home might help to make sure that his Acronis settings are properly installed.
Thank you both for your help. I can get my photo's when I double click them, they come up in Windows live photo gallery. I think I will try Judy's suggestion and reinstalling Windows when I get back from holiday which will be sometime next week. I'll be in touch then.
David... you should start by reinstalling Acronis True Image Home first. Only if that doesn't work should you reinstall Windows.
Note Judy's first suggestion is to reinstall TI not Windows!
Many of us old hands don't use TI to backup data files such as jpgs, docs etc. we use a program that copies the file as is of which there are several free ones, I realise that TI offers compression but it is very little on previously compressed files like jpgs.
GroverH, I hadn't thought to look in the device manager, but I also have "Acronis Backup Archive Explorer" listed as a device. And that explains why, when I double-click on a .tib file in Windows Explorer, a new explorer-type window pops up. It must be the Acronis Explorer that I'm looking at.
Totally off the subject... if I want to see the content of a picture file, I use Adobe Bridge, or I use Windows Explorer set to view large or extra-large icons. On my desktop, Photoshop opens in about 5 seconds, so there's not really much lag. :-) I use the Adobe CS5 suite a lot, so speed is important.
Hi Judy, I have reinstalled Acronis true image twice now and I still have the same problem. May be I should ditch this Windows 7 computer and go back to my old XP computer running True Image 11, didn't have any problems with that one.
I agree with what others have surmised - Windows 7 has the wrong file type listed in registry versus what program should open a tib file.
Your problem is due to Windows not recognising the shell extensions that TI 2010 has installed, or TI 2010 hasn't installed them properly.
Your W7 install must have come with Windows Explorer as it the Microsoft file manager/viewer.
To double check hit the Windows start button + r and in the run box type in 'explorer' (without the quote marks) and then press OK, Windows Explorer should then open up.
There are two default ways in Windows 7 to get it to associate files correctly.
With Explorer open, highlight a tib file (easier if you have enabled view known file types under the Files and Folders option under Control Panel)
If on the menu bar the OPEN option has a down arrow showing you can click on the arrow and select CHOOSE DEFAULT PROGRAM
On the panel that opens up will be a list of recommended programs if Explorer is listed then just highlight the Explorer icon, ensure the Always use the selected........ etc, tick box is ticked on the bottom left hand corner and click on OK. If it isn't listed in either the top panel or the bottom panel, you will need to click on the BROWSE button and navigate to your C:\Windows folder and click on Explorer.
To test your shell extensions, right click on a tib file and the attached png shows you the options that you should see. If they are not there, then your problem might be that you need to install TI with Admin permissions.
The what are supposed to be yellow highlights are the shell extension options you should see. Note in Windows Explorer the option to OPEN WITH EXPLORER.
Hi Colin,
Thanks for your comments. Sorry I haven't replied to your comments, I have been away for a week. I haven't Explorer as a default option but following your instructions I can put it in as one of my options, but when I close the programme and then reopen it, Explorer has dissappeared. I think I shall have to do a system restore and start again.
Hello David,
I'm unclear by what you mean when you say 'I can put it in as one of my options', are you referring to True Image or just opening Windows Explorer?
Hi Colin,
I have done a complete reinstall of my system and it seems to have fixed the problem of getting access to my files on the back up on my external drive. I tried backing up my photos and these open up in jpg and not in tib, is this normal ?
Hi David,
Are the files in a tib container or just showing as a jpg?
If just showing as JPG, then the behaviour is correct, if they are in a tib container then I would expect Windows Explorer to open the container to show you the contents and from there they will appear as JPG files and open up in Windows Viewer or whatever you have as your default graphics display program.
Hi Colin
I d/click my backup which brings up my 'C' drive. I d/click this and this comes up as a folder in my name, I d/click this and a folder with my pictures comes up. When I d/click this all my pictures come up as folders. When I open these folders my pictures appear like a picture of a landscape then the name of the photo with jpg at the end. I can see the pictures as I individually click each one. I would prefer to see them as a group rather than open them idividually to see which one I would like to, e.g.' copy'. I bet I have confused you now ?
David,
Perform a new test but do not use your backup file.
Start from your Start Menu "Computer" icon and click on the C drive, etc work your way down the your path to the original pictures.
Isn't the same thing happening with Windows 7 as you describe happens inside the *.tib backup file?
David,
Perform a new test but do not use your backup file.Start from your Start Menu "Computer" icon and click on the C drive, etc work your way down the your path to the original pictures.
Isn't the same thing happening with Windows 7 as you describe happens inside the *.tib backup file?
A picture is worth a thousand words, or so they say.
I have Windows 7 and TI 2010, my backups are either stored on a partition on a second internal drive or on an external drive. All my data is on the second drive and is backed up to my external drive, using a program that stores the files in their native format, that's why I had to go to my Screensaver folder on my C drive.
I've attached a picture of what happens when I perform the steps David does with the tib file. This is the same when the same steps are carried out from the C drive.
As you can see my default program for jpg's is IrfanVeiw
Como,
Your are at folder level. Your commnts did not tell what happened when you actually click on the highlgihted specific file.
As I understand this entire discussion is that David wants to dbl click on a *.tib backup file. Browse to a specific group of pictures and then click on a specific picture to have the the contents of the picture to be displayed. His initial post said the display of the picture or folder was gibberish-- or picture was not displayed. Using your example, on my system, (inside Windows XP Pro or inside the *.tif file) if I clicked on the highlighed file, the file would open in a viewer and the picture would be displayed. Or, instead of dbl clicking on the file name, I can right click on the file name and have the open to "open or copy" and if I click on the open option, it opens the same as when I previously dbl clicked on the file name.
David mentions in post #6 of making adjustments while inside the backup file so it would seem that the Win7 file association is different than his XP Home file association.
Or maybe I am mis-understanding the whole thing.
GroverH
When I click on a jpg or psd it opens normally in the correct program i.e. IrfanView or Photoshop this occurs whether I enter the folder from Windows Explorer or from a tib file. I didn't include the picture as they are large files.
It would help if David posted screenshots to show what happens
I am using Acronis True Image 2018, I want to add weekly and a monthly backup to my external hard drive.
Whenever the backup is done it just went out and added it right to the drive and it not give me the opportunity to add the backup to a particular folder on the drive.
My question is this 'How to I point to a folder on the hard drive to add the particular backup ? '.
Francis, first welcome to these User Forums.
As you have ATI 2018, please can you raise this question in the ATI 2018 Forum by clicking on the 'Create New Topic' button when displaying that forum where we will be happy to help you.