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2nd Drive (RAID-1) keeps getting removed from backup settings when I close True Image 2017.

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Settings are 1st drive (SSD) with OS and programs, and 2nd drive (RAID-1) data.  If I keep the program open it works fine.  If I close the program and reopen it has already removed the RAID drive from backups.  It has done this since day 1 of installing Acronis.  This computer is more than 5 years old, and has never had Acronis installed previously.  We are hoping to get another year out of the computer and the data is extremely valuable to us on the RAID-1 drive.  I do NOT want to create a separate backup job, as we run the backup manually at the end of the day and take the drive off site.  

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Data Pro,

Are you using the Entire PC backup method to make a backup?  When you say that you close the app and reopen it the raid drive has been removed where do you see this?  Looking at details displayed on the screen does the total amount of data selected for backup change when you close and reopen the app?

You need to keep in mind here that your RAID drive is a dynamic disk whereas your OS drive is not.  Mixing the two into a single backup although possible means that if recovery is necessary that process will become more difficult because you will need to recover in partition mode meaning that each partition would be recovered independently.

The RAID-1 is on a RAID controller and shows up on the Disk list.  When I first open the program it will show an incorrect amount of data to be backed up.  Once I select all drives I want, it will show the correct amount of data, and the backup will work perfectly.  Once I have closed the program and reopen, the amount is incorrect and the RAID-1 is no longer selected.  Backup entire PC includes the USB backup drive, which I obviously don't want.

It sounds like you are recommending I make 2 seperate backups.  I have never had to recover any multiple drive systems, but I understand it could add confusion.  The RAID-1 only has a single partition, and I will remember that for sure.  But would like to do it the Acronis preferred way in case I need tech support.

Data Pro,

From your reply it appears that you are using a Disk and Partition mode backup rather than the default Entire PC option of the 2017 app.  I suspect though that you are choosing the 2 disks of the RAID 1 array and your OS system as well to create a single backup file.  While this is possible I do not recommend it in your case.  If you need to recover your system disk for example you will need to do so in a partition by partition fashion which is possible but may prove to be problematic particularly if you are using Win 8 or 10.  If any partition is restored out of order it may cause the restored disk not to boot.

In the case of your RAID array, it appears that you have a bigger problem here as your reply indicates that True Image is not compatible with your RAID controller.  Having said that it is likely that the problem is that of an outdated driver, again more likely if using Win 8 or 10.  What brand of controller are you using?  Check with the manufacturer support site or your PC support site for an updated driver.  Updating the driver may well solve the issue here and the issue is that at the present time True Image does not recognize your 2 drives as a RAID array and instead is seeing them as single drives.  This means that each disk is being backed up independently rather than as a single device.

Having said that a RAID 1 array being a mirrored set mean that as a pure data storage device it is very likely that the data contained on each disk would be recoverable from a single disk of the mirrored array backup which is what you have at the moment.  Having said that this does not meet your objective in having a backup which would restore data to both disk of the array when needed.

My advice is to first look for an updated driver for your array.  Second I would create a backup of your OS system disk by itself so that you have a way to fall back on a known good point in time in case of trouble.  Then, update the RAID driver if possible and see if that solves the problem in TI.  After update when you open the TI app you should see your RAID as a single disk and total data on disk should be correct.  If that looks good make a backup of the array by itself to again create a known good point in time if needed.

I would also recommend that you keep the backups of your OS drive and your RAID array separate but if you wish to include all drives in a single backup file that is certainly your choice.