Unable to Add Existing Backup

Donald, adding an existing backup should be instantaneous as all that happens under the covers is that a new configuration script file (.tib.tis) is added to the C:\ProgramData\Acronis\TrueImageHome\Scripts folder.

If this is not happening for you, then please ensure that you are running ATIH with full administrator privileges and that you do not have any security software that is preventing Acronis from doing this activity.

It may be worth doing a Repair install of ATIH if none of the above helps - download the latest full version installer from your Acronis account then install this (as Administrator) over the top of what you already have there.

I rebooted my laptop, and tried again. I clicked the Backup Icon, then Add Existing Backup, and selected a backup to add to the list. The backup was not added to the list. I tried three other times with the same results. There is only one backup visible. Please tell me what I am doing wrong?

When you know what you're doing, everything is simple. When you don't know what you're doing, everything is complicated.

May I suggest you check that there is no issue in Acronis accessing the USB drive; for example faulty or loose cable connection, or insufficient power getting to the USB drive. On some notebooks the power output to USB ports is less than on desktops, and this may be insufficient to reliably power the device. Also check the power setting there may be an adjustment for the power going to the USB port(s). That reminds me, have you tried attaching the USB drive to a different port?

I can see the backups, so that's not the problem. I just don't seem to be able to add them to the list of backups.

It is possible that your local database is corrupted. Shut down Acronis, go to c:\programdata\Acronis\TrueImageHome  and rename the database folder. Relaunch Acronis and try to add the backup again.

If it works, you might have to add any other backup to rebuild the database. If it doesn't work, uninstall ATI, reboot and reinstall.

Don, please provide some screen shots of your main ATIH GUI showing your existing tasks and of your drive where you are trying to add the backups from, showing their names?

What is ATIH?

ATIH= Acronis True Image Home.

I have the screen captures but I don't see how to upload them.

Donald, to upload your screen captures, first click on the top-right icon (Mountains & Sun?) then take the option shown to Upload your image(s), then finally, Select your images one at a time to embed them in the forum post you are editing.

Donald, thanks for the screen images, these show an immediate problem.

First, it confirms you have backups for the task shown in your main ATIH GUI.

But next, it shows why you cannot add the backup images for the Entire PC image files shown in your file listing image, which is because you only have incremental backup files but with no initial full backup image file which these incremental files were based on.

Incremental image files have zero value on their own and cannot be used for any recovery, and with no initial full image for the backup version chain(s) shown, cannot be added as an existing backup to the GUI.

I thought I had been doing a full backup each time. Seeing that I have been doing incremental backups, how do I delete the incremental backups and start doing full backups.

As they are not in the Acronis data base, just use Windows Explorer (or you preferred file manager) to delete the files. If you have active protection enabled you will have to temporarily disable it before you do so.

Ian

I deleted everything from my backup drive, then created a bull backup. Now I am being prompted to locate the volume of the last backup as shown in the attached image.

Donald, the new issue is purely because you are using the same backup task name for your new full backup and you didn't run a Validation for this task after deleting all the old files using Windows Explorer, so information about those files is still stored in the Acronis Database.

Try doing the Validation first off, take the Ignore option for each file it says is missing and that should sort the problem.

I ran validation. Never did get prompted to Ignore. Never did get prompted for anything. Maybe I should uninstall and reinstall Acronis. Yes, no?

If you have not already done so, try running the installation program and rather than select uninstall, select repair. That can fix problems.

Ian

As I suggested earlier you have the choice of renaming the database folder and start your backup afresh. Even simpler, uninstall the software, reboot, reinstall and start new backups.

In general, after you have set up a backup task, don't change it (like changing the cleanup rules, the location, the name). The product is supporting these types of edits for sure, but depending on the case, it might create some confusing results which lead to further adjustments, etc. Much simpler to create new backup tasks with new settings, and delete old tasks when the backups are not desirable any longer.

I uninstalled Acronis, then when I tried installing it, a dialog window appeared telling me it was already installed. I checked settings, and did not find Acronis. I checked the Task manager and found it was it was still present. I have attached the files so you can see what I saw when I tried to reinstall. Suggestion please.

Try restarting the PC, and see what happens then. If it is already installed I would have expected a message about the alternative of repairing the current installation.

Ian

If you still have a problem, then download the Acronis Cleanup Tool (link below) and run this as Administrator followed by a reboot, then reinstall the software.  You will need to recreate your backup tasks again or reconfigure tasks for any existing backup files that ATIH detects on its first run - these will be shown with the full file name as the task name - you can rename these back to the original names you had but still need to reselect the Source, Destination and set the backup scheme etc.

I ran the tool, followed the instructions, and PC failed to boot up when restarted. I used my backup and rescue media to restore my PC to a backup I created the day before and got everything back to the state it was in prior to running the tool. I am thinking of taking my PC to a repair place and having them correct the problem. As of right now,I am sorry I ever bought Acronis. I appreciate the help you have provided.

Donald, sorry to hear of this latest problem with the PC failing to boot - I have not seen any other reports of such behaviour as a result of just running the Acronis Cleanup Tool.

Following on from your restore to the previous backup image state, what is the situation with regard to ATIH 2017, is this back to being fully installed or is it in the inbetween state that you mentioned above?

If the latter, then I would recommend opening a Support Case with Acronis Support and telling them of this issue with not being able to uninstall the product plus the result of running the Cleanup tool.

Did you have the Acronis Startup Recovery Manager (ASRM) function enabled on this PC?  If you did and it is still in the inbetween state, then you should boot using the Rescue Media and remove ASRM via that method, the same with Acronis Secure Zone if created.

Donald, I'm feeling your pain. One rat hole after another.

Did you figure out a new backup program to use?

Many of us here would appreciate any suggestions.

I'm having problems (again) and have wasted many hours (again), and I'm actually afraid to go forward... seeing what you've been through.

Seems like running the cleanup tool would be a very bad idea, indeed.

kw, the Cleanup Tool in itself is very safe to use - the part where there is significant risk is in making any changes to the Windows Registry information, as any errors in doing this can render the system unusable.

Personally, when using the Cleanup Tool, I do not touch the Windows Registry and have not needed to make any changes there.

As can be read in many different places on the Internet, always make a backup of the Registry <before> attempting to make changes, especially if you are less than 100% confident of what you are doing.  I would also recommend doing a full disk backup of your Windows OS in such cases!

Thanks Steve,

I can see that you have your hands full trying to take care of Acronis users.

I've used the software for many years, but recently my frustrations have been sky-high (using ATH 2018)

Maybe it works correctly if you do everything "perfectly", never make a single error in the preferred pathway.

But, if you ever deviate... beware, you'll get wrapped around the axle and it will take days to unwind, if you're lucky.

My latest issue? A huge backup, seemed to run OK. But, then, the instant it was done, it tried to initate some other long backup process, with cpu at 100% but nothing happening. It was the process that wouldn't die, and of course no user feedback to tell me what was happening. Someone suggested disconnecting the disk, then removing the backup, and then reattaching the backup. That didn't work... ATH couldn't seem to reconginze the backup, and still doesn't. 

I'm afraid to start the program, because it might launch into another unknown, full cpu process, or some other unpredictable behavior.

Yesterday was spent with trying to figure out why simple explorer window would not correctly open up the directories on the backup disk... they kept popping open new windows asking me to show the locaiton of volumes in some kind of redundant loop behavior. When checking here, turns out that is an extremely common problem, but nowhere is it documented in the users manual.

It just seems like it's one thing after another, and meanwhile I have no idea of whether or not the backups that I've already made will work in the event of an emergency. Even checking a backup, if you can get it to work, takes exactly as long as doing a brand new backup. Most likely, I'd have to go through a long convoluted, and not-documented process to fix up the internal database, or something like that.

Long story short... while I do appreciate your help for me and others, I'm going to try a different product. These were not the first hours/days eaten up with Acronis... it's happened other times as well.

Just cannot take the stress of this product anymore.

Thanks,

KW

KW, I wish you all the best in trying other backup products and hope that they deliver the reliability and usability that you are seeking after.