Full backup instead of incremental backup VeraCrypt

Hello,
full backup instead of incremental backup occurred in Acronis True Image 2018 build 12510
backup type: Files and Folders (not whole partition)
source: V:\ all files and folders on disc V:\ in fact is mounted partition via VeraCrypt
First backup was full naturally (140GB),
second backup was incremental (25 MB)
third incremental backup I expected 2GB but 142GB (it looks like full backup)
In TI_demon log is one trouble- Error 0x17001a: Failed to create snapshot for backup.
21.09.2018 13:23:09: 00 7848 I00640000: Atributy rezervní kopie zálohy: format tib; need_reserve_backup_copy false;
21.09.2018 13:23:09: 00 7848 I00640002: Operace Záloha_full_b1_s1_v1 byla spuštěna ručně.
21.09.2018 13:23:11: 00 7848 I00640000: Atributy rezervní kopie zálohy: format tib; need_reserve_backup_copy false;
21.09.2018 13:23:11: 00 7848 I013C0000: Operace: Zálohovat
21.09.2018 13:23:12: 00 7848 I0064000B: Priorita změněna na Nízká
21.09.2018 13:23:12: 00 7848 I0017001A: Error 0x17001a: Nelze vytvořit snímek zálohy.
21.09.2018 13:23:12: 00 7848 I000B03F0: Vytvoření archivu záloh Chráněná heslem Z: V:\
Do souboru: Záloha_inc_b1_s3_v1.tib Komprese: Žádná Vyloučit: Systémové soubory
21.09.2018 13:23:29: 00 11628 I00640000: Probíhá zápis přírůstkové verze do souboru: Záloha_inc_b1_s3_v1.tib
21.09.2018 14:01:51: 00 7848 I00640000: Byly úspěšně vytvořeny následující zálohy: G:\Zálohy\Záloha_inc_b1_s3_v1.tib
21.09.2018 14:01:51: 00 7848 I013C0006: Operace byla úspěšná.
Start: 21.09.2018 13:23:09
Stop: 21.09.2018 14:01:51
Total Time: 00:38:42

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The log file clearly shows:
Byly úspěšně vytvořeny následující zálohy: G:\Zálohy\Záloha_inc_b1_s3_v1.tib
This was an incremental backup, not a full backup, therefore ATI has detected significant changes in the source data as compared to the previous backup files, and these changes have amounted to the equivalent of a full backup size.
I have never used VeraCrypt but it is possible that when this is unlocked that the data being presented for backup looks different each time, as if a disk defragmentation had been run?
For the snapshot error, please download and run the Acronis VSS Doctor tool to check for any errors in this area and attempt to resolve them.
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Is it possible you are backing up the VeraCrypt container rather than the individual files and folders within your V: drive? If your are backing up the container an incremental backup will always be either very small (because nothing changed) or the whole container (because something inside it changed). I believe VeraCrypt's default behavior is to make the container seem unchanging to Windows, but it has an option to set the container's "modified" date if anything within the container changes.
If you are backing up individual files or folders within your mounted container then ATI's regular incremental backup processing might work, but VeraCrypt is emulating a Windows file system and that emulation may not accurately include whatever ATI uses to determine a change to a file or directory.
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Steve Smith wrote:The log file clearly shows:
Byly úspěšně vytvořeny následující zálohy: G:\Zálohy\Záloha_inc_b1_s3_v1.tib
This was an incremental backup, not a full backup, therefore ATI has detected significant changes in the source data as compared to the previous backup files, and these changes have amounted to the equivalent of a full backup size.
I have never used VeraCrypt but it is possible that when this is unlocked that the data being presented for backup looks different each time, as if a disk defragmentation had been run?
For the snapshot error, please download and run the Acronis VSS Doctor tool to check for any errors in this area and attempt to resolve them.
how check that data are presented different each time ? What parameters check ? File content via MD5 checksum, what next ? Date, but which date - Creation date, modified date ?
Defrag choice for Veracrypt drive is swtiched off automatically.
VSS doctor result: one error with free space
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Patrick O'Keefe wrote:Is it possible you are backing up the VeraCrypt container rather than the individual files and folders within your V: drive? If your are backing up the container an incremental backup will always be either very small (because nothing changed) or the whole container (because something inside it changed). I believe VeraCrypt's default behavior is to make the container seem unchanging to Windows, but it has an option to set the container's "modified" date if anything within the container changes.
If you are backing up individual files or folders within your mounted container then ATI's regular incremental backup processing might work, but VeraCrypt is emulating a Windows file system and that emulation may not accurately include whatever ATI uses to determine a change to a file or directory.
No, i am using backup for "Files and folders" not whole container. And i am using encrypted partition not container. Acronis officialy support "Files nad folders" method for TrueCrypt
Source and Target devices are on Two clasic external WD discs. So what now to do , what to check ?
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VSS doctor result: one error with free space
Have you tested this backup since resolving the error with free space?
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Going back to Steve's point earlier, did you unmount the VeraCrypt partition and remount it before running the second incremental backup?
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Pat L wrote:Going back to Steve's point earlier, did you unmount the VeraCrypt partition and remount it before running the second incremental backup?
Yes I do that - Unmount and remount partition back before second incremental backup
1) Plug-in external WesternDigital disc to Computer
2) Run VeraCrypt > Mount partition from external disc
3) Add new data (Photos, Videos, Documents) to mounted partition in VeraCrypt (Drive V:) and Unmount VeraCrypt partition, and plug-out external disc
4) Next day I add more data again (like in step 3)
5) After month I want incremental backup. So I plug-in external disc, mount partition in VeraCrypt, Run ATI > Incremental backup "Files and Folders" from Drive V:\ (mounted veracrypt partition)
6) Done Incremental backup but, too large
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I have installed Veracrypt, created a small (2GB) encrypted container and mounted this as drive V: then copied nearly 300MB of picture files to the drive.
I then create a new backup task using Files & Folders for the contents of drive V: and created the initial Full backup image.
I added some more picture files and created an incremental backup image.
Next, I unmounted the Veracrypt container and then mounted it again to drive V: and repeated the backup task to create a new incremental backup.
All the above worked exactly as expected and as shown in the Activity page for the task shown below:
Are you doing anything differently to how I have described for my recreation above?
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Note: the properties of my mounted Veracrypt container drive V: show as below:
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Steve Smith wrote:I have installed Veracrypt, created a small (2GB) encrypted container and mounted this as drive V: then copied nearly 300MB of picture files to the drive.
......
Are you doing anything differently to how I have described for my recreation above?
Steve, many thanks for you energy. I appreciate it. One step is different - when I do incremental backup.
It occurred on my new computer with clean installation of ATI where is not saved previous backup with settings, so I add Existing backup to ATI from target second external disc by selecting file with last incremental backup
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Adding an existing backup would still require you to reconfigure the backup task, so should not make any difference here.
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another difference is my partition and your file container. Can you try it with flash disc formated to veracrypt partition please ?
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Hmmm preparing a 16GB USB Flash drive as a Veracrypt encrypted drive is underway but with an estimate of around 4 hours to complete. Will be later today before I can test further here!
USB drive and port are both USB 2.0 so not the fastest on the block!
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VSS doctor have no error, but incremental backup is still too large
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Ok, further tests done with mixed results.
USB 16GB stick now encrypted with Veracrypt then mounted to drive letter W:
Files copied to drive W: and initial full backup created.
Further files added to drive W: and incremental backup created.
Drive W: dismounted via Veracrypt GUI then mounted again to same W: letter.
New incremental backup found no new files to copy as expected.
Drive W: dismounted and the USB stick ejected / removed from computer.
USB reconnected to computer, warnings from Windows ignored that the stick needed to be formatted (due to being encrypted!).
Mounted drive via Veracrypt GUI but give letter X: this time.
Backup task Source changed to reflect drive X: as source for backup.
Backup run but a Full backup file was created (due to needing to change source or because the USB stick was removed, reconnected and remounted?).
Dismounted drive X: then selected drive W: and remounted the drive.
Backup task Source changed back to be drive W:
Backup run and an Incremental backup made but same size as previous Full backup.
Further incremental backup made with no data changes - size = 0 as expected.
Tried again - dismounted, ejected, removed USB drive. Reconnected, mounted - again got X: so dismounted, then mounted again to W:
Ran incremental backup with no data changes - size = 0 as expected.
From above, looks like if the drive letter changes on connect/mount of USB drive, a full backup will be created, but otherwise all is OK?
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Further update.
I removed the Veracrypt encryption from my 16GB USB stick and then used the built-in Windows BitLocker To Go control panel to encrypt the same USB stick. This retained the same drive letter V: as the drive was given before being encrypted, which is different to how Veracrypt requires a different drive letter to be used.
I then created a new Files & Folders backup of the BitLocker encrypted USB stick and created a Full backup image file.
Repeated the earlier tests including ejecting / removing the USB stick then reconnecting and all worked correctly as expected with no larger incremental images.
BitLocker also has the added advantage of allowing the encrypted USB stick to be automatically unlocked when connected to the host computer.
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Steve find the mistake and solved the problem!
I am using drive letter V:\ but originaly was it letter Z:\
Originaly letter Z: you can see when you want recovery from backup
Now when I mount veracrypt partition to Z:\ incremental backup have small size as expected :-)
Many thanks to Steve Smith for his help, effort and energy.
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Thanks for the feedback and very glad that you have found the cause for this issue and it is resolved!
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