Acronis True Image gives no signs it's being used (until it's too late.....)

Jez,

What are your back config settings - what time is your schedule set?  The backup will run on those days at those times, pending that the system is online (or able to wake and you have the setting to wake the system up to start the backup at the scheduled time).

Also, do you have the setting to run missed backups when the system turns on?  If so, that will ignore the schedule and start running then, which is something many people want, but can be disabled if not.

Also, is the backup to an external USB?  If so, did you select the option to run when the USB is plugged in?  That will also ignore the schedule and follow that rule so can outside of your expected schedule.

Last, and most importantly though, there is no way to know how long the backup will take once it's started, but you should be able to get a good idea based on other recent ones how fast your system and hardware performs.  It all depends on how much data has changed and how fast your hardware is (i.e. backing up to a 5400rpm spinning drive on USB 2.0 is going to take ages longer than backing up to an internal SSD directly connected to a SATA port or your network speeds could be an issue if backing up wirelessly to a NAS).  Keep in mind that differentials backup all changes since the last full.  In some instances, if you had a full and then a major Windows 10 update occurred, your next differential would actually be larger than a full because of the major change to the OS.  Then each differential would be at least that big plus whatever has changed again.  And it would behave like this until the next version chain starts, but the amount of data changing each day could still impact how long each differential backup would take after the next initial full.

The easiest way to determine if a backup is running or not, is to check the application quickly before you log off or power down.  You should have an icon in your task bar anytime a backup is still running too.

Another option here is to use the Pre & Post Command options to do something that will alert you to the running backup task.

The following Powershell script would create a text file on the desktop when the backup task starts, then remove that file from the desktop when the backup task finishes.  This should be saved as file TaskActive.ps1

#Filename = TaskActive.ps1
$desktop = "$Env:userprofile\desktop" 
$taskactive = 'ATI_Active.txt' 
$here = Get-Location 
function MarkActive { 
Set-Location -Path $desktop 
if (!(test-path $taskactive)) { 
write-host "$taskactive not found - being created" 
new-item -path $desktop -type file -name $taskactive} 
else 
{ write-host "$taskactive found - being removed" 
remove-item $taskactive } 
Set-Location -Path $here } 
MarkActive

 The above is run from both the Pre (to set as active) and the Post Command (to clear) as shown in the screen images below.  The Working directory should be set to where the TaskActive.ps1 file is stored.

An icon for file 'ATI_Active.txt' will appear on the user desktop when the script runs and then get removed when it runs a second time when the backup task ends.

Thanks to you both for your help - by the way, I didn't receive any notification email from Acronis to tell me replies had been made to my post (yes, I do have "notify me"  checked).

For Bobby, thanks for that, I've now checked those other couple of options at the very bottom and I've also extended the system icons to show the few I really do need, including the Acronis Shield (which I assume is what changes into an icon like you have during backups).

For Steve,  thank you too - that's pretty advanced stuff, which I can copy and paste / save someplace and set up like you've described - though I do have a lot of icons on my desktop (which I'm not a fan of anyway), but of course, my screen is usually taken up with applications, so I wouldn't see that Icon, only at shutdown (when no applications are open any longer) and then I'd have to remember to look for an icon (on two large monitors......).

Clearly, this software needs a safety measure in place - if a backup is taking place it should WARN you BEFORE Windows is actually shutting down that you're about to 'lose your work'.  Nearly ALL other software, if you try to close it BEFORE saving your work, will warn you so (eg Word, Excel, Photoshop, literally any software).

I think something as important as a backup software, should do the same.

Jez, there is a way to disable all the shutdown / restart power options if you are using the default Windows 10 start menu that could be used in a Pre Command then re-enabled again in a Post Command.  This would stop you from clicking on shutdown while your backup is still active.

Note: this does not work if you are using an alternative start menu application such as 'Classic Shell' or 'Open Shell' etc.

Steve Smith wrote:

Jez, there is a way to disable all the shutdown / restart power options if you are using the default Windows 10 start menu that could be used in a Pre Command then re-enabled again in a Post Command.  This would stop you from clicking on shutdown while your backup is still active.

Note: this does not work if you are using an alternative start menu application such as 'Classic Shell' or 'Open Shell' etc.

Thanks Steve,

I do use a Classic Shell in Windows 10, and would consider going forward with the newer start menu to solve this, however, I wouldn't know how to implement what it is you're suggesting.

Does seem a little drastic when it's the software which is what needs fixing - but thanks for the suggested workaround, much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Jez, if you are still using Classic Shell then you should update this to Open Shell which is the follow on program and is being maintained.  The older Classic Shell has problems with Windows 10 for the latest builds.

I have worked out how to disable Shutdown for Open Shell but don't have a computer still running the original Classic Shell program to test as it stopped working for me a while back.

Jez,

Yes, adding that one in "taskbar" as "show" should do the trick.

Thanks again guys, both sending me top advice and I am always open and ready to bow to those of greater wisdom than I :)

I'm taking a look at OpenShell now Steve, it looks like the way to go and be more up to date.  Thanks for that tip, I'll update and get back on here once that's done.

Bobby, yes, I did that thanks and yes, now when a back up is taking place, at least you get to see a progress bar showing up in the system tray - definitely better than I had it before.  many thanks.

Sweet! Better than nothing and pretty similar to the behavior of other competing backups. Would be nice if it was there automatically though ?.