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Image Backup Timestamp is 16 hours behind System Timestamp of File

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Hi,

I am a bit confused, but I have noticed when restoring backups, when going through Rescue Media, it lists the Backup at an earlier date and time. I have now realised that there is a 16-hour difference between the System Back-up and what is listed in the Rescue media Folder listing of the file. Eg. Local System Timestamp of the file creation is 16:40 here but shows as 00:40 (same day) in the Rescue Media File list timestamp.
This is confusing when I may have 2 backups in one day, as sometimes, one or both of these could be shown as the day before they were created...
Firstly, why is the timestamp 16 hours different? How can I ensure the Rescue media lists the correct System Date/Time, as created here in Western Australia? Is there some sort of setting, etc?

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System Time Created Modified.jpg 72.13 KB
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David, my first question has to be:  which type of rescue media have you been using when you see this 16 hour timestamp difference?

For the ATI 2018 & later version rescue media, there are 3 different versions available:
Simple:  created based on your Windows Recovery Environment for WinPE media.
Advanced: created based on Windows ADK (or AIK for earlier OS versions) - WinPE media.
Advanced: created based on a small Linux distro OS (BusyBox) or created from the .ISO CD image download from your Acronis Account page.

I would expect that the timestamp difference is being caused because the rescue media is defaulting to a different time zone such as GMT.  Using the Simple WinPE media should help pick up the correct timezone when it is created.

One further thought, please check your BIOS clock settings to ensure that this shows the correct time and date - if not, then the CMOS battery for the PC BIOS may need to be changed.

Hi,

I am using "Simple" Media Creation for each computer. So they have their "own" Rescue USB...!
I have noted the time differences on 2 desktops and a Notebook. So I don't think BIOS or CMOS come into the equation on 3 different machines, with their latest BIOS, etc.
However, I will check the Desktops/Notebook BIOS times right now, to be doubly sure and get back to you....

Cheers.

OK

The BIOS Dates/Times all match the Windows System Date and Time, on all units.

I have redone their specific Rescue Media USB's in Acronis TI 2021, and all are the latest Simple Media Creations.

I have gone back in to view their Backups, and they are still stated as 16 hours behind the REAL creation System Timestamp, and Windows File Properties, etc.

Cheers

David, what time stamps are shown in the ATI GUI on the Activity page for one of these problem backups? 

This is the wrong Timestamp shown (as attached) in the Rescue Media.....
Note: Under Windows, the shot in the first Post is the real time and date.

This is the Activity Page of Acronis GUI - for the above file....The timestamp shown is the correct one!

David, from searching in Google it appears that all WinPE media defaults to using Pacific Standard Time (GMT-8) and this is not easy to change.

If you have network access while booted into the WinPE environment, then there are some options you could use which involve two specific steps.

  1. Export registry key: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation to a TimeZone.reg file to use in your WinPE media.
  2. Create a batch command file in the same location to import the reg data, then to perform a NET TIME command to set the time for the correct timezone from a time server.

See webpage:  Time sync during OSD in WinPE / MDT for a fuller explanation of the above steps.  See also Microsoft webpage: Windows PE - TimeZone

You may want to try using the MVP Custom PE builder script to see if this handles your correct timezone better or not?

Note: this issue with WinPE and timezones has been around for 10+ years as shown in the very long discussion in forum topic:  Using WinPE to Image Hard Disk (Important Observations & Problems).  For reference, this topic refers to MustangPEBuilder in post #43 forward, Mustang is the main author for the MVP Custom PE builder script!

Steve,

Many thanks for your excellent explanation!

I actually Googled this myself originally but didn't find the correct info, or I didn't realise what I was looking at....

A weird concept to be sure for software to default to a specific Timezone, that isn't Zulu (GMT) or Local.

I will check out your links, but at least it has explained the difference. If I can't alter this easily, I may use the exact 'Pacific Time' (at the backup time) as part of the filename, for identification purposes, that will make it easier regarding differentiating restores, etc.

Again, many thanks.

DP

PS: The Linux Recovery Media, however, gives the correct Timestamp of the Back-up!

 

This is interesting; my time zone is +10, so the time difference is 18 hours. 

Indeed, if using the WinPE Recovery Media and viewing the Backup Timestamp.

The Linux Recovery Media gave the correct Timestamp, however.