Deleting Backups
Hi All,
I set up backups to a 3 TB external drive. I have Acronis 2018. I'm a bit long in the tooth (75 Years Old) but not computer illiterate. Going through all the documentation, I can't find an easy way to delete most of the backups that have almost filled the 3 TB drive. One method is using a command line which I'm confused as hell about, and the other is through a "Console" which I can't find.
I probably need a pamphlet entitled "Deleting Acronis 2018 Backups For (old) Idiots, or "Deleting Acronis 2018 Backups For (old) Dummies."
Please HELP!
Thanks
H Lippe


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Herb, as Ian has mentioned, Acronis has made deleting backups a whole lot easier with ATI 2019 and later versions (but also introduced other changes with ATI 2020 that were not so welcome and you might want to avoid!). You may be able to pickup a copy of ATI 2019 via such as Amazon or other online resellers!
See KB 61844: Acronis True Image 2019, 2020 and 2021: How to delete old backups for details of the new method.
For ATI 2018 and earlier versions, then the best method is to use the Automatic Cleanup options provided for your backup tasks as this takes care of all the details of deleting unwanted backup files.
My personal preference used for my own backup tasks is to set the automatic cleanup settings to:
'Store no more than 2 recent version chains'
Note: 2 is what works in my own scenarios - this can be adjusted to meet your own needs but the key rules are as follows:
Nothing will be deleted until after a further new Full backup image gets created that would cause the number selected has been exceeded, i.e. 2 becomes 3.
You need enough available free space on your backup drive or location to store the number of backup files involved plus one more full backup file.
Example: If I have an incremental backup that creates 1 x full followed by 5 incremental files that add up to 100GB in size, then my backup drive needs to be able to store 2 x 100GB plus another 100GB (size rounded up) before the oldest 100GB of files will be deleted (when using a value of 2 for automatic cleanup).
The settings for automatic cleanup are found on the Backup Scheme page in the Options for your backup task.
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Sorry I didn't get back to you guys sooner. Sometimes retirement can be busier; in a good way, than when you're working.
I've decided to go the ATI Backup 2019. Hope that's the right one as I never saw the word "Backup" in previous versions.
I'm expecting it from Amazon this Sunday. I'll let you know how that goes.
Thanks for your help.
Herb
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Herb,
I just looked at Amazon and did not see an available listing for ATI 2019 so not sure what you ordered.
Regardless, you should be OK to use both Ian's and Steve's advice and sticking with ATI 2018.
As Ian said, you can delete older backups from Explorer as long as you turn off Active Protection first. And be sure to delete entire chains (full plus its incrementals or differentials). You could start by just deleting the oldest chain to see how it behaves. Don't forget the validation issue Ian brings up.
Secondly, as Steve said, where you schedule a backup task you should turn on Automatic Cleanup. Then you can tell it to only save a specific number of backup chains. After creating a new chain, ATI will delete the oldest to keep the number of chains as you want.
Once you get the number of backup chains right, you'll be good going forward.
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Herb, to my knowledge there is no product called 'ATI Backup 2019' so hopefully, what you have ordered on Amazon is actually Acronis True Image 2019.
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This is from my Orders Page. Hope it's the right one. Box says Cloning & BackUps. I've been using Acronis since 2012, but I usually CLONE my HD or SSD. Tried backups but I didn't know it would fill up a 3 TB disk that fast.
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That looks fine Herb
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OK!
I received and installed the ATI 2019. A little tricky finding the the function to delete the old backups but I did. Deleted all backups on the full 3TB disk and now I have lots of room there.
I discovered that I had older backups from 2020 on a newer, 5TB drive that ATI 2019 didn't see but I was able to delete them from the 5 TB disc through Windows Explorer. Not the recommended method but ATI 2019 didn't do it.
I'm going to stick to Cloning from now on.
Thanks Guys! You were a big help. :-)
Herb
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Herb, why are you sticking to Cloning? If you just run Full Disk backups and use the cleanup rules to only keep X number of chains, you should be OK and it will all be automatic.
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