Cannot Select Destination Archive File on External HDD
I'm running ATIH2010 with updates applied today. I have a Western Digital Passport External USB hard disk drive that contains an archive that I created several days ago. I can see the device and the archive file using File Explorer in WindowsXP Pro SP-3, but that archive file is not discovered by Acronis when it comes time to select a destination archive file. Using Acronis, I can go back to the left panel and expand My Computer and see the device and the archive file, but selecting it in that view does nothing to select it in the active panel where the destination archive is to be chosen.
Can you give me some guidance here? I've downloaded the User Manual, and read the Support pages but cannot find any information.
Also, is there a way to tell from an archive file name whether that archive contains a full backup, a full backup with incremental backups, or a backup with differential backups? Can backups of different types be archived together? If not, what prevents the user? What if I can't remember what type of backup I did last?
How big is your USB disk? Is it formatted NTFS? Did you disable the WD virtual disk in the smartware software? That could help...
If you let ATI name the backups automatically, a file finishing by an integer between parentheses is a full backup, a file finishing with an integer is an incremental or a differential.
Backups of different types can be archived together.
The type of backup shouldn't matter if you don't interfere with the backup archives manually. Just restore the backup with the date you need. ATI will look up the files it needs to fully restore the data as it was on that date.It is a good idea to validate your backup files from time to time, that will make you confident that ATI is still tracking all the dependencies/linkages between files correctly.
How big is your USB disk? Is it formatted NTFS? Did you disable the WD virtual disk in the smartware software? That could help...
If you let ATI name the backups automatically, a file finishing by an integer between parentheses is a full backup, a file finishing with an integer is an incremental or a differential.
Backups of different types can be archived together.
The type of backup shouldn't matter if you don't interfere with the backup archives manually. Just restore the backup with the date you need. ATI will look up the files it needs to fully restore the data as it was on that date.It is a good idea to validate your backup files from time to time, that will make you confident that ATI is still tracking all the dependencies/linkages between files correctly.
Thanks, Pat!
The information about types of backups and mixing them is invaluable.
My issue is not one encountered while running a recovery but arises when I try to do an incremental backup. The WD Passport, formatted NTSF as is my HDD, has the archive on it and nothing else. The Passport has enough capacity to back up my laptop HDD twice or more. I do not use the WD software; I'm trying to use Acronis.
I'm afraid I don't understand this question: "Did you disable the WD virtual disk in the smartware software?" To my knowledge there is no smartware software on the Passport but it has been in use for so long that I don't remember removing or disabling any pre-configured software on the device. Could you tell me what files or file types to look for on the Passport to determine the status of the smartware?
Thanks again for your help!
rh
I may be off track with the smartware thing. Smartware is software that comes with certain WD portable disks. The software includes some disk preferences and file-based backup software. Once installed, it allows you to switch on and off the virtual CD feature. The virtual CD allows you to install some other software bundled with the disk, from my faint recollection. If you don't see the virtual WD CD when "My Computer" is open, then you are fine. If you are not sure, you can check on the WD website whether SmartWare applies to your disk.
I am guessing you are trying to run an incremental backup as an increment to an existing full archive. Does this work when you use another disk?
Thanks for the information on the smartware. I will check into it. I've had the Passport too long to remember the specifics of its functionality.
Yes, you are correct that I'm trying to do an incremental backup to a full backup done previously. I'm stumped. I don't understand - and cannot figure out - why Acronis does not recognize a drive that it displays when My Computer is expanded in the left hand pane to show installed devices. If Acronis can display the device when My Computer is expanded, why can't it 'see' it when I need to select a destination for the incremental backup?
You mentioned 'an existing full archive.' Do you mean by that there is no more room in the archive so nothing incremental can be added? If so, how can that be when there is plenty of free space on the HDD?
Maybe I should take some screenshots. Will I be able to post them here under "File attachments?"
Thanks again for your help.
RH Hutchins,
What you have described has happened to me. The problem is that you are not seeing all the display.
When you are on that screen, keep digging down the tree inside the left pane window until you click on the folder you want.
Now switch to the right pane and you may have to use move the window horizontal bar horizontally so you can see all of the backups inside the right pane.
My problem is resolved, but I have no idea what the solution was.
I kept trying at different times and was eventually successful. When the backup ran, it was after a fresh start of WinXP and a fresh load of Acronis.
Persistence pays, I guess.