[solved] Custom scheme is diff but it only makes full *.tibs
I have made a custom scheme to back up all windows 7 partitions. I wanted 10 diffs after the first full one and then repeat a full and another 10 diffs etc. I specified only keeping 5 in the chain. I have used this named scheme 3 times and it has produced 3 full backup tibs. 11GB each. I have not asked it to keep the first full one of the scheme.
What is going on? Why no smaller diff tibs?
And another newby thing. With my new computer I have been experimenting with many custom disk backups just to learn what happens. Out of 40 odd I only wanted to keep 5 key ones so deleted the unwanted tibs in windows.
Now I know Acronis keeps a database and asks to only delete within the programme. But it was difficult to find how. Deleting tibs seems not to be encouraged and the "correct" method somewhat buried under the restore button. So my second question is : is it possible to clean up the database it holds about all my experiments?
many thanks in advance
Richard
Thanks for reply Pat
I don't always want to delete the task, only the unwanted tibs.
The only way I have found to see the database is to use the "mount" tool which shows the dozens of experimental backup tasks to choose from including the tasks and tibs I have deleted. So it shows there is a record of all I have tried which I would like to clean up.
I guess a full reinstall, and then tell it about only the tibs I wanted to keep. Aren't computers wonderful time savers if you do stuff over and over again until you get it perfect :-)
Richard
Richard,
You are mis- interpreting the options.
Chain 1 begins with the first full backup and completes when the 10 diff is completed--or a total of 11 files comprise chain1.
By inserting the 5 into the " keep x recent version chains, your option has instructed the program to keep 5 full chains, or 5 x 11=55 files before it begins any cleanup or deletion.
After the full is created for the beginning of the 6th chain,(#56), then it will delete chain 1 or all 11 files of chain 1 will be deleted and the remaining chains will be retained--or a revolving keep os the 5 newest full and complete chains.
A diff has no value without the full associated with the diff.
If you want to keep lessor number of full chains, then reduce the "keep 5" fo a smaller number.
If you wish to keep fewer number of diff backups, then reduce the keep 10 diff to a smaller number.
As MVP Pat has suggested, the Deleting of the database.xml file is an easy solution.
This would also allow you the delete the unwanted tib files manually via Windows Explorer at the same time.
You can always get rid of the task name by using the backup settings option to "remove task from list".
The deletion of the xml file will remove any current history from Acronis that the backup files were created.
I will butt out now and let you and MVP Pat continue.
Hi Grover & Pat
Thank you for helping my understanding of chains. In the backup scheme I made, my aim was for a max of 10 diffs before doing a fresh full backup: and to keep only 5 diffs at any one time. I see now that keeping 5 means keeping 5 x 11 files (not one Full + 5 diffs as I misunderstood)
But I still do not understand why my scheme only seems to make full tibs (3 so far). I have again attached a jpg screenshot of my scheme
And if you think deleting a "database.xml" file is easy then we are on very different levels. My knowledge is like a gnat's kneecap compared to yours, so I may have to reinstall. Occasionally Acronis stops responding when I try to browse for backups or look at the timeline, and my theory is I have done so many experiments that the programme gets lost.
Richard
The database file is localed for Win 7-64 bit systems in the link below and it can be deleted from within Windows explorer by browsing to the folder and deleting the archive.xml file.
c:\users\all users\acronis\TrueImageHome\Database\Archive.xml
In order to browse to this file, you must have view hidden and system files enabled.
Control Panel/Folder Options/View
Checkmark the option "show hidden files, folders, and drives
Un-check "hide extensions for known file types"
You might want to open the archive.xml file in notepad (before deletion) and review its contents just as a matter of FYI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are indicating that the word "full" is part of each of 3 questionable file descriptions. A normal read would be for the first file to read full and the 2nd and 3rd and followup would have "diff" as part of the name. A new full will be created in the following circumstances.
1. If target disk is empty of prior backups within the specific chain.
2. if target disk has been reformatted since backup task was created.
3. If target disk is a different disk than what was used when task was created.
4. If task was edited/changed since the task was first created.
Do any of the above apply?
If no, post a screen capture of your WD storage folder.
If diff is a part of the file description (rather than full), its unwanted size might indicate that Windows auto-defrag is running daily and needs to be turned off.
I would also suggest that you use disk mode as the backup method as compared to your current partition mode method. The disk mode stores the disk signature wherease the partition mode does not. This is illustrated in first part of link #2 below.
Richard,
If you experimented a lot with ATI, and you edited a task (changed the retention rules, backup scheme, destination, name), then you probably have confused the software quite a bit. It is better to delete the task and create a new one when you want to change something.
At this point, it will be easier for you to uinstall, reboot, reinstall and create a new task.
Thank you both, I'm learning!
You are right the reason for the lack of diffs is I have been editing the tasks a lot. After all, the edit button was inviting use.
I managed to find the archive.xml in \programData\ by searching and binned it hoping the programme would create a new one, and it did.
I will delete tasks in future rather than edit them. I suppose it is not rocket science, even for me, to recreate them if I take notes, but I wanted to save myself the trouble. Computers are supposed to save us time, right?
I also take your expertise about disk backup rather than partition although I have no idea what a "disk signature" does for me. I did read your link 2. Presumably individual partition backups can be restored or my current efforts are stuffed.
greatfully, Richard
Yes, you can restore individual partitions even if you made a whole disk backup.