TIH 2011 with PlusPack (Build 6696) - Changes time of all zip files on hard disk during backup search
Having used Acronis TIH 2011 on the Acronis boot disk to restore a partition from a *.tib file, I found that ALL zip files on ALL drives have had their "last modified time" changed to a time during which the Acronis boot disk was in use.
Scenario:
1) 2 internal hard disks.
2) One external hard disk (USB 3).
3) A total of 7 partitions.
4) Windows 7 Professional 64 bit OS on three partitions and Ubuntu 11.04 on one partition.
Steps:
1) Install Acronis TIH 2011 with PlusPack (Build 6696).
2) Use Acronis Media Builder to create a boot DVD.
3) Boot from DVD.
4) Select Acronis True Image Home 2011.
5) Use Acronis True Image to restore a partition from an image that spans DVDs.
Note:
After selecting the image file to restore (from the second of the two DVDs), the file select dialog closed then the program appeared to hang (i.e. not refresh the screen completely and not display the button
to continue the restore). The hard disk light was on continuously. I found that even though the screen was not refreshed, by right clicking the backup to be restored, I could select a context menu item to start the restore process.
Result:
All the zip files on all hard drives (internal and external) had their last modified time set to the time that TIH was being used to restore a single (small) partition. Between running TIH on the boot disk and discovering that all the zip file times had changed, the only OS that was booted was the main Windows 7 64 bit OS (the others were images for OS deployment). The booted partition was not on the partition that was restored using TIH.
Several hundred zip files were affected. Their times were changed to a time in the range 1355 to 1357 the same day. TIH was in use between 1350 and 1404 with the actual restore done from 1359 to 1404.
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Is this a known problem?
Also, how should I proceed in terms of getting the problem fixed or working around the problem? The (30 day) support for this product has expired and I can't find a way to report this to Acronis properly.
Having manually rescued the zip file times from backups, I can't risk repeating the test on the same machine as it is a machine where file times matter. Without repeating it I can't be sure that Acronis TIH caused the damage, but it seems likely given the file time. It appears as though it accidentally messed with the zip file times when searching for backups. Maybe it opened each zip file to see whether it was an Acronis zip file, and set the wrong file access flags.
I could try it on a clean machine but it will take a significant time, so I need to know that it is worth it. Are Acronis likely to release a fix (to the version of TIH that runs from the boot disk, rather than the Windows application)?
Amazing service dev-anon! - that's really helpful. I definitely did click the "Refresh backups" button - in a vain attempt to refresh the screen. It's the only time I've ever clicked that button so it might be responsible - though it seemed to be searching the hard disks anyway.
I'll see whether I can duplicate your VM test.
Even if I can't, hopefully Acronis will accept your confirmation of the problem as evidence that it is worth investigating.
Thanks again,
JB.
Using an XP Mode Virtual PC VM, booting from the Acronis recovery disk iso, and with a single OS on the C:\ drive:
On the "Recovery" screen:
If the "Refresh backups" button is pressed, then all zip files on C:\ have their time changed to the current time.
If the "Refresh backups" button is not pressed, then the zip file times are not changed.
It is not necessary to select a backup or do the restore.
At least I have a workaround.
Thanks again dev-anon for your help (a) for the idea of using a VM to save messing up the hard disk files, and (b) for narrowing the bug down to the "Refresh backups" button.
JB.
Same happened to me earlier this year. I spent hours looking for malware which might have caused this. Didn't find any.
Seems to be that the "malware" is now identified :-/
Acronis guys, any statement on this?
Hello everyone,
Thank you very much for your valuable contribution.
I will be forwarding this issue to our Developers and as soon as I have any news I will post here.
If you have additional questions please let me know.
Thank you.
Hi everyone,
I just got an update from our Testing lab. We were able to reproduce this issue.
I do not have any information about when this will be resolved but I will keep you posted.
You can always submit your feedback or contact our Management team directly.
Thank you.
Hello all,
I have an update about this issue.
It has been resolved and the fix is available in the next update of ATIH2011.
Please let me know if you have additional questions.
Thank you.