True Image 2016 full backup has started splitting backups - (SOLVED)

Geoff, welcome to these User Forums.

Please download the MVP Log Viewer (available via the Community Tools link in my signature) and use this to check what messages are being written to your backup task logs.  These should give more information on what is happening here.

I suspect that your backup drive is getting low on space or has become fragmented, but this is purely a guess without more information.

If you can post some screen shots showing the backup file names, to show how these are being split, that may also be helpful.

Here are some screenshots showing the clustered backup. The cluster doc shows the three clustered backups and backup 1 - 2 - 3 show each backup separately.

Geoff, thanks for the screen shots which look to show that your three full backups are actually all part of the same Full backup activity, which for some reason (unknown) was interrupted and restarted twice to give the three files.

File 1 Full Backup April 25th 2017_full_b22_s1_v1 size 207GB created 11/10/2017 02:32:26
File 2 Full Backup April 25th 2017_full_b22_s1_v2 size 63.5GB created 11/10/2017 04:48:07
File 3 Full Backup April 25th 2017_full_b22_s1_v3 size 40.8GB created 11/10/2017 05:27:33

It is possible that there may be 3 separate log files for each of this backup files, so when using the Log Viewer tool, look at any other logs for the date/times shown above.

One possible reason for the backup to be interrupted is if power to the Hitachi drive I: was lost temporarily?

Now that attachments are possible in the forums, you could post copies of the log files for this backup task - there is an option in the Log Viewer File menu to save the log files to a more easily accessible location for posting / uploading.

Thanks Steve, Would this mean that I could re-install all three backups if needed?

I have attached the log file as you suggested.

Many thanks again. Geoff.

Geoff, if you click on the option for your backup task for Recovery (Files or Disk) it should show you all the information from the whole (combined) backup image file without any issue.

Sorry wasn't able to look at the log file you attached as there is a bug with the forum software that prevents opening/downloading log files for some strange reason.  You could copy it into a Word .docx document which I was able to open previously!  The bug has been reported but not fixed as yet!

Steve, I opened Acronis and clicked on Recovery but only the last backup (3) 40gb was shown. Is this what you mean when you say click on Recovery option?

I allowed a schedule backup earlier this am (2.30) and the backup completed and as usual switched off PC but when I checked the backup it had split into three again. Looks like all data  has been backed up into this cluster again.

I have attached a screenshot od the Hitachi HD and also word documents of the 11th October and 18th October log files.

Do you think it is time for me to replace the Hitachi HD as I'm wondering if it has become corrupted.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Regards Geoff..

Geoff, thank you for the log file data, this shows that all three backup files are being created by the one backup task but that errors are occurring that triggers this behaviour.

id=7;  date/time=11/10/2017 02:32:26;  message=Writing full version to file:
FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b22_s1_v1.tib
id=8;  date/time=11/10/2017 04:47:37;  message=The specified file does not exist:
I:\FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b22_s1_v1.tib
id=9;  date/time=11/10/2017 04:47:37;  message=The specified file does not exist 
id=10;  date/time=11/10/2017 04:47:37;  message=The specified file does not exist
id=11;  date/time=11/10/2017 04:47:37;  message=The system cannot find the file specified
id=12;  date/time=11/10/2017 04:48:07;  message=Reattempting the operation.
Error: The specified file does not exist: I:\FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b22_s1_v1.tib
id=13;  date/time=11/10/2017 04:48:07;  message=The specified file does not exist:
I:\FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b22_s1_v1.tib
id=14;  date/time=11/10/2017 04:48:07;  message=The specified file does not exist
id=15;  date/time=11/10/2017 04:48:07;  message=The specified file does not exist
id=16;  date/time=11/10/2017 04:48:07;  message=The system cannot find the file specified
id=17;  date/time=11/10/2017 04:48:07;  message=Writing full version to file:
FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b22_s1_v2.tib
id=18;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:27:03;  message=The specified file does not exist:
I:\FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b22_s1_v2.tib
id=19;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:27:03;  message=The specified file does not exist
id=20;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:27:03;  message=The specified file does not exist
id=21;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:27:03;  message=The system cannot find the file specified
id=22;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:27:33;  message=Reattempting the operation.
Error: The specified file does not exist: I:\FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b22_s1_v2.tib
id=23;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:27:33;  message=The specified file does not exist:
I:\FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b22_s1_v2.tib
id=24;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:27:33;  message=The specified file does not exist
id=25;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:27:33;  message=The specified file does not exist
id=26;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:27:33;  message=The system cannot find the file specified
id=27;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:27:33;  message=Writing full version to file:
FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b22_s1_v3.tib
id=28;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:53:23;  message=Deleting backup file with path
I:\FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b21_s1_v1.tib.
id=29;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:53:25;  message=The following backups have been successfully created: I:\FIRST FULL BACKUP APRIL 25TH 2017_full_b22_s1_v3.tib
id=30;  date/time=11/10/2017 05:54:16;  message=Operation has succeeded.
Start= 11/10/2017 02:30:02
Finish= 11/10/2017 05:54:16
Total Time= 03:24:14

Rather than replacing the Hitachi drive - I would recommend trying a different drive if you have one first, or reformatting the whole Hitachi drive (assuming that you don't have any data on the drive that you need to keep!)  

Another area to check is in the Windows Power settings, i.e. that you are not allowing Windows to put USB devices to sleep when it thinks that they are idle (as the drive may appear while Acronis is creating snapshot data).

Steve, Many thanks. I now see the value of the log file.

I do have another External HD but it is an old Maxtor with about 298gb capacity so not big enough for using.

I have had a look at windows power settings and in Power Options - Advanced settings - usb settings - usb selective suspension setting - Setting is ENABLED. Could this be the problem? Should this be DISABLED?

I am off tomorrow so I will format the Hitachi drive and try a full backup. I will let you know how I get on.

I forgot to mention that this cluster problem occurred previously a few months ago after I was on holiday and the Acronis schedule was looking for a destination drive which I had disconnected while on holiday. I decided to delete all backups and schedule and compile a new full backup schedule which worked fine for a few weeks until this present problem.

Regards Geoff.

Geoff, I would recommend to try changing the usb selective suspension setting to disabled as you do not want your USB drive to be suspended just because ATI needs to working time to prepare snapshot data during the backup process.

OK Steve, I will disable and then reformat Hitachi and try a new full backup tomorrow. I will keep you posted.

Thanks again,

Geoff.

Steve, Looks like you could have cracked it!

After disabling USB selective suspension I woke up this am to a full (un-clustered) 312 GB backup.I will leave this forum open until next week's scheduled backup to be sure, but it looks promising.

Many thanks again for all your help and interest.

I will let you know how I get on next week.

Geoff.

Geoff, good news, thanks for giving feedback to keep us informed.

Hi Steve, Bad news - Just woke up to the weekly scheduled full backup and found it split into two this time. All data is there again but still split.

I have decided to try to format the Hitachi External HD. I have attached a screen shot of the options and as you will see one of the options is byte size. It was set at 4096 but do you think the default option or the largest option 8192 should be chosen?

Thanks Geoff.

Steve, I have attached another screenshot of the SLEEP settings as this one showing "ON" looks suspicious. What do you think?

Geoff.

Geoff, I have never needed to set anything but the default allocation unit size for any of my drives and this has always worked fine for me.

The other setting for hybrid sleep is another name for the newer Windows Fast Start where when you click on Shutdown it actually enters this hybrid sleep state aka hibernation state, so this should not have any impact on the issue at the heart of this forum topic.

Thanks Steve, I will set at default and format drive then try a full backup. I will let you know how it goes.

Geoff.

P.S. Format went well. I have done a manual full backup successfully with one full backup ( not clustered ).

I set the options at default, as you suggest Steve. I will leave this post open to again try a scheduled backup next week before hopefully closing.

Many thanks again Steve.

Geoff..

Wednesday November 1st 2017.

Hi Steve,

A scheduled full backup went ahead this AM and as you will see by attachments the old problem persists still with a split result.

As I have formatted the HD and as manual backups work OK do you think it would be advisable to try a re-install of Acronis to see it that is corrupted or could it be a problem with my aging PC ?

Is it possible to do a re-install of the software?

Hi Geoff, I do not think that reinstalling ATI would fix this problem as I don't believe that there is an issue with ATI itself here.

The strange part is that the _v1 section of your backup is only 35.7GB and then the _v2 section grows to 276GB, which to my mind would suggest that there was an issue with the drive connection perhaps being lost momentarily and then holding good for the remainder of the backup task after an error retry.

Have you tried using a different USB cable / different USB port - the rear ports are recommended over using any on the front of the computer (assuming a desktop machine).  Another test would be to use another drive if you have one.

I take your point Steve. I will first of all try a new lead and a rear USB. The spare drive I have is only 298GB which is too small for the backups. I could try reducing the files on the scheduled backup to below 298 GB but I would rather not disturb this backup until I have tried your other option. I could purchase a 500GB drive cheaply and it would come in handy even if it doesn't solve the problem. I will try a manual backup tomorrow with the new lead and rear USB and then try a scheduled backup next Wednesday and if no change I will try and buy a cheap 500GB HD.

It's strange though that I have tried a number of manual backups and all have worked correctly as it just seems to be the scheduled.backups that split.

I will keep you posted about progress.

Thanks again for all your help and interest.

Regards Geoff.

Wednesday 8th.

Great news! scheduled backup this am performed perfectly. No split results.

As I said I have reformatted the Hitachi HD without success but with the change of USB cable and using a USB input at rear of tower everything was normal.

I will leave the post open until next Wednesday to make sure all is well with the scheduled task.

I will speak to you then Steve, to hopefully give good news and finally close the post .

Many thanks again.

Geoff.

Looking good Geoff, thanks for the update.

Hi Steve, Everything is still looking good after this week's scheduled full backup. One file with no splitting.

Many thanks for all your help. I really appreciate your expertise.

I am trying to find a link to close this post but can't see one. How do I close the post Steve?

Regards Geoff.

Geoff, glad to hear that all is still behaving correctly. There is no actual method to close these forum posts but what you can do is to go back to your initial post in the topic, click on the Edit button and add [Solved] to the start of the Subject line for the topic.

Great - I will do that.

So glad you took an interest in my problem.

What a shame I can't give you some kudos for all your help and expertise but anyway you know I'm grateful.

Take care, Geoff.