Acronis TI 2015 with BitLocker - Sector by Sector BackUps only.

Whilst my backups, with Bitlocker, were never anywhere near 4+ times the size of the Source drive, they did approach almost 90% of the size of the drive, when only 20% was being used. Even the incrementals!!
In an earlier post on this forum I stated the same as you have, as to the response conclusion from Acronis - in November.
Acronis 2009 through Acronis 2014, no problem with Bitlocker - a yearly product launch, and a yearly new income stream for Acronis, but now a cut down version to a point where there is much unhappiness! A "nice" new (certainly not "nice" to me), and less intelligible interface, less facilities. Don't fix it if it isn't broke!
It needs sorting, or I'll be another one who has, regrettably to walk away (after 6 years).

Hi Brian,
I've sent you an updated SnapAPI driver, which is supposed to solve the issue.
Please install it and let me know the result.

Thank you.

Just wanted to clarify my original post.
My backups were 4+ times the size of the actual DATA on my source drive, not the total drive size itself.
Sorry for any confusion...

Would you send me that updated SnapAPI Driver also?

Hi Anna - I'm very happy to give that a go, but I'm away on holiday at the moment. Back in 10 days and I'll try it. I hope that if it works for you, it'll work for me.

Hi,
Can you send me SnapAPI driver also? I'm suffering same issue.

Thanks

Hi Anna - I've now had opportunity to try the new SnapAPI (build 2483) driver.

The source drive had Bitlocker turned on, the Entire PC backup is unencrypted, looks to be the "right" size for the source data - and it took the "right" amount of time.

I am able to open the backup, access and restore files and folders.

So at first view it seems this SnapAPI is fine and gets over the Bitlocker problem with TI2015. The only thing I have not tried is a full restore - this was on a Dell XPS13 with a very inaccessible hard drive!

I am keen to hear what others think.

Thank you.

Ken M: Wow! This is exciting!

My original issue started out with what sounds like about 90% the same as yours. The missing piece in your post is that, unlike mine, your target backup copy was not set to encrypt as mine was (256 bit AES).

Late last year, I ran into the issue that is so close to yours, though the backup decided to consume 100% of available space on the target drive, regardless of the size of the source, or the source type (e.g. disk or folder).

This did not affect my OS drive, as that drive had not yet been encrypted.

At the end of the day, no patches helped, the hours spent with Support never solved the issue; and the strange side of it was that the previous release (2014) worked w/o issue. After upgrading to 2015, it failed from the get-go. Right now by build is 6525. The issue was adopted as an issue to resolve by their Level 3 Technology team. Just for reference, my case was: [02283241] Massive consumption of backup space [ ref:_00D30Zcb._50050Y2y79:ref ] (and that was just the last number assigned. It started out weeks before that number was assigned, and had multiple case numbers used.)

One thing though Ken, I would question the need for the SnapAPI sent to Brian C. Reason: His thread indicated the 2014 version, while yours seemed to indicate the 2015 was where it failed. The API may not be compatible between the two.

Also, Acronis also offered the same solution to me (refund). For my world, I chose not to take them up on the offer. Reason: I still believe that Acronis is the right solution although their fundamental architectural change made between 2014 and 2015 left a huge gap (in my opinion). Especially for those of us that decide to protect their systems with current OS supported encryption technology.

I'm still waiting on the solution though, which it may be more difficult than seen on the surface since it was what appears to be a complete rewrite of the underlying technology, utilizing a new architectural model.

Jim - I've reread my posts and believe i have said TI2014 with Bitlocker always worked for me (straight "out of the box"), TI2015 with Bitlocker never worked other than apparently on a sector-by-sector basis, until I installed SnapAPI (build 2483) that Anna sent me - and I did that and tested it yesterday.

I, too, went through days of correspondence in October and November with Acronis - e-mail and telephone - both release version and update version of TI2015. Neither worked with Bitlocker. The conclusion from Acronis, in their e-mail of 27th November was "it is a known issue and our developer team is working on this issue and I assure that we will have a fix shortly". I posted this in an earlier discussion thread.

I am only able to say that the new driver appears to have worked for me - with TI2015. I make no claim that the new SnapAPI driver is compatible with TI2014 - I never had any issue with TI2014! Further, Anna warned me that I should ensure that I was running TI2015 build 6525 before installing it!!

After this considerable time since release of TI2015, I'm interested in hearing if others find this to be a solution, rather than hypothesising - and no, I am not addressing any of the other problems that are reported with TI2015!

All good and well! I missed 'Evelyn Wood's speed reading' course, but try anyway... :)

It is great that you have the solution. My workaround was that I flushed BitLocker (until the issue was resolved), though I'm a bit nervous about trying it again. I'll start going down the path though.

One question though, after that patch was installed, did you use the Acronis AES 256b encryption to secure your backup, from your BitLocker drive?

Thanks again for the feedback! I'll try and slow down a bit when reading this stuff...

Jim - no, I didn't encrypt the backup. I normally do - just minimalizing the first possible "solution" run! But I think the encryption of the backup (it works for me without Bitlocker in TI2015) will be elsewhere in the code (just hypothesising!!!). Nor have I tested the incrementals or a recovery!

Look forward to hearing if it works for you and others!

Where does one get the mentioned SnapAPI (build 2483)?
Without it I will be rolling back to TI 2014.

Sadly, I wound up taking a different path. I'm unable to provide an update to the solution you've found.

Basically, I just had to weigh the time it was taking, the known issues I encountered on initial attempts to restore my system via 2015, the issues with 2015 reported way back in last year, and all the nuances that ate up my time, and still no confidence that I could recover my system in time of need.

My current operation has moved me back to 2014, and all appears well. Doesn't mean that when possible, I won't try to do this again though.

In reality, my assets are to valuable to have a open window of vulnerability for the time that it has been in such a condition. I've had to resort to MS Windows 7 backup (I have Ultimate) and it is slow and cumbersome, though it gets the job done. 2014 worked w/o issue. Restored w/o issue. Operated w/o issue. So, my level of trust is higher (though no where near my original levels, as prior releases have proved themselves to be spot-on).

Anyway, thank you for your patients, willingness to share your knowledge and experience, and the great ideas that your findings have prompted!

I didn't try the SnapAPI in an attempt to get TI2015 to work properly. I will just stay with TI 2014 since it still works perfectly. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
But I may have to find some other product when TI2014 no longer meets my needs.

I agree, Ken. The real bottom line is: What is the value of the assets that Acronis is protecting? Every decision as to backup strategy is based on this one finding.

For businesses, they don't much care for a backup solution that is not trustworthy, and can cost them big time for failure to perform. BUT, they have far deeper pockets than individual homes (though I know of businesses that have gone out of business due to lack of thought regarding their backup needs.)

For individuals of course, and especially those that rely on their systems for both financial and passing along legacy photos, movies, music and the other memories of a life time, the impact can be far greater and far more devastating - emotionally and financially. Not to mention 1,000's of hours of work performed by someone using their system for a creative attempt to add income to the family or design structures, parts or whole systems.

Sadly though, Acronis seems to have missed the mark and treated their long term customers and new customers with a caviler approach - loosing sight of the truths outlined above, and going for the 'fast buck', regardless of the severe impact to customers.

I am having the same issue with a bitlocker encrypted drive. Please send me the SnapAPI driver or link to download it?

Thank you,

Stephen,

You need to send a Private Message to Anna Trifonova at the link below to request the SnapAPI driver. In the subject line enter Request for SnapAPI.
In the message indicate your version of True Image and describe your problem with BitLocker.

https://forum.acronis.com/messages/new/36716?destination=user%2F36716