Deleting Backup Chains
According to the users guide the process for deleting a specific backup version that is no longer needed, a full backup along with it's dependent incremental or differential backups, is as follows (section 3.12):
To delete a specific backup version:
1. On the Backup and recovery tab, find the corresponding backup box and click the Recover button or click the gear icon and then click Recover files (in case of a disk backup).
2. In Backup explorer, right-click on the time line the version you want to delete, and then click Delete version.
When you delete a backup version, please remember that this version may have dependent versions. In this case the dependent versions will be deleted as well, because data recovery from such versions becomes impossible.
If you delete a full backup version - the program will also delete all subsequent incremental and differential versions till the next full version.
I have tried this twice now. Once on a files backup and once on a disk backup and have experienced the same problem. Both were a full backup followed by several incremental backups. I right-clicked on the full backup version on the time line that I wanted to delete. It displayed a dialog box warning that all dependent versions would be deleted as well. I clicked on yes please delete, the dialog box disappeared, and nothing happened.
That is problem one. Problem two is that once that does happen you can right-click on and successfully delete the dependent backups in the chain but you cannot delete the full backup anymore.
Sadly I JUST like an hour ago upgraded to 2014 Premium in hopes this similar/same issue I had in 2013 was fixed. I see not. Looks like the same old buggy software 70.00 later.
One question. Now that I have this full backup that I cannot delete thru the program is there an alternative way to delete it? I know I can just use Windows Explorer and go delete the file itself but that will not delete the backup from the ATI database and ATI will still think that the backup exists which may cause errors/problems down the road. What are the alternatives, and no, deleting the entire backup and starting from scratch is not a good alternative.
If I recall correctly, if ATI cannot find the database xml it scans all attached disks for backups and creates a new file listing those that it found. If all the backup you were expecting are not listed, get ATI to do a user initiated search.
Ian
wags1,
A couple things to try
Try using the Add Backup/Browse option and browse to the folder location and use the "Add to list" option.
Also, from within the Acrnis Backup Explorer timeline, right click on the listed ful disk file and choose Validate.
Retry the deletion from within the program timeline.
Curious as to the results.
I tried your first suggestion - "Add Backup/Browse option and browse to the folder location and use the "Add to list" option" - then selected it from the timeline and selected "delete version". While I get the dialog asking if I'm sure I want to delete it, and I click on "yes", the dialog box disappears but nothing happens. The backup still appears on the timeline and the file is not deleted. I'll try the Validate suggestion later and post results.
The backup still appears on the timeline
Does the file actuall still exist when the storage folder is viewed in Windows Explorer?
The backup still appears on the timelineDoes the file actuall still exist when the storage folder is viewed in Windows Explorer?
Yes it does, all 227GB of it... ; - ) which is why I'd like to delete it, free up that space on my NAS. I know I could just use Windows Explorer to delete the file but I don't want to confuse ATI.
Couple things.
Look at the file file properties of the tib file from inside the storage folder to make sure the tib file is not set to read only.
Another would be temporarily turn off your AV and firewall.
With trueimage closed,
Browse inside Windows explorer to this file (a win7 path)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis\TrueImageHome\TrueImageLauncher.exe
Right click on the fie and use the Run As Administrator option.
Retry the delete from inside the program.shown on the timeline?
Is this the only file and chain
The tib file is not set to read-only. It is not the only file and chain.
I'm pretty sure this is a problem with the ATI program itself. This problem only manifests itself when you do the things I outlined in the OP exactly as stated. And it is completely reproducible. Also, if you don't first try to delete the full backup as outlined, which is supposed to delete all the incrementals in the chain, but instead start at the most recent incremental in the chain and delete all incrementals in order then, as the last step after all incrementals in the chains are successfully deleted, delete the parent full backup, it will delete with no problem.
Would you consider posting a screen capture of your storage folder, sorted like this example (bottom part)
Also note which is the files which you are wanting to delete.
The file that can no longer be deleted using ATI is the third file up from the bottom.
My suggestion migt be to boot from the CD and validate the newest record first and see if it does or whether you have to work your way thru errors.
After that, validate the record 3 and what is the results. Eventually, you will have to use Windows Explorer and delete the record 3 which should not cause a problem as it is a one line record. This is a guess on my part.
Update. I used Windows Explorer and deleted the file. When I started ATI and clicked on "Recover files" for the Disk backup I got a dialog box that indicated that Version 1 was not found. I clicked on "ignore" and it no longer shows up on the timeline. All good. Still does not resolve the original program bug as outlined in my OP at the top. Hopefully Acronis is working on that to provide a fix.
Hello Everyone,
yes, surely our developers are working on it and most probably the fix will be available in the next update.
Thank you again!
I am interested in this topic. My problem is somewhat similar. I posted a message back in May 2013 The topic number is 42073: How long does it take to delete an archive? I received no replies. My problem is still ongoing, and it leaves me with reduced confidence in the product. I would be very obliged if someone could respond to my question. Or should I post it again as a new topic?
Thanks.
Alec,
I have responded to your orignal post at this location so we can leave wags1 post to wags1/
Hello Everyone,
yesterday we released Update 1 for Acronis True Image 2014 (build 6614) and according to our database the issue with deleting of the backups with dependences is resolved in the new build.
Please check if it is working as expected on your system and let me know the results.
Thank you again for your patience!
Thanks for the update Anna. I will test and provide an update when I get some time.
This change worked for me. Running XP Pro and the update to 2014.
From inside the Acronis Backup Explorer Time slice view of Disk and partitons.
I selected/highlighted the first full backup which also had about 16 inc's attached.
The deletion was immediate of all files and the task changed to "not backup up yet" as there was only one chain.
Thank the deveopment staff for the additional new feature which now advises the user of how many backups is to be deleted before the user clicks the delete anyway option.
A modification of this type is something I have been suggesting for far too long! :)
This issue now appears to be fixed. Thanks for the update Anna and please pass along my thanks to the development team!
Hello wags1,
glad to know that everything works fine now and I'll surely thank our developers for all their help!
Best regards
My OS is Windows 7 Pro SP1 64-bit. Acronis True Image version is 2014 build 6688.
Acronis "Explore old backups" shows a full backup on Sep.3 but no incremental backups for that version; whereas Windows Explorer shows a full backup file on Sep 3 and an incremental backup file on Sep.6. There are previous and subsequent full+incremental backup versions. I think all were created by scheduled weekly backups. (The Sep.6 incremental backup is off the usual schedule so it might have been a manual backup.) Only the archive attribute is set for all of the files.
I would like to delete the Sep.3 (and Sep.6) backup version but not the others. When I try to delete it via Acronis "Explore all backups", I get a 0x00640232+0x01E50010+0X000B0001 error and nothing is deleted.
Are there any suggestions about how to delete only this backup version?
I would like to delete the Sep.3 (and Sep.6) backup version but not the others.
We need to know more about what you are planning on deleting as the deletion may not be wise.
Show us a picture of your tib storage folder sorted in date/time order.
You might fnd some help by a review of the PLnn links at this link
https://forum.acronis.com/forum/75086
You might want to see the timeline and disk backup options too (files attached).
I deleted several versions (b2...b5, b7).
The b1 version intervals are irregular because I rescheduled several times.
The b8 version has too many incremental backups; probably because I deleted an incremental backup on Dec.30 and rescheduled.
The interval from Dec.23 to Wednesday Jan.7 was long because the computer was off for several days while I was gone.
The interval from Jan.7 to Jan.13 was short because I went back to my original schedule.
