How to perform incremental backups in Acronis
I would like to perform regular backups. I use backup and recovery/other backups/file backup. However, when I select 'other backups' then 'file backup', it creates a new backup file. For example, let's say I backup My Documents today. I add one file tomorrow and then do another backup. It will backup the entire My Documents directory. How do I get it to add only the new file which I created?
Grover - is your method meant to work only for entire drives? I tried a test, and I can't select just a sub directory which lies in C:
How can I use Acronis to perform incremental backups of a particular sub directory?
It should work like this: I copy directory X which contains files A, B & C. The backup will contain A, B & C. Then I delete C from the source and replace it with D. I then perform the backup again (now the source contains A, B & D). The backup should now contain A, B, C & D.
It sounds like you want to creat "file" backups rather than partition or disk backups. If yes, then you would want to choose the "File backup" option.
http://www.acronis.com/support/documentation/ATIH2014/index.html#7938.h…
Any backup by TrueImage is a snapshot of the disk at time of backup.
If a file was changed, the new backup will have the changed file--not the original--unless you specifically have both the original plus the changed file which would be 2 separate files.
The disk image backup is for when you want to backup everything so a new disk could be recreated should there be a need.
I've tried using the file backup option. A couple of problems I notice:
1) It creates the equivalent of a .bkp file. For example, let's say I backup 400 GB of a 500 GB drive. Then I want to move it out of its .tib folder. I only have 100GB of space to put it in. Is there a workaround?
2) If I do one backup today and then another tomorrow, it creates two separate .tib files. If I'm backing up an entire 400 GB of data, I'd have to delete the old .tib file every one or two times I do a backup. Is there a workaround?
3) Will the file backup perform incremental backups as I described using the examples of files A, B, C & D? What about if I do an entire disk backup? If folder X's contents have files A, B & C during the first disk backup and then I delete C and replace it with D then do another entire disk backup,will folder X's contents have files A, B, C & D? Or just A, B & D?
4) What happens when the file backup encounters a path directory that has too long a name? Does it truncate the name and rename it (as Unstoppable Copier does)? Does it stop the copy (as Microsoft Explorer drag & drop does)? Or does it skip it and not copy at all? Or does it prompt you before you start the copy what you want it to do if this happens? If the latter, what is the default?
I thought getting Acronis would be the fix all to the difficulties I've found with doing backups. But it seems as if there are far more problems than solutions. Perhaps you can help guide me through those problems, as Acronis came highly recommended.
Thanks :-)
I've tried using the file backup option. A couple of problems I notice:
1) It creates the equivalent of a .bkp file. For example, let's say I backup 400 GB of a 500 GB drive. Then I want to move it out of its .tib folder. I only have 100GB of space to put it in. Is there a workaround? NO. A move option is provided but the target space must be larger than the backup file.
2) If I do one backup today and then another tomorrow, it creates two separate .tib files. If I'm backing up an entire 400 GB of data, I'd have to delete the old .tib file every one or two times I do a backup. Is there a workaround? User configuration parameters conttrols how many backup files to be retained. This is controlled by the settings in the backup scheme for that task. User must consider space limits and configure the retain number accordingly.
3) Will the file backup perform incremental backups as I described using the examples of files A, B, C & D? What about if I do an entire disk backup? If folder X's contents have files A, B & C during the first disk backup and then I delete C and replace it with D then do another entire disk backup,will folder X's contents have files A, B, C & D? Or just A, B & D? What Acronis backups up is a copy of your system as it exists at the time you indicate you want a backup to be completed. It is a snapshot at one specific instant. The restore can only restore what the snapshot captured--just like a copy machine.
4) What happens when the file backup encounters a path directory that has too long a name? Does it truncate the name and rename it (as Unstoppable Copier does)? Does it stop the copy (as Microsoft Explorer drag & drop does)? Or does it skip it and not copy at all? Or does it prompt you before you start the copy what you want it to do if this happens? If the latter, what is the default? I don't know for sure. I believe the backup will error out and stop.
Grover - is your method meant to work only for entire drives? I tried a test, and I can't select just a sub directory which lies in C: My suggested backup scheme (11-Inc) will work on either Disk/Partition type or "File Backup". A single folder seledtion needs to be type "Files Backup".
How can I use Acronis to perform incremental backups of a particular sub directory? Use backup type "Files Backup" rather than Disk/partition type.
It should work like this: I copy directory X which contains files A, B & C. The backup will contain A, B & C. Then I delete C from the source and replace it with D. I then perform the backup again (now the source contains A, B & D). The backup should now contain A, B, C & D. A backup Backup type "Files Backup" can be configured to select single files or single folder for an assortment of drives and all selected items can be included in one backup. The first backup can be full and then subsequent backips could be of only items which have changed since last backup.
When creating a "File Backup", all checkmarked files or folder will be included within the backup, conversely, all unchecked items will be omitted.
These 2 illustration may help. (Link plus attachment.)
http://www.acronis.com/support/documentation/ATIH2014/index.html#7938.h…
Note the same opitons exist on both the Disk/partition backup or the "File Backup". The only difference being in the seledtion of items to be included within the backup. The "File Backup" allows for the selectin of individual files or folders whereas the Disk/partition backup enables only the selectiion of disks or partitions.
I appreciate your help. I will give those a try. Hopefully they do what I'm trying to get done.