Skip to main content

Can you change options on existing backup?

Thread solved

I hate this software. But it's supposed to be the best, so I keep trying.

Somehow I had backup files going clear back to early 2019 for one set of partitions. I followed the instructions to get rid of the oldest and now cannot do any recoveries, but that's another story, I've sent in a support ticket. What I want to know is WHY so many versions were saved, but I cannot find that setting in the Options for that backup. WHERE IS IT? Is it not visible because it is impossible to change it? If I don't change it, the damn thing will just go back to saving a zillion versions and filling up my external hard drive again. I can't find anything in the online documentation, and "search" here is a joke. (I search for "how to limit backup versions" and I get everything containing "how," "limit," "backup" and "versions" in random order.)

Did I say I hate this software? Oh, yeah. This is Acronis Backup 2021 running on Windows 10 PC. Seems like every upgrade gets more confusing. Please, somebody help.

0 Users found this helpful

Marcia, there are several methods of controlling your backup files and limiting how many such files are created / stored.

The recommended method is to use the Automatic Cleanup options for your backup task, and with this, I would suggest that using the 'Store no more than X recent version chains' where you set X to be a value that allows you to store the data you want to keep plus a further full backup as well.  The automatic cleanup action only runs after a new full backup (for the X+1) run of the task is successfully created, hence the need for that extra space.

The second method is to use the 'Clean up versions' tool for each individual task - this is shown in the drop-down menu for the task that is shown when you click on the caret (V) to the right of the task name.  This tool will correctly handle any file deletions and update the internal database used by Acronis to track all files.

Important: you should not delete any backup files outside of using the above methods as you may delete an incorrect file and destroy a backup chain, but also any such deletions do not cause the database information to be updated, so will generate other errors such as 'cannot find version X' when attempting to run the backup task.

The final 'sledgehammer' approach would be to delete the whole backup task and all associated files and starting over with a new backup task, so as to make a clean start.  If taking this approach, I would recommend using a new, unique task name so that there is no back linkage to the older tasks or files.

See the ATI 2021 User Guide: Cleaning up backups, backup versions, and replicas which has more information on the above.

Regular Poster
Posts: 198
Comments: 120

I have a similar issue. After cloning my C: HDD to a new SSD I' getting Backup error saying there is a missing partition. Suggested methods to fix the problem are offered, with "supporting"  screenshots of how to do them. However, what I get on my screen after entering Backup isn't what's shown in those screenshots. I believe it's because I'm using True Image 2021 and the supporting screenshots are for earlier versions.

So where can I find "Edit Update Options" for 2021?

 

 

Attachment Size
581336-278908.PNG 64.32 KB

Ed, if you have switched your source disk drive for the backup task, i.e. from a HDD to SSD, then you need to reselect the task source again otherwise the error message is being given validly because the unique drive identifier for the source drive has changed.

To reselect the new source drive, select the task then click on the Source panel.

Regular Poster
Posts: 198
Comments: 120

Thx Steve. I think I see my problem now.

In preparation for cloning HDD C: on my Win7 machine (named Goliath) I did a Backup of it to Acronis, naming the backup HDD_C. Then after the clone and verifying that all was well, I disconnected the HDD. Consequently, the scheduled backups of Goliath cannot be done, justifying the error report.

Since Goliath is working with the SSD. I see no need for the backup data at Acronis for Goliath. What I should do now is (a) remove the data from Acronis and (b) change the backup instructions so the system image of SSD is backed up to Acronis on  schedule.

Do I have this right? If so, can I edit the backup instructions or should I somehow start over?

 

Ed, if you are happily working from the new SSD then all you need to do is take the Delete option for the HDD_C backup task, then take the further option to either remove only the task settings (leaving the backup in situ) or else delete everything with does as it says.

You should set up a new backup for the working SSD before deleting the old backup image.

Marcia's question was actually never answered, and I have the same question: Can you change options of an existing backup? Apparently not, right? I created a backup, and am running it, but would like to change some of the options that appeared when setting it up. How can I do this?

Michael

Michael, there are some task settings that can be changed for an existing backup and some that cannot.

Encryption, compression and the Acronis Cloud data centre options cannot be changed.

Scheduling, backup scheme options, notifications, exclusions can be changed.