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Automatic weekly backup on external HDD after missed backup

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I have set ATI 2016 to make a full backup every friday at 21.00 on a external HDD. When I forget to attach the external HDD on friday, there will be no backup of course.

Is there a option to make a backup automatic after a missed backup? I mean when I attach the HDD on saterday, I want it to make a backup automatic.

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Hello, if your external HDD is recognised as a removable device, then you should be able to use the Advanced Scheduler options to run your missed backup when the device is connected.

See the ATIH 2016 User Guide pages on this where it states:

Clicking Advanced settings allows you to specify the following additional settings for backup and validation:

  • To postpone a scheduled operation until the next time the computer is not in use (a screen saver is displayed or computer is locked), select the Run the backup only when the computer is idle check box. If you schedule validation, the check box will change to Run the validation only when the computer is idle.
  • If you want to wake up the sleeping/hibernating computer to perform the scheduled operation, select the Wake up the sleeping/hibernating computer check box.
  • If the computer is switched off when the scheduled time comes, the operation won't be performed. You can force the missed operation to run at the next system startup. To do so, select the Run at system startup check box.

    Additionally, you can set a time delay to start backup after the system startup. For example, to start backup 20 minutes after system startup, type 20 in the appropriate box.

  • If you schedule a backup to a USB flash drive or validation of a backup that is located on a USB flash drive, one more check box appears: Run when the current destination device is attached. Selecting the check box will let you perform a missed operation when the USB flash drive is attached if it was disconnected at the scheduled time.
  • If you want to regularly back up data located on a removable media (for example USB flash drive) or remote storage (for example network folder or NAS), we recommend that you select the Run when the current source device is attached check box. This is useful because an external storage device may be often unavailable at the scheduled moment of backup. In that case, if the check box is selected, the missed backup operation will start when the device is connected or attached.

 

I use a WD Elements usb HDD for backups. The option about missed backups is not shown under advanced. It should be there...

 

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It seems that the user guide is differentiating between USB flash drives and USB HDD's and this option only applies to flash drives, though I cannot see a good reason why this should be so?

I would suggest sending Feedback to Acronis using the Feedback tool in the GUI Help section and request that this should apply to any USB removable device, not just flash drives!

In the interim, the only other suggestion would be to setup an alternative solution.

See webpage: Starting scheduled task by detecting connection of USB device which has an example using PowerShell to detect when a USB device is connected and run an action via a batch file.

You could incorporate this with the Pre / Post Commands settings for your backup task.

Another webpage: Automatically backup files to USB Drive on mount offers a slightly different solution.

See also an older forum post: https://forum.acronis.com/forum/42345 where this same question was raised.