Validating a backup
I usually do my backups with TI 2016 rescue media and then I follow with a separate validation right after the backup operation completes.
I know that there is an option for selecting validation during the backup setup process but I never tried this approach. Since I never encountered any restore issue, I have these two questions:
-- How critical is it to actually perform a backup validation, in the first place?
-- And how and when is it better done? By adding the validation option to the backup settings, doing it right after the backup operation completes or right before restoring an image? And how can I verify that a successful validation has been completed when the backup was done with rescue media?
I assume there may be pros and cons with either option, but ultimately, which one is the preferred aproach? Or should a validation be performed before every restore is initiated, no matter what?
Thanks in advance for any help.
TI2016 v.6027; Windows 10
LinYu,
I always prefer the offline backup option (like you). That gives you the best chance of a good clean backup since it rules out potential Windows issues (the reliance on Windows Volume Shadow Service *VSS*( which is needed if you take a backup from within Windows, interference from third party apps like Antivirus tools, etc.) . I do use the Windows applicaiton as well, but it is just a supplement (for me) to have more frequent unattended backups. Regardless though, I would always recommend always taking regular offline backups for peace-of-mind - yy offline backups have 100% recovery success.
Honestly, I don't think it matters if you validate in Windows or with the offline media, but again, I'd say that the offline media may be "better" since it is again, not relying on Windows to do any part of that.
For me, I have never actually used the validate option. If you take an offline image it is going to be fine unless you have disk errors on the source or destination disk, or had a network or transfer hiccup during the creation. If you can mount the .TIB in Windows Explorer later, or navigate the backup with the offline bootable media, it's pretty much a good image.
The only 100% way to validate an image is to test it by actually recovering from it. If you have spare/extra drives to test this on from time to time, that is the best option. It takes a little more time and effort on your part, but if your data and/or OS images are important to you, this is well worth it in the long run. Also, don't delete your older working backups unless you need to because of space limitations and are absolutely positive that your neweset backup is working (via having already tested it with a real world recovery).
I ran a validation last evening and selected the PC to shut down after the process. Is a log of the result saved anywhere, if so where please?
Thanks
John
John, download a copy of the Log File Viewer app from the link in my signature below and use this to look at the Service log files for your Acronis tasks, this will include a log for your validation process.
Excellent Steve. Many thanks and I can see that the validation was successful.
Cheers
John
Glad to hear it John.
Thinking about it some more.
We should not have to rely on your excellent app Steve to view the log files. Surely, Acronis should provide such an app?
If the PC is shut down after a process, you do not see if it was successful or not. There should be an easy way to view the log file.
John
John, all the MVP's and lots of users would agree with you and Acronis are aware of the need to bring back easier access to the logs - we had hoped that this might have happened with the 2017 version but it didn't materialise.
I can only suggest submitting feedback via the tool provided in the ATIH GUI Help section to add to the number of users asking for this to be reinstated.
For information, Acronis will suggest using the email Notification function to get the log details and results from your tasks, and this does work well. The real downside to email notifications is remembering to keep them in case you need to go back and check something! The Log File Viewer app (that MVP FighterPilot created) is an excellent stop-gap until Acronis bring back log access within the GUI again.
Hello again Steve
I ran a validation today and saw a pile of error messages in your log file reader.
Can you tell me what is going on please?
Many thanks
John
UPDATE: I was able to Mount the last .tib file so the Backup shouid be OK so why the error messages?
John, very strange!
The log file is for a task with a script ID of task=324832EF-E05E-48CE-95D6-889F1D3BAC33
But then it reports: message=No such script '324832EF-E05E-48CE-95D6-889F1D3BAC33'.; and
message=Failed to process tag 'script' in script '324832EF-E05E-48CE-95D6-889F1D3BAC33'.
I haven't seen any error message like these previously, but it perhaps suggests that there may be an issue with the script file itself. Can you post the file in your C:\ProgramData\Acronis\TrueImageHome\Scripts folder which has the same name as above (with a file extension of .TIS).
Alternatively, use the option to clone settings for this task which will create a duplicate task by the same name but prefixed by (1) and try running a validate against that cloned task to see if it gives you the same error messages?
Hello Steve
Thank you for your reply. The Forum rules will not allow me to upload a .tib.tis file so I tried changing the extension to .txt but that would not work either. Any ideas please?
Thanks
John
John, probably the simplest method is to zip the file and attach the zip file.
Hi Steve
Trying to send you a zip file brought up a webpage error so could not send it. I was going to PM you but could not attach the file.
Your log reader shows a similar error message after booting this morning.
Thanks
John
Hi Steve
Attached is the log I got when I booted up earlier.
A validation was successful but TI was unable to mount a backup.
TIA
John
John, definitely the same error messages being posted in the logs and, as I said yesterday, very strange and not something I have seen before.
At this point I would recommend trying creating a new backup task and seeing if that runs without issue or shows the same problem?
If you do get the same problem with a new task, then I would say that it is time for doing a clean install of ATIH 2016 build 6581 to get a clean start again.
To do a clean install, do the following:
First, uninstall the current software using the normal Control Panel, Programs & Features (or an uninstaller such as Revo or IObit).
Next, download the Acronis Cleanup Tool from the link in my signature below - run this as Administrator to remove any further ATIH residue, then restart the computer.
Lastly, download the ATIH 2016 build 6581 full installer from your Acronis account (run as Administrator) and then recreate your backup task again.
Please note that the Cleanup Tool will also remove Acronis Disk Director if installed, plus will remove all backup tasks and history information.
Hello Steve
I have followed your instructions as above and TI2016 has found my previous backups some of which show in the attached screenshot. Now the only messages in the Script folder are those stating the Validation was succesful! Those 3 backups form what was my previous C: drive SSD incremental backup.
Now 2 questions.
1. Is there a way to merge the 3 backups together?
2. Should I delete them and create a new backup?
Thank you again for your excellent help.
Regards
John
John, glad to hear the clean install has resolved the validation issue.
You image shows 3 separate full backups for your SSD taken at different times, so there is no need to want to merge these but they could be kept until you have started a new backup set.
If ATIH has found and added these to your task list, then when you do want to delete them, use the option within the GUI to do so rather than deleting via Explorer.
Steve
Thank you again. Yes, I have started a new backup scheme which has been successful according to the log so I will run with this now and perhaps delete the old backups in a week or so.
Best wishes
John