Latest versions of True Image Clone software don't auto-manage disk space like before.
Hi All!
I've used the True Image boot disk to clone drives for a while and have always found it to be great software. The latest 2018 versions are giving me significant problems though.
Now SSD's are common, it's common to want to clone from a 1Tb drive to a 250Gb SSD.
Let's say the 1Tb HDD is full with one partition but there is only 80Gb of user data and the rest of the partition space is empty. Previous versions of Acronis (2016/17) would allow you to choose a 'Proportional' clone and then it would automatically shrink the partition to fit on the 250Gb SSD... which was perfect!
Now with the 2018 version it doesn't seem to want to be so helpful. I get stuck at the "What to exclude" stage which states that I need to free up space on the smaller target SSD (it seems to want a drive that is bigger or equal to the 1Tb). It reads " You need another (amount of Gb's) of free space available on the target hard drive to complete the operation with the current filter. Please exclude more files or folders then try again."
I can either press 'Cancel' or 'Next' the latter of which does nothing.
I cant even get to the As is/Proportional/Manual stage.
Am I missing the point of this new feature? And if I am using a 'filter' can I disable it somehow to bypass the 'Exclude' stage?
I can still use the 2016 version but I don't feel they do so well with cloning Windows 10.
Flummoxed!
Thanks in advance!!

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Trevor,
Are you using the Clone tool while booted from the recovery media or are you using the Clone tool from within the Windows installed application?
In either case are you choosing the Automatic method of the tool which has replaced the Proportional method or are you using the Manual method?
Please try the Automatic method which should automatically adjust partition size.
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Hey, thanks for the responce! :)
Unfortunately that does not change anything.
Today I am cloning a 512Gb HDD which has about 50Gb Data to a 250Gb SSD. No problem for 2016/17.
I booted to my 2018 disk. Selected Clone > Automatic (instead of the usual Manual) > Source Disk (512HDD) > Destination Disk (250Gb SSD) > .....
Then I get hit with the unskippable 'What to exclude' stage. Says I need another 241Gb of free disk space on the taget.
GRRRR....!
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Trevor, I can only advise you to raise a Support Case for this issue if cloning is the only option you are considering here.
Personally, I very rarely use cloning for doing what you are looking at - I prefer to make a full disk backup and then restore that backup image to the new drive where these type of problems do not normally show. This, to my mind, is a much safer method of migrating as you can remove the source drive then do the restore using the bootable rescue media to the new drive installed in the computer.
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Thanks Steve. Does a backup/restore but back all the user apps and software and settings as well as data? Basically, how different will the end result be?
I may have to adopt this process. Sounds like it would be a much slower process though and I do a lot of this sort of job.
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Trevor, using Backup & Restore will do exactly the same as using Clone but with the added safety of not having both drives connected at the same time.
See KB 1540: Difference between Backup and Disk Clone for a more detailed explanation of the differences between these methods.
Having a full disk backup image has the added benefit that you can recover this in a bare-metal scenario by booting the ATI app from the Rescue Media (on CD/DVD or USB stick).
You may also like to look at forum topic: [IMPORTANT] CLONING - How NOT to do this which was written in response to the high number of users hitting serious problems when using cloning without really understanding the risks involved, especially when using OEM copies of ATI that come bundled with new SSD or HDD drives.
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Thanks for your time, maybe today's job will be my first backup restore. I will check out those links you posted.
Really unfortunate about the new dumb-ness in True Image's clone feature though. I'll probably end up finding a replacement because cloning is a single process whereas the backup/restore sounds more like two so I expect to be doubling the time it takes to migrate to a smaller drive.
Oh well, no point lamenting unannounced change in the IT business I guess.
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Trevor, how exactly were you trying to do the clone here with ATI 2018?
2018 now supports cloning using Microsoft VSS snapshot methods from a running Windows but the target drive should not have OS files on it.
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Nothing special at all, I only do small time computer support so nothing corporate. What I described in my first three posts is pretty much how it is. I usually do the clone on the machine that needs fixing, be it a speed-up via SSD or data recovery (which is something I find ATI is very good at if the drive isn't too screwed)
The target drives are usually brand new but I never used to have problems if they weren't.
It's sounding like I'll just have to accept it really, doesn't it.
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I believe this might be a known bug in the current build.
The following is pasted from the release notes:
Acronis True Image for Windows
Fixed issues
- [TI-115677] After updating Acronis True Image from build 9207 to build 9660, the subscription activation is lost and shown as Trial.
- [TI-117520] Active Protection is turned off when an empty card reader is connected to the computer.
Known issues
- [TI-114893] When cloning a disk, the value of required space on the destination disk is calculated incorrectly if you use the file exclusion feature.
- [TI-113732] The number of backup versions is incorrect when backing up to Acronis Secure Zone with custom backup scheme based on the full backup method.
- [TI-112316] In some cases, the "An error occurred either during connection or on the server. Check your internet connection..." message appears after clicking the Recovery button.
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Philip, good spot - I have read the release notes previously but not registered that known issue!
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Except it says 'IF' I use the exclusion feature. It seems I am being FORCED to use the exclusion feature.
The space is being calculated incorrectly regardless of that.
I'm sure it'll be fixed in the future.
Cheers guys!
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