Automatic Cleanup doesn't work
I can't get "Automatic Cleanup" to work on my Incremental Backup scheme. I have searched the forums and found that others have had the same problem. I cannot find a solution in the forums: the posts by GroverH seem to relate to earlier versions of ATI.
Has anyone managed to get this to work in ATI 2015?
Thanks.
Thanks for your reply. I have read your examples; they all seem to be from earlier versions of ATI; I am using 2015.
I am using an Incremental Backup, attempting to store no more than 3 recent version chains. I set it up as shown, click on OK and Save. Here's Screenshot of my settings. If I edit the settings again, the automatic cleanup has reverted to being turned off. I can record a video if that would help.
Versons 2011 through and including 2015 use the same setup for setting up backup schemes with automatic cleanup.
All my referenced PLXX illustrations which involve backup schemes are applicable to you.
75086: A discussion of how to configure backup schemes:
https://forum.acronis.com/forum/75086
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You have indicated your backup scheme is custom /incremental
Full plus 6 incrementals or chain length of 7 files, or a new recent version chain after every 7 backups.
Your storage quota of "Store 3 recent version chains " is to store 3 chains of 7 files each or 21 files or storage quota = 21.
Your storage quota is not exceeded until after completion of Full B4.
Quota exceeded with Full B4 , the first automatic deletion will instantly occur following Full B4 completion.
The first files deleted wil be your oldest chain which has 7 files named B1.
After the oldest chain 1 (B1) deleted, the resulting remaining tib files will be
7 files of chain 2 (B2), and 7 fles of chain 3 (B3) and an incomplete chain 4 (B4-Full) , or 15 tib files remaining.
The remaining backups will continue to fill up chain 3 until the quota of 21 is exceeded again with the completion of Full B5.
After Full B5 occurs, Deletion of chain B2 will occur, and 7 backups later,
Full B6 will occur, followed by the routine immediate deletion of chain B3, and 7 backups later,
Full B7 will occur, followed by the routine immediate Deletion of chain B4, and 7 backups later,
Full B8 will occur, followed by the routine immediate Deletion of chain B5, and 7 backups later, ongoing Full B? etc, etc, etc.
Any user deletion or user task configuration changes will result in the task ceasing to work correctly or as excpected.
If you are expecting different results than the above, you would need to change your quota and how you get that quota.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I specifically asked if anyone has got "automatic cleanup" to work with ATI 2015. No-one has said so yet.
I think I understand how it's supposed to work. The problem is that I set everything up per your instructions and as shown in my screenshot. But next time I come to edit the settings, it looks like automatic cleanup has been turned off again: see screenshot.
My disk has filled up and I have had to delete backup chains manually. (Using Windows Explorer. There seems to be no way to do this in ATI.) There are many more chains than I would expect if automatic cleanup were working.
So, I ask again: has anyone used automatic cleanup successfully in ATI 2015?
Thanks.
Yes, the automatic cleanup does work as intended and designed by the program and as indicated in my explanation.
If you create such a task with the correct settings, the backup will be performed and the program will induce automatic cleanup at the proper time, so yes, automatic cleanup does work for controlling a specific number of backups to be retained.
Your screen capture illustration is not a problem related to automatic cleanup, but an issue on how to save certain custom settings of which the backup scheme is one of several.
If you want the same backup scheme settings to appear the next new task or task #2 (same automatic cleanup settings), you have a couple choices. You can either choose operations/clone settings (see note 1), or during the creation of task 1, you can checkmark the "save as default" option located at the bottom left of the any of the "Disk backup options". This will save the "automatic cleanup" but will also save many(?) of the other settings on other screens which you may have checked from default to something else. My point here is that if you use the "Save as Default" option, you really do NOT know what is being saved and what is NOT being saved.
However, the default program is designed to work on a "per task" basis. The settings saved inside that task WILL WORK but they are designed only for that single task. The backup scheme has a default view and each time you begin to create a new task, the program reverts to the default view--same as when the program was installed. The only time you will find your personalized settings is when you click the OPERATIONS/EDIT SETTINGS/ and look at the settings you saved for THAT SPECIFIC SINGLE TASK.
Note 1: If you want to reuse the same settings again, you can use the OPERATIONS/CLONE SETTINGS and create another or multiple tasks and then additionally edit the clone settings to change the task name and the task target to something different. A cloned task should NOT be used with the same settings as original. The task name and target destination must differ from the original--otherwise you are causing yourself grief.
Note 2: If you check the "save as default" settings and then later delete the saved task, then you have deleted your saved settings and the program will revert back to its original "default settings" and you will have lost your saved custom default settings.
So, yes, the task with the correct "automatic cleanup" settings will work correctly if the task contains the proper settings but you really need to make each task to be a standalone with its own task settings. If you want repeat custom settings, use the clone settings feature and change all the task name and folder name.
A task works best when created and then leave it alone without further changes or edits. If you use the edit function to change a task which is already functional, rarely does it work correctly "as expected by the user" after the changes. So, create the task and then leave it alone. If changes need, stop using the old task and create a new task with the correct settings.
Remember, I am just trying to help you to understand how to make the program work--as best I know it, from one user to another.
Edit/correction: Note my edit of the word "correctly" (in next to last paragraph) which I have changed to "as exoected by the user". As I did not write or design or code the software and not associated with Acronis, I can only offer my observation.
I think I had the same problem and know why your changes are not being saved.
After you have made the changes to your schedule hitting 'OK' doesn't save them.
After you have returned to the main top screen on the bottom right corner you will see a green button that says 'Save' which you must click on to save your changes. Until I noticed that, I kept going back in and finding that my changes had not been saved.
I have not had ATU 2015 long enough to be able to report that my 'clean-ups' are working.
@Bruce - thanks for your comment. No, that doesn't make any difference for me; I made sure that I've clicked 'OK' and 'Save' and still the automatic cleanup settings seem to be lost again. Also, if I create a new backup task, there is no Save option.
@GroverH - thanks again. So, you personally have a copy of ATI 2015 and you can set up automatic cleanup? Note that I am not trying to save default settings; I am trying to set up a single backup task. I believe I understand what automatic cleanup is supposed to do, and how to set it up.
You said (my highlights): "A task works best when created and then leave it alone without further changes or edits. If you use the edit function to change a task which is already functional, rarely does it work correctly after the changes. So, create the task and then leave it alone. If changes need, stop using the old task and create a new task with the correct settings."
- that's a bug then. How does one report bugs to Acronis without paying £20?
As an experiment, I have tried setting up a brand new task. This is a "Files & Folders" "Incremental" scheme. Again, I try to set up automatic cleanup and it appears to fail to save those settings: if I edit the settings (to have a look at them) it has the option "turn on automatic cleanup", which implies it's turned off. It's quite hard to test because I have to run lots of backups.
Note my edit of posting #7 above of the word "correctly" which I have changed to "as exoected by the user". As I did not write or design or code the software and not associated with Acronis, I can only offer my observation as I have no facts to gauge what is "correct."
My gauge of success is if the task does what it indicates it will--which it does. Automatic cleanup will maintain a user set quota of *.tib backups where the new ones are added and when quota exceeded, the excess chains are deleted.
Yes, I have 2015 installed on a Win7 laptop. If I can find a few spare moments later, I will create one final example for you.
If interested, If within first 30 days of 2015 purchase, your qualify for the 30 days refund policy via direct contact with support (upper right corner of this webpage) and/or if within 30 days of purchase direct help from support via livechat (also upper right corner).
After first 30 days of purchase has elapsed, your options are help from volunteers from the forum, or pay for support from Acronis.
Hi Michael, Sorry my suggested fix was not the answer to your problem. We had exactly the same symptoms but, obviously, a different root cause.
This morning I found that my overnight Image & File backups had done a successful cleanup (the first to come due since I upgraded to ATI 2015 and got it all set up).
Are your backups carried over form the old version?
I had no luck continuing with my existing backups after upgrading to ATI 2015 and when I tried to delete them with ATI 2015 it just hung until I rebooted my PC.
So if you are using old backups I would suggest you remove them from the ATI 2015 list (don't try to delete with ATI 2015) and then use Windows Explorer to delete the files and containing folders.
Then create new backups with different file and containing folder names (this is necessary because Acronis keeps its own internal record of this information).
Thanks Bruce. No, I didn't upgrade, ATI 2015 is the first and only version that I've bought. Given the option, and having looked at other users' comments, I would downgrade to version 2014. The next thing I would try is a reinstall, or the evaluation version on another machine. But I think I've spent enough time on this for now. I will have to live with it not working and delete old backup chains manually. If I do manage to solve this (and I remember!) I will post again.
GroverH, thanks for taking the time to respond. It's several months since my purchase. I wish I'd read your "TI 2015 FAQ, A must read" before doing so.
Hi Michael, I have another possible solution to your problem which I just stumbled across after I had to reinstall ATI 2015 on my PC and laptop (I won't go into why I had to do that onerous task).
When I was setting up new backups I kept having your problem in that my 'old version cleanup rules' kept disappearing.
I found that I had to set up the 'Backup Scheme' as a 'Custom Scheme' in order for the 'old version cleanup rules' to be saved.
Hope this of help to you.
Here are some additional illustrations which show that with the proper settings, automatic cleanup does function as indicaed by the program.
The program will maintain a user set number of backup files and will delete the excess chains when user set quota is exceeded, so as new tib files are added, oldest chain deleted to maintain user quota.
michaels-task_scheme_settings_confirmed.jpg
Michael,
The program settings is not as intuitative as one might expect. It tasks some time to learn where and how it functions.
Try creating a new task with your desired backup scheme. Make sure you have the desired scheme settings and save the task as per this next example. Afterwards, edit the same task to confirm these settings do exist and appear on your screen for your own verifications. Use the cancel button to back out without making any changes. Your cleanup scheme will function as per those settings--if left alone.
71342: 2015 How to save a non-scheduled task.
I believe it would be helpful to reread my prior postings. The Acronis user manual linked along the left margin of this page uder the 2015 Web help offers considerable examples plus there are many examples from prior postings by users who had their learning curve--as we all do. My signature link #1 has many references that others have found helpful.
Good luck.
PS: For faster testing, I saved fewer inc files but used the same procedures as would apply in your situation.
@Bruce - Yes! That's it!! It needs to be a Custom Scheme. You don't seem to be able to change the automatic cleanup options for the (default) "Incremental" scheme.
@GroverH - Once again, thank you for taking the time and trouble to respond to my postings. It is much appreciated. I notice that you set up a Custom Scheme. Re-reading your responses to my post and your linked instructions, you do indeed show this. I simply didn't realise that this was the key thing that was missing! I certainly agree with you comment, "The program settings is not as intuitative as one might expect."