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Basic backup question - which older backups are safe to delete

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I have TIB 2012. I am wondering which full and differential backups are safe to delete to make room on my external drive.

I am saving my very first original full backup I did a long time ago but none of the differntials that were associated with that initial full version. I also have the latest full backup and each of the associated differentials for that one.

Can I delete the initial full version now? I am assuming I can I delete subsequent full and differentials once I have more recent ones, but not sure if the first one had to be maintained.

Thanks,

Michael

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You can delete any of the earlier full and differentials you wish, but you should do so from within the Acronis True Image program. Right-click on the backup task that has the file(s) associated with it that you wish to delete, then select "Explorer and Recover". You will see a timeline at the bottom of the Window. right click on each backup version you wish to delete then select "delete this version" and repeat until you have deleted all you wish. If you have trouble with the screen not refreshing, you can exit Acronis and start the deletion procedure over.

Michael, you talk of an "original full" backup and an "initial" full backup in the one sentence (implying they are one and the same) and their associated differentials. Then you say you want to delete this initial full version and yet save the original... it just reads a bit confusing... and if you do as it reads then you will lose your original full back up that you want to save.

As to what to delete. If you delete any of the differentials then you only lose the option to restore that particular file. The full backup associated with each deleted differential will still work.

If you delete the full original file that starts of any sequence of backups then you lose the ability to restore any file related to that backup.

Hope that makes sense :)

Sorry for the confusion. I guess what I was trying to ask was if you have to save the very 1st original full backup done with the software. I thought I heard you should never delete that one although older full backups could be deleted at any time. I hope that clarifies it.