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Bitlocker - Image size of of full C-drive backup

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My C-drive is about 120gGB of used space (out of 420GB hard disk space) in Windows 10 File Explorer.  Before activating Bitlocker, my TIH 2015 .tib file size (with 256bit encryption) was about 30GB for the full C-Drive backup.

After activating Bitlocker, my backup file size (.tib file) is 375GB, with BL suspended.

I have read that with BL, TIH is doing a sector by sector backup.

Is this correct, and does this explain the file size?

is there a way to reduce this file size back to the ~30GB?

 

 

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Dietmar, please see KB 56619: Acronis True Image: compatibility with BitLocker for the official Acronis statement about compatibility with BitLocker.

If you are seeing Acronis doing sector by sector backup, then please ensure that this is not selected in the Advanced Options page for your backup task, and I would also recommend doing a CHKDSK /R for your disk drive & partitions being included in the backup, to confirm that you do not have any bad sectors which can trigger ATI to use this backup mode.

If you are doing the ATI Backup from within the Acronis Windows application where BitLocker is active, then this should be fully unaware that BitLocker is active because it is transparent, but the resulting backup file will not be encrypted, so should be protected by using the Password encryption option on the Advanced Options tab.

As far as I understand, you should only need to suspend BitLocker encryption if you are attempting to backup by using the Acronis Rescue Media.

Thanks, but Sector by Sector backup is NOT selected!  Also am securing with password.

So I really don't understand the very large .tib file size.

 

BTW, I'm also using TIH on a Bitlocker encrypted data drive, and DON'T see the large file issue.

 

Dietmar, you didn't say how you are running the Acronis backup?  Within Windows or using the Rescue Media to boot?

Have you tried to open or explore the large 375GB .tib file since you created it?  If yes, does everything look normal within the file structure?

In reply to by truwrikodrorow…

I running from within Windows 10, and I CAN browse the 375GB file just fine.

I found this post:

"We have already taken all the feedback and suggestions from our users and the same has been passed on to our Development team. Acronis True Image 2015 by default creates sector by sector backups for Bitlocker encrypted drives. Therefore, we would suggest you to decrypt the drive before backing up, and then encrypt it again after the backup is complete."

Decrypting before backup is not practical.

I also saw a post were TIH 2016 has the same issue.

Now what.

 

Dietmar, you could try going for a 30-day Trial copy of ATIH 2017 to see if this issue has been fixed in that version, or alternatively, you could register for the Beta for the next version and test this with that, providing feedback to the developers directly if you find that it has not been!

In reply to by truwrikodrorow…

At end 2016, I upgraded to 2017 when there was a sale on the upgrade for 2 computers ($19 for 2 computers, I still have the Cleverbridge receipt).  And then found out it required an annual subscription.  And I had to recreate all my backup jobs.  And network authentication did not work - hotfix worked for a while, then stopped working.

I don't want any part of 2017, unless my previous issues have been resolved.

I don't or want to use cloud backup. So can you clarify why I would need a subscription? 

And would I have to recreate all my backup jobs?

What is the cost of my 2-computer upgrade?

If 2017 does not work with Bitlocker, I have to reinstall 2015, and recreate all my backup jobs...
Not Good!!

 

One last question:  is TIH 2017 NEXT GENERATION the same as TIH 2017?

 

Dietmar, if you have purchased a subscription to the ATIH 2017 Premium / New Generation version by mistake, then you should contact Ekaterina by private message and ask for this to be changed, if possible, to the perpetual license version.

ATIH 2017 is sold in two versions, Standard and Premium, where the Premium includes the anti-ransomware protection and other additional features which are only provided by subscription, but the Standard version can be purchased as either subscription or as a perpetual license.

I do not use BitLocker and have not tested it with my 2017 version of the product so cannot confirm or deny how it works, but I am not seeing any reports in these forums to tell me that there is a real problem for those users who, like yourself, do use BitLocker.  Yours is the first time that I have been made aware that 2015 and 2016 versions could only handle backups of BitLocker drivers by doing sector by sector mode!

 

In reply to by truwrikodrorow…

My TIH NG subscription has removed and I was given credit for the $20, since the sale was OVER by the time all my problems occurred.  Not a good Acronis experience. The current price for the Standard version = $25 per computer...

Can you confirm that I would have to recreated the backup jobs for 2017, and in case I have to revert to 2015?

Dietmar, if you look at the Acronis True Image 2017 FAQ document (in the right column of the forum) it has a section on Installation where it states:

If you already have Acronis True Image 2016 or Acronis True Image 2015 installed, there is no need to remove the old version and reinstall the software. Start the installation file of Acronis True Image 2017 and install the product. After upgrade, create a new bootable media.

What you can do to safeguard your task configuration, is to make a copy of the C:\ProgramData\Acronis\TrueImageHome\Scripts folder where that configuration is held in XML data files with the file extension .tib.tis - you can find the task name near the top of the file inside <display> name </display> brackets.

Some fields within the XML files may well be updated / changed to accommodate changes introduced in the newer version of the product.

Dietmar, you should just go to the main Acronis.com webpage then select Home products and ATIH 2017 where you should see an option to 'Try'

I see this at https://www.acronis.com/en-gb/personal/computer-backup/

You should be able to go to https://www.acronis.com/de-de/personal/computer-backup/ for the main German page.

In reply to by truwrikodrorow…

German name, but American...

Happy to report that TIH2017 is handling the Bitlocker encrypted C-Drive just fine.  The file size is back down to 30GB.

And the Network authentication is now also working.

Now I'll wait to get a better offer on the TIH 2017 price.

 

Dietmar, thanks for the feedback and glad to hear that 2017 solves the issues here.  You should consider the 2018 Beta over the 2017 unless you are hoping for a discount before the next version is released sometime around October?

Note: the Beta is again the Premium version at this time but should also be available later as the perpetual license Standard version.