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Can you validate individual backups in a differential chain - Acronis TI 2014

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Hi,

I have observed that when the validation process is taking place, a message is present advising "Validating all versions of the backup"

This is a bit of a pain, as if say one differential back up (of say 20), is corrupt, the "Validating all versions of the backup" does not indicate which one is at fault!

Is there a method of validating individual "differential" backups, as this would enable deleting any individual corrupt back up!

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Greetings,
It is possible to validate any single back up image, but in the case of incremental or differential images, the chain can become un-useable if one of the subsequent images cannot be validated or is corrupt. When this occurs, you can only restore to your most recent valid image. You've discovered this.

Now lets look at the though process behind this scheme. You are introducing multiple point of failure. May I suggest the following.

Use a scheme with a fewer number of differential or incremental back ups between fulls, AND use retention rules that keep 2-4 full chains for you to recover to. This provides a higher level of data protection, less risk and more than one recovery option which is always better than "putting all of your eggs in one basket so to speak".

Hi Shadowsports,

Thank you for your comments and suggestions, but can you tell me how to validate an individual backup.

For example, if I have a full back up, with 20 differential backups, how would I validate No 17 differential backup!

I do appreciate the logic of your suggestion, re fewer differential backups, but the problem is that my data is so large, that the full back up takes typically 5 hours. This would be a pain, if this happened after every 4, or 5 days!

I do take the precaution of having two back up plans, one morning, and on evening, to different external hard drives!