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Incremental backup

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I am using the latest build of Acronis True Image and Plus Pack on Windows 7.

I have set a daily incremental backup of my data directory (on 2nd drive), however every time the backup runs a full backup is completed.
If I reduce the number of files and directories in the backup, then everything works OK, the nightly backup works incrementally.

Can anyone help with this issue?

Regards

Ian

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Ian Mellor wrote:

I am using the latest build of Acronis True Image and Plus Pack on Windows 7.

If I reduce the number of files and directories in the backup, then everything works OK, the nightly backup works incrementally

How do you remove the files and directories - by altering the sheduled backup or moving them out of the 'data' folder tree?
What does the nightly backup do precisely?

Hello,

bin, thanks for your help.

Ian, let me shed some light on the possible reasons of the issue.

There are several things that may force Acronis True Image to create a large incremental/differential archives:

  • Defragmentation - An incremental or differential backup created after the disk is defragmented will be considerably larger than usual. This is because the defragmentation program changes file locations on the disk, and backups reflect these changes. (!) In Windows Vista and Windows 7 disk defragmentation is enabled by default. For information how to reschedule or disable it, see Microsoft Windows help page: Start Disk Defragmenter.
  • Using fast incremental backup method to back up partitions that have Microsoft Outlook .pst file – This issue is only with fast incremental backup. It does not occur when creating a regular incremental backup.
  • Creating an incremental or differential backup after recovering the full one – An incremental or differential backup created after the full one was restored will be considerably larger than usual. This is because restoring a backup archive changes file locations on the disk, and backups reflect these changes.

So please make sure that you haven't Windows Disk Defragmenter running as it's the most probable reason of the issue.

Please reply to this thread if the issue still persists.

Thank you.