Multiple bugs
Running version 6525 on win7x64. I had two version chain backups of different disks to two different backup disks but both running a backup reserve copy to a third common backup disk.
The first problem is that every backup created a full backup copy on the reserve copy backup disk instead of a full, differential sequence mirroring the primary backup. This caused the reserve copy backup disk to quickly become full.
The second problem is that when the reserve copy backup disk became full the backup stopped with a warning message asking for a retry but when I cleared space on the disk and pressed the retry button the backup just terminated with failure without retrying.
The third problem is that after this failure the next backup queued to run just hangs "Calculating time remaining..."
The fourth problem is that trying to Stop this hang fails and nothing more will run.
The fifth problem is that all this happens after my rights to submit a support request have expired and Acronis want me to pay to report this heap of crap masquerading as a new software release.
Reserve copy backup by default always creates a full backup of the associated task so that is expected behavior. The rest of your problems sound like they could be related to improper deletion of backup files. If you used Windows Explorer to delete files to make room on your disk that is an improper procedure that confuses the application. All backup file deletion must be done from within the application so that the application can track the backup chains correctly.
I would suggest first giving the Web help found on the left margin of this page a thorough read and then start over with new backup tasks after you have removed your current tasks again from within the application.
Ok, that makes the reserve copy useless except for ad hoc manual backups. The selection checkbox should warn of this behaviour since it differs from previous versions which acted sensibly and mirrored the primary backup.
Since you can't get to the file deletion options while the backup is hanging on insufficient space that makes the retry option completely useless. But in any case I don't believe it works because the files I deleted were not part of the chain and backup sequence that was running and the termination was instant so I don't think it made any sort of attempt to work.
As for the other hangs, as an ex system and software programmer I consider them to be simply and straightforwardly inexcusable and incompetent bugs. Acronis is doing itself no favours releasing such a shoddy piece of software and evidently failing to fix major defects promptly.
...it differs from previous versions which acted sensibly and mirrored the primary backup.
http://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/ATIH2014/#13718.html
http://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/ATIH2013/index.html#…
http://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/ATIH2012/index.html#…
http://www.acronis.com/en-us/support/documentation/ATIH2011/index.html#…
"A reserve copy always contains all the files selected for backup, that is, when creating a reserve copy the program always makes a full backup of the source data. You cannot make a reserve copy in the form of an incremental or differential backup."
The documentation for the previous versions in the links above indicates that reserve copy is functioning exactly the same in True Image 2015.
It wasn't called a reserve copy in the previous versions but I ran the Tower of Hanoi backup scheme on Backup and Recovery 11 nightly with a secondary backup disk and it certainly created the same pattern of full, differential and incremental backups as the primary version. Obviously I shouldn't have upgraded.
Anyone lamenting the lack of features on the reserve backup option should simply consider using the standard backup task instead.
The standard task provides MORE options to the user and will do everything and more that the reserve backup lacks.
Actually, the reserve backup function is not necessary or is not needed as the function already exists inside the standard backup task.
The standard backup task can provide controls to when performed, where stored and how many backups kept, plus automated cleanup (deletion) of older backups when the retention number exceeds the retention number specified by the user, etc.
Listed below is some examples of how automated cleanup can be configured into your new standard backup tasks.
Editing an existing task is not recommended. Better to start over with a new task using a new non-identical task name and point to a new storage sub-folder so each task has it own storage folder/sub-folder.
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Depending upon the type of backup scheme you wish to create, here is an example of each type. These can be set up for Disk image, or Partiton, or Files-folders backups. These example show how to set up automatic cleanup so the program will do the deletion after it reaches your set goal of how many chains to retain.
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GH14. Custom Differential Backup Scheme . 6 Diff, Keep 4 chains. & folder
GH64. 71342: 2015 How to save a non-scheduled task.
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Here is a workaround for the tib file naming missing macros.
https://forum.acronis.com/forum/73586
Your attachment was created by a verson piror to 2013 when 2013 and newer stated using its new tib naming scheme of .
secondary_backup_files.pdf
Thanks Grover. I already switched to setting up direct copies. However the software is so buggy including giving me the "W00100021 : Failed to count snapshot manager volumes" start up error message and hanging the shut down with "Operations are in progress, ...", hanging if destination disk is full, unable to edit schemes without using a new name every time, etc. that I am seriously concerned recovery will not work when I need it.
I just have no confidence in this product obviously released recklessly and full of bugs so am actively looking for an alternative not wanting to go back to my old version 11 software.
Does anyone know if the current version of Acronis "Backup for PC" is any better?