How Modify default 6 Month version chain?

Mark,

You need to make a new task and select the Custom version chain, the built in default cannot be modified.

On a previous occasion when changing the configuration of a backup task I had manually deleted the backups on the drive not realizing the application implication.

How do you delete the task AND have that effort automatically delete all the associated backups?

Thanks,

Mark

HI Mark,
Under the Settings option for that specific task, there is a delete opiton for task only or task with files.

Look at link #2 below and illustration 11-Dif for ideas on how to control automatically based on the option
"store no more than x recent vesion chains."

Edit: Addendum
If you have the space, you could also use program and delete some of the diff files. You only need the full or one full plus one diff in order to do a restore so may have some files which could be deleted while you build a new group of backup files based on your new settings.

Thanks--I previously hesitated clicking the Settings/Delete since, before you click it, there's no indication of the 'delete all' choice.

At the risk of straying off topic, I wouldn't mind hearing your input on my particular backup scheme quandary. In the past I've run a full backup every night called my_daily. Then I'd manually move a daily to a 3 month and 6 month archive on those month anniversaries. Naturally, Murphy's law would generally mean that I needed an image that was say 5 or 10 days ago.

Even having a 2T external destination for a backup plan x2 (my machine and my wife's) the 6 month chain was too data heavy.

I'm now inclined to do a 1 month version chain and a daily full for each of us. I never restored from a version chain and presume that it's time consuming. However, if the required data isn't on the nightly full, I do not see an alternative.

How does this scheme correspond with what you or anyone else listening in has in place?

Mark

Yes, the delete option in less than the current version was a blind delete The current option is better in that you can choose between task or all.

A backup policy is usually dependant upon your own personal situation and storage space availability and the time to create backups. It is difficult to offer specific suggestions. I assume your backup to be a disk image (all partitions included) but what you are including in your backup is not mentioned.

1. I do suggest an additional storage disk be added. How will you recover if your single storage disk fails or get corrupted? You could alternate between the two or use one for daily needs and the other for archival use every week or month, etc. Or, perhaps you are making backups of the same data over and over so other changes may be needed to better utilize your space.

2. If you were to set up a new backup scheme using my example of illustration 11-Diff with a settings of 6 and 4 would be very close to what you are doing now--except with a 4 week retention cycle.

If you are running a backup every night, you could set the number of diff to 6 (chain: 1 full +6 diff or recent version chain =7 files); or if only doing backups 6 days a week, then set diff to 5 choosing the weekly schedule but selecting 6 specific days so a full backup would occur on the first night each week.

The option to "store no more than 4 recent version chains" is your space & backup retention control. As 1 chain (1 full + 6 diff) is 7 files and keeping 4 chains is keeping 28 files, and deletion/rotation would start occurring after the successful completion of backup #29. Upon completion of backup 29 (full), the first chain would be deleted. The backups would continue and upon completion of full #backup 36, deletion of the oldest chain would again occur. etc. The rotation basis is much like an escalator. On chain begins (steps on) and another chain is deleted or steps off.

The "store no more than 4 recent version chains" can be adjusted based on your space limitations. Just keep in mind that the program will not perform a deletion until after the replacement has been created. Thus, you have temporary space requirements for the 1 extra full backup each time a chain is created.

Backup retention is important. It is not unusual for some time to elapse before and older file might be needed. The longer you can keep such files (perhaps on another disk) can be a real data saver. Or perhaps the need is not for all backups to be a complete backup but specific folders kept for an extended period.

http://forum.acronis.com/system/files/forum/2009/11/5940/2012-backup-sc…

This next attachment is not exactly the same settings but would give you a general idea of what to expect with a 6 and 4 plus keep the original were selected.
http://forum.acronis.com/system/files/forum/2009/11/5940/example-folder…

Very helpful. I've read your (GroverH) messages off line + links. My wife and I have licenses for 2013. Her's is a new machine (mine is a laptop) with a second internal 1 T drive + a USB 3x WD 2 T Passport that can be easily disconnected and taken in the event of a fire (e.g. recent Evergreen, CO wildfire) or trip.

I've had various Acronis versions over the years but have never ventured past a simple daily scheduled backup and then manually, periodically copying an image to an 'archival' directory. However, based up my new information, here's my new and more energetic plan:

The 2 T Passport, D, will be considered the primary destination: a 28 day diff chain for BOTH myself and Connie. A daily full for myself and Connie.

The internal second 1 T drive, E, will be the archival and reserve (I'm assuming, not having looked into it yet, that I can specific a different drive letter for the reserve copy? And that the reserve, from the POV of time is created by Acronis copying the initial image and not taking the time to 'create' a new one?): A daily reserve copy of the full Mark and Connie image. I'd like to have a 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 monthly archival full for each of us resident on E. Again, not having looked into the options associated with creating a full image, I'm wondering--for the purpose of creating the monthly archives--if there's such a thing as a 6 month full chain that would create 1 image/month and delete the 1st after creating the 7th month?

Mark

The reserve backup is NOT a copy. It is a new full backup and done immediately any normally scheduled backup so twice the time is needed.. More information can be found in the user manual, section 3.8

If manually creating backup copies via a copy method, the copy should be validated via the TrueImage validation--either from within Windows or via the Recovery CD. If performing Windows style copying, my suggestion would be use a program such as Karen's free Replicator (which can be scheduled if desired) which has a good checking for errors so it does a better verification of a copy without errors and there is a log file indicating any issues.
www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

Relating to security of backups, there was a recent posting of a virus destroying both the computer plus the backups stored on another internal disk. Do keep some usable backups on a disk not attached all the time.

Many of us have a variety of special purpose tasks.
Yes, as per this link, you can have a custom full backup task set to store 6 full backups and the deletion will on after the 7 full. This example is set to keep 4 full but can be changed to 6.
http://forum.acronis.com/system/files/forum/2009/11/5940/2012-backup-sc…

The insertion of a camera or flash drive or printer into a usb port will increment drive letters so when assigning drive letters to a portable backup storage disk, best to assign letters such as x or y or z, etc so the letter will not change and the backup task can be more stable.

The editing or changes in backup tasks has been reported to cause issues for many--mostly wrong count of backups, etc so editing should be avoided. If corrections to task needed, start a new task pointing to a new sub-folder.

As part of my naming routine, I include this as part of the backup file name so as to achieve the backun run number as part of the name.
-@exec@-
http://forum.acronis.com/system/files/forum/2009/11/5940/example-dif-1…
Grover

Creating the custom differential chain (as referenced herein) I noticed an interesting option. Paraphrased, it says don't delete the first of the series when generating a new to replace old. I did not select the option thinking that I might change the definition later.

If I do choose to change the backup definition at some later time to not delete the first, then will Acronis not have a problem with this later change and simply not delete the earliest full going forward? Wouldn't it also have to not delete the associated differentials also?

Mark

Mark,
You and I are not working under the same assumpitons.

My assumpiton or experience is "don't edit or change a task backup parameter". My experience and many reports from the forum is that editing a task often causes unexpected behavior. Depending upon the changes made, some changes are immediate and other will cause the changes not to take place or be very delayed. Therefore, the rule that I practice (and recommend) is that if changes needed to a task, stop using the task. Create a new task pointing to a new and empty sub-foder. Do not mix different backups into the same folder. The user manual is mute on whether an edit it ok or should be avoided. Most certainly, the option to edit has been provided but whether the edit will help or hurt is not clearly defined--much will depend upon the type of edit. There is no published rules of behavior as to how the program will effect any requested edit change.

The option to which you refer is the "Do not delete first version." If checked as part of original task,
both first and second backups will be full backups with the first one never being part of the delete scheme. When checked initially, it is the 2nd backup (always a full) which begins to accumulate any differentials and subject to later deletion rules.

If you edit and change the status of that option, I do not know what the results will be as it violates my rule of no edits. My experience has been that it takes less time to start over than to spend hours troubleshooting as to why the program is not working as expected.

Thanks Grover--

So if you choose 4 sets with a custom diff chain does your explanation mean you'll have only 3 'actively' rotating data sets and that if you had really wanted the 4 you should select 5 sets equaling 1 static and 4 rotating?

Also, I created the custom chain on my wife's machine and mine both targeting her internal 2nd drive. After I've deleted these just created backup jobs so as to recreate new chains with the above new information, is there an 'easy' way to clone the new back up jobs and just change 1 parameter--the target (her external drive) instead of having to recreate from scratch?

Mark

http://forum.acronis.com/system/files/forum/2009/11/5940/example-folder…

Note the above example. This example shows the "Do not delete first version."(if checked) as a static backup and NOT part of the X recent version chains. Frankly, I am not sure with this most recent version whether the "keep original" is included in x or not. My example is not recent but I believe the example is still accurate. The keep x number of recent should mean all of x is rotation and the keep original is not part of the rotation--just static.

There is a "clone settings" option which enables you to clone a task and then make changes to it such as change of task name and/or a change of backup file name, etc. This option is listed listed task under the Settings/more option. If you choose this option, be sure and change BOTH names (file name-task name)

When I want to remove a task from the listing or disable, you can also use the Setting/more/remove from list option.

>>>>.There is a "clone settings" option which enables you to clone a task and then make changes to it such as change of task name and/or a change of backup file name, etc. This option is listed listed task under the Settings/more option.>>>>>>

The only Settings that I can find is the blue Settings link that sits within a task box under the Backup and Recovery tab that lights up when hovered over. I'm not finding a 'more option' after opening same?

Mark

To locate the "SETTINGS" option for any specific backup task:
Place mouse pointer inside your backup task. Hover pointer over the lower right corner area of the specific task and the "settings" option should become visible.
RIGHT mouse click on the Settings tab,
Click OTHER
The clone task setting should be part of the listing.

Incidentally, place your mouse pointer into any open space inside the specific task and then use the RIGHT mouse CLICK option and the settings windows should open and with the MORE option which leads to the clone settings command.

Ok I'll confess to being thick.

I think we've been seeing the same windows but must be calling them by different names.

The problem is when I open Settings from the task box I get the "Configure Disk Backup Process". Then when I click on Disk Backup Options at the bottom left the ensuing window has tabs but none of which say "Other"

Further, looking through the tab pages I do not see any option to CLONE the current task?

Mark

Review post 13 again. It sounds like you are using the left mouse click but you need to use the right mouse click.

Thanks--I found the option in a different location this morning before reading your post. Click on the 'gear' adjacent to Backup Now and the 'more' appears.

Thanks--

Mark