Incremental backups – Is it correct
Incremental backups – Is it correct
I am wondering if the Incremental backups are actually doing the correct backup. On February 2, 2014, I reloaded my laptop from the original restore disks. After doing a complete restore and all the updates that windows update pulled up I did a new backup. At this point the backup scheme was an Incremental backup which means it did a complete backup and the next backup would back up the changes since the original. This backup was almost 41 GB in size. Between the February 2 and the 7th I updated my Norton internet security and loaded a few small programs. On the 7th I did a manual backup from the original backup meaning this backup would be an Incremental backup. Once this backup was completed the Incremental backup was another 38 GB in size. Then on the 8th of February I did another Incremental backup form the same scheme. This backup was 321 K.
At this point I do not understand why the second Incremental backup was almost the same size of the first backup. To insure that this Incremental backup was working correctly I created a new backup of my system the very same day I did the last Incremental backup back up just to see if this backup would be the same size as the accumulated three backups of the system. Needless to say this backup was a total of about 39 GB and the total of the other 3 Incremental backups was over 79 GB.
My question is … did the original Incremental backup create a complete backup in the 2nd Incremental backup or not.
I have attached a screen shot of the original backup (total of three backups) and the new backup of the system.
Grover H - Thank you for your reply.
To answer your questions
Which version and build of TrueImge are you using? ------- I am using ATIH2012_7133_en-US - True Image Home
Are these backups being done from within Windows or from the TI Recovery CD? -------------- I am running my backups from the TI interface within windows.
Which version of Window? --- Windows 7 Premium - 64 X
Just to see what size of backups I receive from these two backup (Both backups have all partitions selected on my system) I ran each backup first thing Sunday morning one after another. In the older backup the end result was about 3,338,442 kb and the newer one was about 516,187 kb. Now I ran the newer one first and then I ran the older one right after the new one.
PS: Both backups are set to be Incremental backups.
Would you consider posting a picture of your main screen which lists all your backup tasks.
Is this the method you are using to create additional backups when creating new backups to be added to the same task?
http://forum.acronis.com/system/files/example-backup-now.jpg
Good day Grover
I am sorry for taking such a long time to reply to your last posting. During the time I posted last I had some time to do a validation on the two backups that seem to be acting in a strange manner. It seems that they are NOW both are corrupt according to the validation process. Once I received a corrupt evaluation I did a complete new backup and valuated the backup. It seems that at this time the backup is good.
In your last posting you asked me to post a screen shot of my backup interface. I have included the screen shot of my backups. I do use this method to do all my backups. In your very first posting you asked if I used the windows interface or from the TI Recovery CD. I do not have a TI Recovery CD as I downloaded the program when I purchased the program. I have the feeling you think that all BU should be done with the TI Recovery CD. Am I correct on this?
I still don't know why the two earlier Back Ups worked fine ... or at least they seem to be non corrupted but very large. I know I am using Acronis True Image Home 2012. Maybe the old program had some problems doing the backups...
Thank you
White Gold,
Backups performed by TI in Windows have proven reliable. Most of my backup are performed via Windows but I do also use the TI Recovery CD to do additional backups. Backups done via the CD can be done without any interference from Windows so my recommendation is that the CD should be part of your backup routine.
You do need to use the Create Bootable media option and create a TI Recovery. It is the CD which is the prime method of recovery when recovering the system and is your only means of recovery if the system disk has gone bad. Create the CD now and familiarize yourself with its functions so you know how to use it when you have no other choice.
You can also use the TI Recovery CD to validate the "bad" backups. There is a good chance the "bad" backups are not really "bad" and this could be more of a stable connection issue. Another possibility would be (if possible) direct connect (rather than network) the storage disk and do another validation either from within Windows or the CD. I am not a believer in deleting backups until they have been completely proven as not being usable.
If I am understanding correctly, you are using a backup scheme set to "incremental". If true, I would suggest the next time you need to create a new task that you use a different backup scheme. Instead, use a custom backup scheme set to incrmental (rather than plain incremental) plus set the scheme to automatic cleanup. The benefit of using this type is that you can control the number of incrmentals that you retain so the number of inc's retained does not get largel (rather than indefinite). There have been many posts on this topic for your search and review. My suggestion as an example would be via signature link 2 below and review illustration 11-Inc.
Good day Grover
Thank you for your feedback.
First of all would like to say how grateful I am for your input and feedback. You are most definitely an asset to this community. I only wish you were my next door neighbour so I could have you over for a gourmet meal while you educated me. Doing a great deal of reading and I am learning but a one on one experience would be a dream.
Concerning my matter at hand … I did do a direct connect to my system, bypassing my router to do a validation on the two backups that seemed to report a corrupt status. The validation on both of the backups did report a corrupt report while doing the direct connect, in turn I did the big “D” on these two backups.
At this point a have the one backup that seems to validate. My question … I did an incidental backup on Feb 25 in the morning and throughout the day I had used my system for simple tasks such no email, and browsing. No new installs or updates. Today, 24 hours later I did an incidental backup. The incidental backup was a little larger than 1 GB. This seems to be rather large for the amount of emailing and surfing that was done in that 24 hour spam. I ask this as when I first started this posting the now two backups that I deleted acted in this manner and shortly thereafter there corrupted.
Am I in for a repeat of this behavior?
Understand that TrueImage performs an incremental backup, what it is doing is records the disk sectors which have changed.
Thus, any use of automatic defrag or manual defrag would cause a spike in usage even if no files were edited.
Also, if system restore is active and windows update, all of these must be considered.
I would not be too concerned about the spice unless it gets much larger.