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too small partition

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Hi there,

my backup HD is the same size as the HD with my running system. When i do a full backup on the backup HD, there isn't enough space left for another full backup. So i can't automize the full backup method.

So i decided to do one full backup and then "differential backups" because they are smaller of course. But still after a certain period of backups i need to erase old backups to make space for new ones.

Can i erase every differential backup that is older than the latest diff. backup?

In other words... if i have

-full backup # # #
-diff backup ##1
-diff backup ##2

...can i always erase diff ##1 without problems/loosing backup data?

I only need the very last diff. backup with the first full backup, and everything in between i can erase, when i don't have any more storage, right?

Does anyone know how i could tell ATIH 2016 to erase the previous diff. backup version, after finishing the newest diff backup version? Advanced Settings seem to allow the user to add commands for before and after backups...

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Johann, yes you can delete older, unwanted differential backups provided that you always keep the initial full backup that these have been based on.

The one factor with doing this type of deletion is to run a Validation of your backup task after doing this, as Acronis tracks all backup files in its own database and when you manually delete files the database will get out of synch with what files still remain.  Validation will help to reconcile the database with those remaining files on your backup drive but it will throw up an error message for each 'missing / deleted' file that you should take the Ignore option for each time.

There is no cleanup option within the program to just delete older differential backup files, Acronis works on the principle of backup version chains which are all the files with the same backup sequence number, i.e. _b1_ in the file name (or _b2_ _b3_ etc).

So when i delete, i then have to tell ATIH to do a validation with whats left? Did i understand that correctly? Where do i click to do just a validation?

Johann, see the attached screen shot of where to find the option to Validate your backup task.

Fichier attaché Taille
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Hi, i'm back again, with the same problem.

I don't have a "ignore" button anymore. Only: (German version, but i'll translate): Repeat , Cancel, Search, Mark as 'deleted' as options, when i erased a few diff backups between the full first version and the last diff version.

What do i have to choose to make it repair the backup?

Johann, if there is no Ignore option, then the nearest alternative would be 'Mark as deleted'.

That's what i tried. But now ATIH tells me the backup is broken. Today i saw that it still did another regular scheduled diff backup with the following number, but in the main page of the backup it still says the backup is broken. I don't feel safe with this kind of backup, in case of an emergency.

Maybe then there is no way to erase the diffential backups in between...

Johann, the alternative approach here would be to limit the number of differentials being created before you create a new full backup and start a new backup version chain, then let automatic cleanup remove the oldest completed backup version chain and do any tidying of the database etc.

Yes, you are right, that would be the best procedure. Unfortunately my backup Hdd isn't big enough for two full backups to fit on it. Thank you anyway for your help. :)

Sounds like you need to work on getting a larger backup HDD Johann - would be a worthwhile investment and save a lot of this worry about squeezing your backups onto the existing drive.

I always thought a backup hdd for a 1TB system-hdd wouldn't necessarily have to be twice that size. but i guess i was wrong :-D

You're right though, would solve this problem best.