Backup dates
I noticed that when I split image size into 20 GB and later do an incremental all of the split files have the current date instead of only the last split only having current date.
Example:
MyBackup.tibx
MyBackup001.tibx
MyBackup002.tibx
MyBackup003.tibx
All dated 8-30-2023
But when I did an incremental on 9-7-2023 all dates of all 4 files changed to 9-7-2023.
Can someone explain why the first 3 splits would change dates also?
This makes it extremely hard if doing redundant backups, i.e., syncing the backup to a second USB drive as a just in case. Why is Acronis putting all dates the same.


- Accedi per poter commentare

In one of the FAQ it says:
Differentials are never merged with each other or with full backups.
Please explain, does that mean a Differential will be it's own file and I can sync the way I need?
Will all dates change, or will original dates remain the same and just the Differential date will change?
In other words, say I have a full and copy it to a second USB. Today I do a Differential backup, is the Differential backup the only new file/s I need to copy to the second USB?
- Accedi per poter commentare

A Differential backup will include all changes detected since the initial Full backup was created, so each differential will be larger than the one before and ALL differentials need to be kept unless you use the Clean up versions tool to remove them. If you delete any using Explorer the whole backup will be deemed to be corrupt because of metadata tracking all files.
Differentials are stored in separate files but with no clear identifier to say what they are other than by using either the Activity panel, or the Clean up versions tool.
I don't use differentials for my own backups so you would need to do some tests for what exactly changes in terms of file dates.
Again, if copying files to a second USB drive, you need to keep ALL files synchronised regardless of the type of backup scheme being used - this includes just making Full backups!
See forum topic: Full Backups no independent entity where this has been discussed in some depth.
KB 61844: Acronis True Image 2019, 2020 and 2021: How to delete old backups
See forum topic: How to create a Disk backup as .tib (not .tibx) which will create a new backup task using the older .tib format in the Windows ATI 2020 or 2021 GUI.
- Accedi per poter commentare

Okay I tested, I already had a full and one incremental dated 9-7-2023 on (let's say usb 1).
I had already copied these to (let's say usb 2).
I created a differential it's date was 9-8-2023 on usb1.
I copied only the differential to usb 2.
I did a restore from usb 2, chose the differential and all was good.
I am guessing that the differential stores what previous files are needed for full restore.
Does these steps sound correct?
It's too bad that incrementals aren't separate files.
Edit:
If I plan on only full and differential, do I:
A) Pick differential as first full
B) Or if I pick full, can I still do a differential on it?
Like if I plan on incrementals, I pick incremental and the first time it's a full, does the same technique apply to differential.
They made this confused.
- Accedi per poter commentare

All backup schemes start with a Full after which you can create either an incremental, a differential or a further full backup.
When recovering, you just need to select the most recent image and Acronis will find the other files required by the backup scheme being used provided they are stored together.
- Accedi per poter commentare

What I meant by my last question is:
Suppose you have no backups yet. You have these choices:
1) Full Backup
2) Incremental
3) Differential
I know that if I choose Differential, the first run will be a Full Backup.
However let's suppose I choose Full Backup instead.
The question is, can I still do a Differential after I do a Full Backup (Full Backup option was chosen)?
Or since on first run I did not choose Differential, am I locked out of doing a Differential on the Full Backup?
I hope I am explaining this right, I don't know how else to explain.
Note I fully understand Full, incremental and differential already. My question is does Acronis allow a differential if Differential wasn't originally chosen for First Run?
- Accedi per poter commentare

The question is, can I still do a Differential after I do a Full Backup (Full Backup option was chosen)?
Yes, as far as I understand - this should still work assuming that you are just changing the Backup Scheme type from Full to either Differential or Incremental (after a full has already been created by that task).
- Accedi per poter commentare