So fustrated with ATI 2020 (should I get a return?)

Hello, Michael.

There are a number of difference between ATI 2014 and ATI 2020, many of which came in over the last few years... not all in 2020.

Could you be more specific about the problems you mentioned.

1) Did you delete the backup through True Image or did you delete it in Windows Explorer. The .tibx format is new for 2020 and must not be deleted outside of True Image as the files are not completely independent of each other.

2) What did you do here? This does not ring a bell with me.

3) The method of naming backups does not have all the choices that were in ATI 2014. Backups can be renamed, but not after the first backup is actually made. This has been brought up as a request for change.

4) What preferences cannot be changed?

Please also note that Acronis do not support ATI 2014 for use installed in Windows 10 - the first release they supported was ATI 2015.

See KB 56196: Windows 10 support in Acronis products

@BrunoC - Hi Bruno, I am deleting backups within ATI; 2) I created four new discrete back up of the same drive (trouble shooting problem No. 1) and at a later session tried to add all four backups to the Backups list. However, only two were added and I could not add the other two after multiple attempts; 3) I have not figured out how to rename a backup (before it's created); and 4) most recently, while making said four backups, I tried to change the compression level but it was greyed out as Normal.

@Steve - Thanks for the note.  Guess I'm kinda stuck.

Kind regards,

Michael

Michael, re 2)... I am not quite clear as to whether you have created four backup tasks or simply created four backups from one task (or some combination thereof). Since you are trying to add the backups to the backup list, why are they not already there?

To rename a new task (before running it), right click on the task in the list or left click on the down arrow to get the context menu. Select the Rename function if it is there. Note: the down arrow only appears for the selected (highlighted) task in the Backups list.

As for compression, as Steve said in your other post, the option is for new backups only. If you hover the mouse over the grayed option, it should say so.

Hi Bruno,

I guess I created four backup tasks.  That is, I created four full backups (not incremental or differential).  For whatever reason, all four backups are not appearing in the Backups list, although they are there in Windows Explorer.

I don't recall seeing a task list, but I will try it on my next backup.

As for the compression, I thought I was making new backups (each of the four).

Thanks for the info.

Kind regards,

Michael

FYI, I just set up a new backup task on my ATI 2020 machine and was unable to change the compression option.

Michael, just to be sure we're consistent on terminology. Forgive me if I am making false assumptions.

Because you are coming from ATI 2014, the differences in the UI may be confusing.

A backup task, or backup job, is not the same as a backup file. The left pane of the ATI interface will have a list of backup tasks. When you say "Add backup", you are adding a new backup task. It's not until you run that backup task  that you create backup files. But each new backup you run from a task will not change the list of backup tasks. So if you deleted a backup task, that may be why it deleted all the backup files, although you can remove a backup task without deleting any backup files.

To the right of Add Backup, if you click the down arrow, there is an Add existing backup option. With this, you can point to a backup file and it will create a backup task from that file.

If you are doing a full backup of a drive, there should be no reason to create multiple backup tasks.

If you want to see what was done for a task, select the Activity tab in the right pane.

Hi Bruno,

That doesn't make sense to me.  If I am reading you correctly, when I delete a backup "task" from the Backup list, then why does it delete the backup file(s) when those are two different things?  I could understand that a task is different from a file, but I don't understand deleting a task affects any backup files using the same task. Am I just really confused?

Thanks,

Michael

Michael, when you select the task Delete it brings up a box asking you if you just want to just remove the task or if you want to delete all the files too. It doesn't just delete them automatically.

Hi Bruno,

You are talking about whether I delete the backup (or "task") from the Backups list or if I permanently delete the backup (files).  Well, in my situation, I wanted to permanently delete one backup, but ATI permanently deleted all of the backups in the Backup list.  They were each "single version schemes," which I believe are full backups that are not dependent on any previous backup.

Kind regards,

Michael

Michael,

TI 2020 uses a new backup file format called .tibx  This format has different behavior, especially with dependencies, than prior versions of TI which used .tib files.

Essentially, any files created by a single task have dependencies with each other regardless of the backup Method used (ie. Full, Inc, Diff).  When you select to Delete a backup in the GUI and you are asked what to delete your choices are the backup task without its associated files or, the task and ALL associated files.

This is a big change from previous versions and there have been many complaints about this behavior.

Acronis has issued an FAQ on this new format that covers the basics of .tibx.  Link below:

.tibx FAQ

Thank you, Enchantech, for the concise explanation.  This just confirms that upgrading to ATI 2020 was a mistake and that it is just not ready for consumer release.  I really want my money back.  I guess I'll be taking my chances with 2014.  At least I know that it is working as it should.

Kind regards,

Michael

Michael, as Steve mentioned above ATI 2014 is not supported on Windows 10. Did you already have ATI 2014 on the Windows 10 machine when you installed ATI 2020? If so, then it should be completely removed first.

Michael,

I understand your frustration however, it is not that TI is not working properly.  The application has changed in this regard thus the user must adapt to the new behavior. 

As Bruno states, 2014 is not compatible with Windows 10 so using it with Windows 10 is not supported.

Hey Bruno, I uninstalled 2014 before I installed 2020.

Hi Enchantech, if 2020 is not working the way I need it to, because it's now a defunct, diminished software, I have no choice but to stick with 2014 or use another product all together.

Kind regards,

Michael

Just FYI, I'm Still using 2014 as well on Windows 10 Build 1909 latest as of 01/11/2020 and it still works flawlessly.

I'm right with the OP on this. Every time I want to upgrade it's reasons like this are why I do not. 

2014 works great, I can manage my backups within windows explorer and move them to other computers, and hard drives without having to be attached to certain PC or OS. and use the bootable USB to manage that. 

So is this new .tibx the only file used in ATI 2020, or can we still use the .tib and not be tied to single install of ATI 2020

I wish there was a way to test all features with a trial, but it's always a buy the full version advertisements within.

I have tried newer versions, and are just not happy with them. Sorry didn't mean to hi-jack the thread, but I know where the OP is coming from, and I want to stay current on the software, but not if it doesn't work.

I downloaded the latest Trial version as of this writing, I was able to make an Image/Backup .tibx

Renamed the file in windows explorer, ATI immediately found the new file, and it is perfectly usable. You just have to add it as an existing backup, the tool even tells you that. And it is now in the recovery list. This is with FULL/Single version not incremental. 

However, the comments must be saved via the user documents on the OS drive and not in the actual tibx file because the comments are gone. This is why my comments are in the file name. Because that's always been an issue even in ATI 2014, the backup had to have it's own folder, by it'self.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, Mr. Scary.  I do see I can rename the initial backup.  Appreciate your feedback.

Kind regards,

Michael

For anyone following this thread my statement that TI 2014 was not compatible with Win 10 should have been "not supported for Win 10" meaning, Acronis will not support the use of 2014 in Windows 10.

2020 is definitely frustrating.   It is like the software is developed by software engineers but never tested on the Public.  So you may end up with what is a more elegant piece of code from a Software Develpers point of view, but nobody can use it as it is so obtuse than only software developers can make it work.  I am coming from 2018 and having some of the same issues.  Incremental iimprovements are great,  but wholesale fundamental changes are only good if they work and can be readily understood.  And 2020 is a bit of a pita to operate as it is so fundamentally different from what its user base is expecting and comrotable with.

Second that.

Software engineers, and I am one myself, seemingly NEVER can imagine that the general public, i.e. the users, might have problems understanding their awesome logic. Mind you, ATI was even worse in earlier versions, with a cluttered interface beyond recognition. Still, to this very day, they don't understand that people might have problems understanding that you have to click on "Add backup" in order to RESTORE something, that using "backup" as a task and "backup" as an archive might confuse people .. ah, low bandwidth customers, who needs them ?

Also, their peers are no better. When I want to STOP my Win10 computer, first I have to click on START ...