Backup Hangs

I've made Image backups of both my drives with ATI, and they worked fine. Now, I'm trying to do a Differential backup (a file backup, of most everything on my C and D drives, the first one, into a new Backup Location with lots of room), and it seems like it starts okay, gets about 10% done at which time it's saying 2 hours to go, then, seven hours later, it's still on the same 10%. The icon in the system tray indicates it's still working, but in fact it's doing nothing. Not taking up any processor time, just sitting there. I even closed down all my other Windows programs and left the house for a while, but no dice.

This is the third time I've tried to do this, all with the same results. I've made differential backups before, using V10, to the Acronis Secure Zone, but I've been unable to get this working now.

Any ideas what's happing? I saw someone recommend doing the backup by booting from the CD, and while that wouldn't be bad for the first time, my intent is for this to run daily, while I'm working.

Oh, just checked, and the file size of the backup is still zero bytes, after seven hours.

 

I Am SO Very Confused!

I've used ATI 10 for a year, backing up to the ASZ without a problem (thank goodness - I've really needed it). I just upgraded last week to ATI 11, and have been backing up to Backup Locations, instead, as there are more options. No problems backing up images of my two drives, C and D, but I have yet been able to make a Differential File backup. First I tried a Differential of C & D combined, and it failed after hours. Well, it just hangs there, and nothing continues. So, I made a separate differential of C, and a separate one of D, and same thing. Within 10 mintues or so, they go to about 10% done and 1 hour or so to go, and never go any further, even seven hours later. I've tried smaller selection Differential backups (file backups), and the largest I've gotten to complete is Documents. Anything else fails.

So, I decided to try to go back to Image backups, as I could at least get them to work. I set up a Differential Image backup of C, and separate one of D, and they worked just fine. I ran them again to insure that only changed files backed up, and they did. All well and good. BUT - the times to do them make no sense.

For example, my Full Backup Image of C took 39 minutes at Normal priority, yet my first Differntial Image of C at Low priority only took 13 minutes! And the Differential was larger, at 41.5 GB, compared to 36.7 for the Full backup? Wh?y?? Likewise, my Full Backup Image of D took 26 minutes for 30 GB, while the Differential Image backup of D took under 10 minutes for 33 GB.

How can the /first/ Differential Image backup of a drive take only a third the time of the Full Image backup?? Same size, same stuff, in fact the Differential was made at Low priority, while the Full backups at Normal priority! This makes no sense.

I was about ready to give up on ATI 11, without ever being able to do a differential backup of both my drives, but interestingly the Image backup is far faster /and/ more reliable than the file backup, for me. So, I THINK I've found a way that works for me (so should shut up and be happy, I guess), but it makes very little sense (the times and all) as to how it works (or doesn't). And I still wonder why Differential File backups won't work for me. I'm running Vista Ultimate, BTW.

 

Are you creating the differential backups in the same folder that contains the full backkup?

 

I just started to experience a similar problem today with a system state backup and it stopping at 48%. I also had some ntfs error in the event log stating:

The default transaction resource manager on volume E: encountered a non-retryable error and could not start. The data contains the error code.

I found another thread talking about turning off the compression in the task and low and behold that worked for me. Of course the 2gig system state TIB that I had backing up to my NAS box is now 5 gigs on my RAID Array.

Acronis definately has some serious issues that need resolution.

Monte

 

Yes, although this would have been the first backup of each Differential backup, which would amount to a Full backup.

After not being able to ever do a Differential FILE backup with ATI 11 (it worked fine in ATI 10), I've switched to doing Differential IMAGE backups, which work much faster, and well, actually WORK!

 

Re: I Am SO Very Confused!

Your problem might be that the default place for the backup location is actually on your main drive and you are running out of space.

Try making the location either on another partition on your drive, or better still on to an external drive.

Colin

 

Re: I Am SO Very Confused!

I'm actually using TWO separate 500 GB drives, one for FULL backups, one for Differential backups. So I don't think that's the problem.

Actually, with IMAGE backups, there is no real "problem". The backups seem to work fine. I just can't understand why the Differential Image backups would work in 1/3 the time (for the first "full" one) yet take up the same space as a FULL Image backup. It seems to be working fine. It just makes no sense. Thus, my confusion (or rather, one cause of it). ;-)

 

Re: I Am SO Very Confused!

I thought the Fulls needed to be in the same location as the Diffs/Incs for ATI work correctly with them.

 

Re: I Am SO Very Confused!

Sorry. What I meant was that I have one drive dedicated to putting multiple copies of Full backups on, and the other drive dedicated to putting multiple copies of Differential backups on. The Differential backups consists of a Full and multiple Differential in a single directory or Backup Location. So yes, each set is in the same location.

 

Hello rraisley,

Thank you for choosing Acronis Disk Backup Software.

Please download the latest version of Acronis drivers and install it with disabled logging.

If the issue persists, please collect some information to let us investigate it thoroughly:

- Reinstall Acronis drivers with enabled logging;
- Reproduce the issue and collect the log file without closing any application windows (including the error message windows if there are any). The log file will be created at C:\ . The name of the log file will be snapapi [date-time].log

Please create Acronis Report and Windows System Information as it is described in Acronis Help Post.

Please run "regedit" command and let us know the data lines of the below registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} -> UpperFilters
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{71A27CDD-812A-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F} -> UpperFilters

Then submit a request for technical support. Attach all the collected files and information to your request along with the step-by-step description of the actions taken before the problem appears and the link to this thread. We will investigate the problem and try to provide you with a solution.

P.S. I have merged your two threads as they address the same issue.

Thank you.
--
Marat Setdikov

 

Well, kind of. One thread was on the inability to complete a differential file backup, which I am still unable to do. The other thread was questioning why the first Differential Image backup of a series (and thus, a full backup) should be so much quicker than a standard Full Image backup. I still don't understand that (thus, my confusion), but am pleased with the results.

But, bottom line is that the Differential Image backups are far quicker than Full Image backups, and actually work (whereas File backups do not, for me). So, things are working great, and I don't see a reason to change anything at this point.

 

Hello rraisley,

Please notice that those sizes and times indicate that most likely the "Differential" images were created using lower compression setting than the "Full" ones, resulting in shorter times and larger size. You can find more details in paragraph 5.3.4 "Compression level" of the respective User's Guide.

Thank you.
--
Marat Setdikov

 

Right on the money! Wow, what a difference! The High compression file is only 7% smaller than the Normal compression, yet the Normal compression took only 1/3 the time to run. Quite a good trade-off, I'd say.

Anyhow, I'm now extremely happy with my Differential IMAGE backups, and as I can still restore any file(s) I want to from the image (an added feature in V11, I believe), it will suit me perfectly. Yes, it backs up some things I don't really care about (like my virtual machine file), but as fast as it is, who cares? Even if I could get the differential FILE backup to work, it appears it would be slower than the image, so no real benefit to me.

Just curious: As the first Differential backup IMAGE is a Full backup, is there any benefit at all for me to make additional Full Image backups to restore from? Seems like the Differential will handle the whole thing. (Meaning I probably have an extra 500 GB drive, but I'll probably find a use for it. )