Knowledge Base

1. When started, Acronis True Image Home 2011 does the following:
   • Creates a full disk image excluding all files on the protected partition. This ensures that when restored, the partition will be bootable;
   • Creates a full file backup of all files on the partition.
2. Then a special Continuous Data Protection (CDP) driver is turned on. This CDP driver reads all requests to the protected partition and copies these to its data buffer.

   Every 5 minutes these requests (which constitute file changes) are flushed (i.e. saved) to the Acronis Nonstop Backup storage. Thus, one time slice is created, while the CDP driver keeps reading the requests.

   It is important to understand that since all the files were backed in their entirety at Step 1, Acronis Nonstop Backup every 5 minutes saves only the file changes, not the files themselves. This saves disk space. The changes are requests to the files done since the last slice was created. In other words, Acronis Nonstop Backup "compares" the latest slice with the one in progress and saves only the changes.

1. When started, Acronis True Image Home 2011 creates a full backup of the files and folders selected for protection. See also Difference between File Backups and Disk/Partition Images;
2. Then a special Continuous Data Protection (CDP) driver is turned on. This CDP driver reads all requests to the protected partition and copies these to its data buffer.

   Every 5 minutes these requests (which constitute file changes) are flushed (i.e. saved) to the Acronis Nonstop Backup storage. Thus, one time slice is created, while the CDP driver keeps reading the requests.

   It is important to understand that since all the files were backed in their entirety at Step 1, Acronis Nonstop Backup every 5 minutes saves only the file changes, not the files themselves. This saves disk space. The changes are requests to the files done since the last slice was created. In other words, Acronis Nonstop Backup "compares" the latest slice with the one in progress and saves only the changes.

Consider the following scenario:

1. You select files or folders on partition C: for protection and let it run for two days;
2. Then you edit the nonstop backup to include the whole partition C: in protection.

Here is what will happen:

1. With only files or folders selected for protection, Acronis True Image Home 2011 will create a full backup of these files or folders and will start the CDP driver to keep saving the changes;
2. Then, when you include the whole partition into the nonstop protection, Acronis True Image Home 2011 will do the following:
   1. Pause the file nonstop backup;
   2. Create a disk image of the partition;
   3. Create a full backup of all the files on the partition (including the previously backed up files);
   4. Start the nonstop protection.

      As a result, you will be able to restore the file versions from the previous two days and the whole partition with all files (including the previously backed up files) and versions from the moment the nonstop protection was started again.

Should there be too many requests to be flushed, and Acronis Nonstop Backup is not able to flush them all in a five minute interval, the time stamp will still be created as the valid 5 minute point. This case, however, is rare.

Sample scenario

1. All the requests are flushed by the time the 15 minute point is reached. A time slice for the 10 minute point is created;
2. There is an overwhelming amount of requests in the time period between the 10 minute and 15 minute points. At the 15 minute point the product starts flushing these requests. By the time the 20 minute point is reached, not all the requests are flushed. The product keeps flushing the requests and finishes at 21 minutes. A 15 minute point is created.

   It is important to remember that the product flushes the requests and copies the new requests to its data buffer at the same time. Thus, no data is lost and the time points are created correctly. For example, in this sample scenario, you will have valid 10, 15, 20 and so on minute points.

The Acronis Nonstop Backup storage is in a special hidden folder called Time Explorer Storage. All Acronis Nonstop Backup data is stored in the Time Explorer Storage folder.

The Time Explorer Storage folder is automatically created in the root of the partition that you select as the place for the Acronis Nonstop Backup storage.

For example

You select the C: partition for the Acronis Nonstop Backup storage.

The hidden Time Explorer Storage folder is created in the root of the C: partition:

To view the hidden folder you need first to enable this option in your system:

1. Open the partition where you chose to keep the Acronis Nonstop Backup storage;
2. Select Tools -> Folder options:

   (!) In Windows Vista or Windows 7 you will need to hit the Alt button on your keyboard to see the toolbar with Tools:

    

3. On the Folder Options window, select View:

    

4. Select Show hidden files, folder, and drives and click OK:

    

5. You will then see the Time Explorer Storage folder: