Acronis True Image: History
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Acronis True Image is a software product produced by Acronis that provides data protection for personal users including, backup, archive, access and recovery for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android operating systems. As disk imaging software, True Image can restore the previously captured image to another disk, replicating the structure and contents to the new disk, also allowing disk cloning and partition resizing, even if the new disk is of a different capacity. The backups are in a proprietary format which saves using a .tib filename format. Acronis was launched in 2003 and in December 2014 claimed to have over 5 million consumer and 500,000 businesses users.

  • data protection
  • software product
  • acronis

1. Overview

1.1. Editions

Several editions of Acronis True Image are available. Acronis True Image Cloud is a subscription-based software plus service offering that allows both local and online backup with unlimited cloud backup, and offers backup for a selection of mobile phones and tablets.[1] Successive versions of Acronis True Image are the local backup editions. Both editions are available at retail outlets.[2]

Until release 9 there were versions of Acronis True Image for personal and business users, with business versions named Acronis True Image Server.[3] Later server backup software was renamed "Acronis Backup".[4]

1.2. Operation

Acronis True Image can make two types of backups: file backup, backing up user-specified files and directories, and full system images, which are exact snapshots of an entire disk partition. The program can back up a system hard drive while the OS is running. Acronis True Image can browse the contents of backups and restore them partially or entirely. It can also mount a disk backup as a virtual disk, readable in the same way as any disk drive.

Although backups can be restored when the system is running, a major purpose of backup is to restore the system when it fails to start. Acronis True Image can install Acronis Startup Recovery Manager (ASRM), a computer program that helps restore backups at boot time. Acronis True Image can also create a copy of Acronis Rescue Media, a bootable DVD that contains a copy of Acronis True Image and can restore backups to a computer not bootable in the normal way, so long as a good boot drive (existing or new) is available.

The Acronis True Image Cloud version allows cloud users to also back up their mobile devices. iPhone and Android smartphones are supported, in addition to iPad and Windows tablets. This edition also brings back the "Try and Decide" option which lets users perform potentially risky actions such as the installation of un-trusted software with the option of returning to the system function before the action if any problems occur.[5]

Acronis True Image Cloud allows multiple devices to be backed up, managed and archived on the Acronis Cloud from the online dashboard.[6]

One complaint from Acronis users is the inability to disable taskbar popups marketing upgrades and new products from the developer. [7] The notification will grab focus (ie. will interrupt a full screen game or movie) and each advertisement must be disabled individually. The company currently offers no way to permanently turn off these advertisements. [8]

1.3. Supported File Systems

Acronis True Image supports multiple file systems including NTFS, FAT32, ext2, ext3, ext4, HFS+, APFS, ReiserFS, and Linux Swap.[9]

In addition to backing up supported file systems, Acronis True Image provides raw sector backup and restore options independent of file system, thereby supporting a file system that is corrupt, or not supported. This creates a complete image of all sectors on the partition, whether they contain data or not; the image will not be compressed, and will be the same size as the partition.[10]

2. History

Acronis began in 2001 as a division of SWsoft[11] and in 2003 became a separate company and continued to release the Acronis True Image software. The True Image name was applied to all platforms from Home to Corporate until 2010, when Acronis business backup software was renamed, with True Image being the home version.[12]

2.1. Versions

Version Year Notes
6.0 2002 Supports creation of disk images on recordable DVD media and external USB drives.
7.0 2003 Includes a wizard-driven interface. Supports disk cloning that directly duplicates the contents of a hard drive to another.
8.0 2004 Supports backing up to a network location and restoring individual files from a disk image.
9.0 2005 The last version to support Windows 98 and Windows ME. Secure Zone allows backing up to a hidden drive partition. Startup Recovery Manager helps restore during boot time without a separate boot disk.
10.0 2006 Backs up and restores directly from network shares and FTP servers. Can save archives of Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express as well as Windows Address Book.
11.0 2007 File Shredder helps permanently destroy files. Try&Decide helps set up a sandbox in which untrusted programs can safely run without the risk of permanently changing or damaging the system.
12/2009 2009 One-click Backup backs up a computer using default settings, without asking any question other than backup destination.
13/2010 2010 Supports Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) and Windows 7. Nonstop Backup provides continuous data protection. Online Backup backs up data to an off-site location on the Internet. Version 13 home available as free WD Edition (see partnerships below)
14/2011 2010 Supports USB 3.0, integration with Windows 7 and predefined backup schemes.
15/2012 2011 Supports File synchronization, Network-attached storage, Nonstop Backup over network and integrated online backup.[13]
16/2013 2012 Adds mobile access and Windows 8 support (except UEFI Secure Boot).[14] Version 16 Home available as free WD Edition AND Seagate DiskWizard (see partnerships below)
17/2014 2013 Bug fixes, minor changes. UEFI Secure Boot support was added in this version.
18/2015 2014 Radically changed the UI and removed many features including backup file conversion from the .tib format to .vhd and vice versa, user backup file management (deletion of specified existing backups when destination has insufficient space for new backup), user-driven consolidation of incremental backups, import and export of backup settings, and the ability to sort backups by date.[15] Version 18 Home available as free WD Edition (see partnerships below)
19/2016 2015 Added support for Windows 10. Removed support for Windows Vista.
20/2017 2016 Added active ransomware countermeasures, blockchain-based notary services, and electronic signing (premium version only).
21/2018 2017 Added cloning of active disks and continuous backups.
22/2019 2018  
23/2020 2019 Changed suffix of backup files to .tibx. This likely changed the internal file format as well.
24/2021 2020 Added integrated advanced anti-malware features including real-time protection, vulnerability assessment, anti-virus scans, web filtering, and videoconference app protection.

3. File Format

Acronis True Image guarantees backward compatibility for image files (with the .tib extension) created with a single previous version, that is, images created with an immediate previous version can be successfully restored (older versions may or may not work). Backups are created to be compatible between different editions of Acronis True Image within the same version (Home, Enterprise), e.g., between former Acronis True Image Echo Workstation and Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server, or between Linux and Windows versions.[16] Compatibility is not guaranteed between products that are not within the same version.[17] Guaranteed cross-version compatibility is documented.[12]

In some cases it is possible to extract the .tib file using free offzip utility with commandline "offzip.exe -R -o -a -1 -z 15 <.tib> <.bin>", which produces uncompressed binary image. The command scans all TIB compressed sections and extracts them into one image file.

3.1. Format Conversion

VMware Converter by virtualization company VMware supports converting .tib files created by former Acronis True Image Echo 9.1 and 9.5, and Acronis True Image Home 10 and 11 into a virtual machine.[18][19] However, after VMware Converter failed to recognize Acronis True Image 2013 .tibs, VMware said "unfortunately VMware Converter doesn't support current Acronis True Image versions".[20]

Acronis True Image has an option to convert backups between its proprietary .tib and Microsoft's VHD backup format,[21] more widely supported, and documented under the Microsoft Open Specification Promise.

4. Partnerships

Acronis has licensed custom versions of Acronis True Image to some hard disk manufacturers, including Western Digital's Acronis True Image WD Edition,[22] Intel Data Migration Software to migrate from an existing hard drive to an Intel SSD,[23] and Seagate DiscWizard.[24] Such editions are free to download and use, but only with that manufacturer's hard drives.

The content is sourced from: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Software:Acronis_True_Image

References

  1. Williams, Rob (September 16, 2014). "Acronis True Image 2015 Brings Overhauled Interface, Huge Focus on Simplicity". Tech Gage. http://techgage.com/news/acronis-true-image-2015-brings-overhauled-interface-huge-focus-on-simplicity/. 
  2. Backup to the cloud using the regular Acronis True Image 2016. Nick Peers. Beta News. January 25, 2016 http://betanews.com/2015/11/17/backup-to-the-cloud-using-the-regular-acronis-true-image-2016/
  3. "Acronis True Image Server delivers comprehensive server data protection solution for Linux and Windows". 3 August 2004. https://www.acronis.com/en-us/pr/2004/pr08-03.1.html. 
  4. "Business Backup & Storage Management Software, Acronis Backup 12.5 Standard and Advanced". 2017. https://www.acronis.com/en-gb/business/overview/. 
  5. Williams, Mike (August 18, 2015). "Acronis True Image Cloud 2016 Gets Mobile Backup". Beta News. http://betanews.com/2015/08/18/acronis-true-image-cloud-2016-gets-mobile-backup/. 
  6. Morgan, Holly (August 18, 2015). "Acronis Launches New True Image". ARN. http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/582183/acronis-launches-new-true-image/. 
  7. "How do I stop these constant "Purchase 2015 Upgrade" prompts?". forum.acronis.com. September 28, 2014. https://forum.acronis.com/forum/65648?page=1#comment-209384/. 
  8. "Acronis True Image: How To Disable Notifications in Notification Area". acronis.com. November 28, 2019. https://kb.acronis.com/content/57373. 
  9. "Acronis True Image 2016". http://www.acronis.com/en-gb/personal/computer-backup/. 
  10. "Creating a Sector-By-Sector Backup with Acronis Products". https://kb.acronis.com/content/1543. 
  11. Philipson, Graeme (4 December 2014). "Acronis Head Signals Cloud Future". Cloud(Australia:iTWire). http://www.itwire.com/business-it-news/cloud/66350-acronis-head-signals-cloud-future. 
  12. "1689: Backup Archive Compatibility Across Different Product Versions". https://kb.acronis.com/content/1689. 
  13. "Release Notes for Acronis True Image Home 2012". Acronis, Inc. http://www.acronis.com/support/updates/changes.html?p=10784. 
  14. Collins, Barry (2013-01-15). "Windows 8 Secure Boot snags Acronis True Image". Dennis Publishing. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/379315/windows-8-secure-boot-snags-acronis-true-image. 
  15. "65498: Summary of Features Removed in ATI2015". acronis.com. 18 September 2014. https://forum.acronis.com/forum/65498. 
  16. Acronis knowledgebase article (Subscription content?) http://www.acronis.co.uk/enterprise/support/kb/?aid=477
  17. "Acronis support staff on Wilder Security forums: tib compatibility between Acronis versions, 2009". http://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/tib-compatibility-between-acronis-versions.244290/. 
  18. "Acronis native file format supported by VMware Converter: VMware Converter Supports Acronis .TIB Format". Acronis.com. 2008-01-15. http://www.acronis.com/pr/2008/01/pr01-16-wmware-converter.html. 
  19. "vCenter Converter Standalone 5.5, User's Guide". Vmware.com. pp. 20. https://www.vmware.com/pdf/convsa_55_guide.pdf. 
  20. VMWare communities response to "converter standalone problem with Acronis True Image Home 2013", 3 August 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2014 https://communities.vmware.com/message/2275140
  21. "Run Acronis TIB as virtual machine". http://www.file-extensions.org/article/run-acronis-tib-as-virtual-machine. 
  22. "WD Support". Support.wdc.com. 2012-02-05. http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119&wdc_lang=en. 
  23. "Download Intel® Data Migration Software". 27 May 2016. https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19324. 
  24. "Seagate DiscWizard". Acronis.com. http://www.seagate.com/support/downloads/discwizard/. 
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