Old backups vanished ?!

Hi Pat,

Could you please attach the log file for one of the earlier backups using PasteBin (for example).
I’d like to check Jan 22 or Jan 08 to see if there’s any indication that the files are being removed.

Best regards,

Nick

https://pastebin.com/pe9xWXpR

Thank you.

Hi Pat,

Thank you for the log file.

Unfortunately when I went to read the file I only see this message on the page:
This page is no longer available. It has either expired, been removed by its creator, or removed by one of the Pastebin staff.

I’m unsure of the reason.

Best regards,

Nick

Hi @nrobertsudp so here is the new link.

https://pastebin.com/t9StZD38

Hope it will be okay this time, thanks!

Hi Pat,

That’s better, thank you.

This section of the log file appears to indicate the are backups stored on the local server:

0044.055 (0) Examining (for files) backup set with nonce=f8c9c7fb89f3, datestamp=1737542100 (Jan 22 2025 10:35:00)
0044.055 (0) This backup set remains non-empty (f=1/d=1); will retain in history
0044.055 (0) Examining (for files) backup set with nonce=eb9487324523, datestamp=1736327248 (Jan 08 2025 09:07:28)
0044.055 (0) This backup set remains non-empty (f=1/d=1); will retain in history
0044.055 (0) Examining (for files) backup set with nonce=80609c661cb9, datestamp=1734453919 (Dec 17 2024 16:45:19)
0044.055 (0) This backup set remains non-empty (f=1/d=1); will retain in history
0044.055 (0) Examining (for files) backup set with nonce=5795d317f8ce, datestamp=1734107457 (Dec 13 2024 16:30:57)

However you mentioned you don’t see the files on the local server in wp-content/updraft
Which means the history may be incorrect. Have you clicked on rescan local storage as yet?

It’s possible files have been removed at some point and the info displayed in the UI is wrong.
Based on what you’ve written this does appears likely and the interface is not reflecting this.

Best regards,

Nick

Thank you @nrobertsudp for your help.
I tried to rescan the local storage but that didn’t change anything…
It shows the same backups and when I tried to download and again “This file does not exist locally…”
Only the versy last backup is still available…

Hi Pat,

It really does appear those files no longer exist and I’m at a loss to explain why.
Are there settings differences between the working sites and the problem site?
I’ve run tests to see if I could replicate the problem somehow but with no luck.

Best regards,

Nick

thank you @nrobertsudp for your help.
That is really strange and as I said I am using your plugin on about dozen of websites with the same settings, I never saw that…

The only thing that could be different is the host.

IT seems it is a parametere wrong.

I tried to check all backups stored, there is nothing, except one which allowed me to download a file.
But that backup file is from another website, on google Drive…
I am a bit lost.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by Pat.

Hi Pat,

I would like to make sure no further problems occur due to the phantom file entries and retention.

I would advise you to delete the missing backup entries from the UI to clear away the missing files.
You could then run another backup and provide me the log to make sure the backups are retained.

I am sorry I’m unable to explain the missing backups, I’d like to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Best regards,

Nick

Thank you @nrobertsudp for your help.

How could I delete the missing entries from UI ? As they don’t exist anyway.

Hi Pat,

Thank you, I’m pleased to have been of some assistance.

I’ve actually cheated a little here by copying and pasting my answer from another thread:

There’s a simple solution to this which removes the entries for files which no longer exist.
When you select entries to delete and click delete you’ll see a pop up box to confirm this.

The pop up box has a check box ‘Also delete from remote storage’, uncheck the check box.
Then please click on the delete button. This should remove the entries from the list for you.

This should remove the non-existent file entries for you.

Best regards,

Nick

Thank you for your help.

I tried to remove empty entries.
The new backups seem to work fine.

May be there was a problem with connection with Google Drive, so I deleted that connection…

Hi Pat,

Thank you, it’s my pleasure.

Did you manage to remove the empty file entries? The important part is:
The pop up box has a check box ‘Also delete from remote storage’, uncheck the check box.

Without unchecking the check box it may not work correctly as we’d like.
It’s difficult to be sure about Google Drive but you could run a basic test.

Connect Google Drive as you would normally and just backup one element.
For example, you could choose a smaller file like your database to test this.

Normally you’ll receive a successful backup notification when it is complete.
If you do have any doubts or concerns you could share the log file with me.

Best regards,

Nick

I post again, because the same problem appears again.
I made a new backup today,having 4 registered from previous ones.
When the backup was terminated I go to FTP folder and there is only the today remaining !

By the way I am not using remote storage anymore.

I can not understand what happened.