Differential Backups
Updated: 22 May 2010 | 3 comments
Can I restore a differential backup without having the full backup? Obviously I wouldn't have all of the data, but can it be done? The differential backups don't have any sort of a marker on it that links to the full backup that would prevent it from restoring without the full, does it?
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Yes, but only the individual files that are on that backup, that is, the ones that changed since they were last backed up on a full or previous differential.
No,
a Differential back up, backsup only those files that have been changed since the last full back up. The archiving bit is not cleared, which means each time you do a Differential back up ( from the last full back up ) is larger then the previosu one. You need the Last FULL back up and the LAST differential back up to restore. (You always need LAST full back up + (Differential/Incremental) back up to restore a system.)
Sorry, I meant to type incremental (although very uncommon when combined with differentials), not differential, which does reset the A flag. I do understand the difference.
The answser to your question was still yes, you can provided it is on that tape.
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