A: Thanks for your question! The biggest perk of MyPCBackup is that you get unlimited storage space for one computer. Thus, no matter how many files you have, photos in your case, you can back them all up with your one basic subscription. You can definitely backup your directory all at once, but this might take a while. The upload time isn't a big deal though since you can continue using your computer while your files are safely being stored.

Another service that lets you backup an unlimited amount of files for one computer is the top rated Carbonite. To compare all of our online backup services, click here!

A: Online Backup services work hard to save all of your important files, making sure that you will never lose them permanently. In the event of a data loss catastrophe such as a computer crash, these services will help you restore all of your files with ease.

Though all of the online backup services we review keep your files safe and can restore everything back to normal, we  recommend the Carbonite HomePlus plan and HomePremier plan if you specifically want a "mirror image" taken of your hard drive. This feature creates a mirror image of your PC every 24 hours, which includes your operating system, settings, programs, files, and folders as of a specific date.  This service is  intended for people repairing a crashed PC and not replacing it because installing a mirror image of your last PC on a new computer can cause some instability due to system differences. After your initial mirror image is completed and saved onto your external hard drive, your Carbonite info center will display snapshots and information about when your last mirror image was finished.

Carbonite Mirror Image

If computer disaster strikes and all of your files are lost, the mirror image feature is a great way to restore everything back to exactly how it was. Carbonite has a great tutorial on their site on exactly how to restore your computer using the mirror image service. To read more about Carbonite and their various plans, read the full review here!

Mac users will have to stick with the Home plan and  wait until these new plans are available for their operating system. If you're a PC user, take advantage of these great new plans and read the full Carbonite review here! 

Source: BHM

A: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)  not only protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families, but is also meant to address the security and privacy of health data. Because the electronic transfer of health data is much more efficient and effective, HIPAA requirements strive to create safe standards for these practices.

There are a handful of online backup services that are HIPAA compliant. Carbonite and Mozy,  two of our highest-rated online backup services, both comply with HIPAA standards.

Another service that really stands out is IBackup. Though it isn't exactly at the top of our list, businesses, particularly those in the legal, health, or financial fields, will want to give IBackup serious consideration. IBackup's business-level services help businesses backup their MS SQL server databases and Exchange servers. Of course, they also boast support for HIPAA and a number of other compliance issues relating to business. The service, like various other online backup providers, also lets you set your own private encryption key, for all plans.

Always make sure that the online backup service you choose follows all of the regulations necessary to support your business, and always feel free to call their customer support!

Source: Creative Commons, Skadoit

A: Unfortunately, the current version of Carbonite only backs up files that reside on permanent hard drives in your computer. This means that you cannot backup external hard drives or flash drives. However, if you ever need to back up a file that is on your flash, simply move that file onto your computer.

MyPCBackup, another one of our highly rated online backup services, backs up external drives and flash drives at no additional cost. Just make sure it is connected to your computer when the backup runs and you are good to go! Mozy also does it for free but specifies that it only backs up drives that are "fixed", meaning that flash drives will not be backed up.

In general, the best way to confirm the backup of your flash drive's files is to manually copy them onto your computer. Then when you do your next backup, those files are bound to be saved!

A: Excellent question! When you first install Carbonite on your computer, it will give you the choice to back up all of your Documents/Settings and User files or to select which files you would like to back up. If you want more than just your Documents/Settings and User files backed up (which do not include emails), we would suggest choosing the option that lets you select which files to back up. You can always add files to back up at any time once Carbonite is installed.

Once you choose which files you want to back up, Carbonite will do a one-time all-inclusive back up of all of those files, transferring all your encrypted files over a secure network. After all of your files are on the Carbonite servers, the system will continue to back up any new versions of those files if you make any changes to them. The software uses Volume Shadowcopy Service, which keeps a copy of files that you have open so that they can easily be backed up once they are modified. And the best part is that all of Carbonite’s back up services run quietly in the background, so that you never have to worry about back ups interrupting your work. If you want to know more about Carbonite, read our review here.

A: Congratulations on your new computer! If you have Carbonite 4.0, there is a restore option that allows you to put all of your files in the right place on your new system.

From your new PC, go to the Carbonite website and log into your account. Here you will see a list of all the computers under your account, as well as all of the files. If you want to restore every file onto your new system, click Restore for the specific backup you want to transfer. From the pop-up box, click Complete Restore. Note that if you used Outlook on your retired PC and kept it connected to "documents and settings", your emails will be restored as well.

Q. I want to purchase Carbonite. What is the coupon code for the 10% discount?

A. You don't need one! All you have to do is follow any link from NextAdvisor to Carbonite, and the 10% discount will be applied automatically.

You get 2GB of storage and an unlimited number of devices (including network and external drives) for free, but it's $10 a month for each 100GB after that. Annual plans save you 17% as well.

Q: What if I don't want certain files backed up on Carbonite?

A: Carbonite will accommodate you. The easiest way to remove a file from backup is to right-click on the document's icon, and select "Don't back this up." If the file has already been backed up, it will be removed from your Carbonite storage within 72 hours. If you haven't yet run your first backup with Carbonite, you'll want to right-click and deselect the file first.

Q: If I subscribe to Carbonite and back up my PC, if I understand correctly, I will be able to access my files from my laptop. Is that correct? If I use Carbonite to access a document from my PC on my laptop and I make changes to that document on the laptop, will those changes be transferred to my PC?

A: Yes, you can use your laptop to access files on your desktop with Carbonite. However, because a Carbonite subscription is only meant for one PC, the remote access is really meant just to access those files, not keep them synced. Of course, you can make changes to any document that you download and then send it via email back to your desktop (you can also buy a subscription for both of your computers and share files that way, but it's still not quite syncing). If you're primarily looking to sync files between multiple computers, the product you want is SugarSync. In fact, its specialty is keeping computers in sync in real time.

Check out our full online backup reviews and comparisons to see which one is right for you.

Q: I have purchased this new computer and need to transfer my Carbonite backup account to this computer. How do I do it?

A: Thanks for the question. Subscription-based services like Carbonite are great because you can manage the product from the web. These are the instructions from the help section on Carbonite's website:

1. Log into your account at www.carbonite.com/manage from the computer you want Carbonite on.
2. Click the My Protected Computers tab.  This will display a list of computers that Carbonite is installed on.
3. If you want to transfer your subscription without restoring any files, click the Transfer button.
4. Follow the instructions to download and install Carbonite.

Once the installation of Carbonite starts, you may see a window letting you choose a computer to transfer over to your account.

We hope this answers your question and you'll soon be back up in the backup business. You may want to transfer your backed up files to your new computer. Use the newly downloaded Carbonite Restore Manager to restore your files.

Q: Does Carbonite back up my computer software programs and all my data, documents, and video files?

A: With unlimited online backup storage, Carbonite can back up everything on your computer including your programs. By default, it's not set up to do that, so you'll have to specify that in the preferences. But before you do, consider why it's not initially set up to do that:

1. Time: These days, programs are huge. Even though they only need to be backed up once, they will significantly increase the time taken for an initial backup, and likewise a restore (remember, this is all being sent over your broadband connection). If you need to restore any programs after a crash, they will reinstall much faster from disc.
2. Functionality: Program installation is a bit of a science, at least on the part of the software. When you install a program, that installation package is busy putting a lot of program components in very specific places. If you simply restore a program onto a clean hard drive, it may not function like it used to, or at all.

So, the best policy is to use Carbonite for all those irreplaceable files like documents, photos, and emails, and use the original installation discs that came with your software for the programs.

We're all for saving money on technology, but don't skimp too much when it comes to data backup. External hard drives that connect to your computer or network are a good start. But off-site backup is even better for protection against natural disasters, damage or theft. For inexpensive, automatic online backup of a single system, look into a $50-per-year service like Carbonite.

We agree wholeheartedly that Carbonite is both a great value and a good investment for both consumers and smaller businesses. It is important to note that NextAdvisor.com visitors receive a special 15% discount on one, two or three year plans. This means that one year Carbonite plan is just $46.71 per year versus the $50 per year that Entrepreneur referenced above.

You can learn more about Carbonite and online backup by visiting our review and comparison of online backup services.

Q: Does Carbonite's unlimited backup storage include data on other drives (D, E, etc., which are either internal or external) in addition to the C drive?

A: By default, Carbonite backs up everything in your Documents and Settings folder, as well as all of your music. The default backup does not include programs, system files, temporary files, videos, or individual files greater than 4GB. You can manually add any of these, from any internal hard drive, to your Carbonite backup. Carbonite does not guarantee support for external hard drives, and we have heard conflicting reports as to whether or not it is possible to successfully back up an external hard drive with Carbonite.

Mozy, another of the online backup services reviewed on NextAdvisor.com, does back up external hard drives.

To learn more about Carbonite, Mozy, and other online backup services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

Q: What would it cost me to back up 2 desktops and 1 laptop computer (total of 3) for 1, 2 or 3 years with Carbonite?

A: Assuming that you purchase your Carbonite subscription through NextAdvisor.com, and receive our 15% discount, to back up all three computers for one year would cost $140.13. To back them up for two years would cost $254.88. To back them up for three years would cost $331.38. The prices before the 15% discount would be $164.85 for one year, $299.85 for two years, or $389.85 to back up three computers for three years.

To learn more about Carbonite and other online backup services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

Q: If I back up my system with Carbonite and my hard drive crashes, do I have to reinstall each software program in addition to the backup recovery or is everything recovered without having to manually reinstall each program?

A: Carbonite backs up all the files in your Documents and Settings folder by default. This includes data files and settings for your software applications. You can add other items, including programs, to your Carbonite backup. However, this does not mean that in the event of a hard drive crash, Carbonite can restore your software with the touch of a button. You will still have to individually reinstall each program, either way. So while it is possible to use Carbonite to back up your software, it may not be particularly useful for you, and your daily backup will most likely take significantly longer.

To learn more about Carbonite and other online backup services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

Q: One thing I'm concerned about is the vast amount of info I have in Microsoft Office. Is Carbonite able to store Outlook files (addresses, phone numbers etc.) and email?

A: Yes, Carbonite can store Outlook files. By default, Carbonite will back up everything in your Documents and Settings folder. Once you purchase an account, it will also back up your music files. However, you can manually add anything you like to your Carbonite backup.

All of your Outlook data is stored in a single file, called a PST file. This file contains your email, your calendar and your contacts, among other information. The location of this file varies depending on which version of Outlook you have. If you open the "tree view" of your Outlook folders, each top level items, normally called "Personal Folders" or "Outlook Today," represents a different PST file. Right click on the folder and select "Properties." Then click on the "Advanced" button. This will bring up a window that tells you the folder's name and filename. The filename will include the full path to the PST. Once you know where your PST is located, you can manually add it to your regular Carbonite backup.

You could also back up your PST file with any other online backup service, although since these files can become rather large, it is most convenient to use a service such as Carbonite, Mozy or ElephantDrive, which all offer unlimited storage space.

To learn more about Carbonite, Mozy, ElephantDrive and other online backup services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

Q: If my computer dies, or if I choose to buy a new computer for whatever reason while I have a current Carbonite subscription, would my current service still continue on the newly replaced computer, or do I have to re-subscribe all over again? I am concerned that if I purchase a 3 year plan (most economical) that I might have to replace my PC within that time frame.

A: You will not need to purchase a new Carbonite subscription if you start using a new computer. You can easily transfer your existing Carbonite subscription to the new computer through the Carbonite website. Just log into your account and click on the "My Protected Computers" tab. From there, you can transfer your Carbonite subscription and you also have the option to restore your backed-up files to the new machine.

To learn more about Carbonite or other online backup services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

Q: Will [Carbonite] also backup programs and applications in a form that would allow them to be installed and run without the hassle of rebuilding ones pc in a crash?

A: By default Carbonite only backs up your data and files in the Documents and Settings folder or your User's folder of your Windows PC, depending on whether you have XP or Vista. It does not backup a disk image. You can manually set the software backup to include program files, system files, and temporary files. Some applications could be reinstalled just by restoring them from Carbonite's site.

However, Windows locks some system files during operation that would be needed to restore the operating system and some applications. Backing up and restoring these files, like the registry, would require other programs or scripts to be run to extract these locked files for backup. Of course, you would have to load a new operating system on the computer and the Carbonite program before you could access and download the files that had been saved to your Carbonite account.

You can learn more about Carbonite by visiting our comparison and reviews of online backup services.

Q: Both my wife and I are retired, use different computers for our home uses and from the same site. We also share emails accounts. Question. Can we buy one subscription [of Carbonite] to back up both our computers?

A: Carbonite is priced on a per computer basis. That means that each computer that needs to be backed up will need a separate subscription. If you have two computers that you would like to backup then you will need two Carbonite subscriptions. We would still advise purchasing two subscriptions of Carbonite even if you share the same email account because there are likely other important files on each of your computers that should be backed up.

We believe that Carbonite is an excellent value at just $54.95 per year per user. That works out to just about $9.20 per month for two users which is likely significantly less then you would spend in time and money on replacing lost files, music and videos in the case of a hard drive failure.

To learn more about Carbonite and other online backup services, please visit our reviews and comparison.

To learn more about Carbonite and other online backup services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

In a very pro-consumer move, HP will be providing full refunds to all subscribers in an amount equal to the fees they paid while they were an active paid member of the service.

We would strongly suggest that former Upline subscribers invest their refunds in a new online backup service such as Carbonite or Mozy. You can compare online backup services at NextAdvisor.com.

We never included HP Upline in our comparison of online backup services because of the various issues that plagued the service during it's short lifespan such as an extended downtime last April that left subscribers without file backups for days.

Below is the full text of the email sent to subscribers today:

Thank you for your interest in HP Upline.

HP continually evaluates product lines and has decided to discontinue the HP Upline service on March 31, 2009.

HP will no longer be backing up your files to the HP Upline servers as of Feb 26, 2009 at 8 am Pacific time. HP will keep the file restore feature of the Upline service operational through March 31, 2009 Pacific time in order for you to download any files you have backed up to Upline.

If you have a paid subscription to HP Upline, you will be refunded the full amount of the fees you paid for the service. That refund will be credited to the credit card account or PayPal account that you used to subscribe to the Upline service. If you do not receive the refund prior to March 31, 2009, please contact our customer service team at https://www.upline.com/support/email.aspx.

HP looks forward to offering you additional technology products and services in the future.

Thank you.

HP Upline team

So, how will Google's G Drive stack up against services like other top rated online backup services Carbonite or Mozy? Obviously, we won't know until the product actually materializes. However, our impression is that this service will be more appropriate for remote storage for files that you may need to access from multiple location or computers rather than for scheduled backups of all your important files.

Google has not confirmed any pending release date for the G Drive (or even the existence of the G Drive) at this point. However, we will continue to follow related news and developments in an effort to keep our readers informed about key changes in the online backup space.

In the meantime, you can read our reviews and comparison of online backup services at NextAdvisor.com.