What if I don't want certain files backed up on Carbonite?
December 21st, 2010 - Posted by Kent
The following is an actual user-submitted question:
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.
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?
October 12th, 2010 - Posted by Kent
The following is an actual user-submitted question:
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.
I have purchased this new computer and need to transfer my Carbonite backup account to this computer.
August 10th, 2010 - Posted by Kent
The following is an actual user-submitted question:
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:
- Log into your account at www.carbonite.com/manage from the computer you want Carbonite on.
- Click the My Protected Computers tab. This will display a list of computers that Carbonite is installed on.
- If you want to transfer your subscription without restoring any files, click the Transfer button.
- 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.
Does Carbonite back up my computer software programs and all my data, documents, and video files?
March 4th, 2010 - Posted by Kent
The following is an actual reader submitted question:
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:
- 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.
- 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.
Entrepreneur Magazine calls Carbonite an "essential" for any new business
June 10th, 2009 - Posted by Joe
Entrepreneur Magazine released a list of ten top tech essentials for new businesses today. We weren't surprised at all to see that Entrepreneur had selected Carbonite, a five star provider and editor's choice in our comparison of online backup services, as the best online backup service for new businesses. Here is what the folks at Entrepreneur had to say:
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.
Does Carbonite's unlimited backup storage include data on other drives?
April 20th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
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.
What would it cost to back up 3 computers with Carbonite?
April 15th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
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.
If my hard drive crashes, do I have to reinstall each program?
April 15th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
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.
Does Carbonite store Outlook files and email?
April 14th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
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.
If I buy a new computer, will I have to re-subscribe to Carbonite?
April 10th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
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.
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