Can I transfer Carbonite to my new computer?
Posted by kent on October 30th, 2009
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: I purchased your product about a month ago then I bought a new computer because my old one was so stinking slow. Can I transfer Carbonite to my new computer (It even has my old hard drive in it)?
A: It's a great question, but first we should clarify that while we do review and provide links to Carbonite, NextAdvisor.com is a separate company. With that out of the way, here's the answer to your question:
In short: Yes. That's the great thing about a subscription-based services like Carbonite. I found these instructions on the help section on Carbonite's web site. I'm assuming you reformatted your drive when you put it on the new machine, so the first step probably doesn't apply to you. The main thing you need to do is access your Carbonite account online and transfer your subcscription to your new computer, but here are detailed steps:
1) If the computer that Carbonite is currently installed on is still in use, Uninstall Carbonite (using Add/Remove Programs from Control Panel). Otherwise, proceed to step 2.
2) Log into your account from your new computer (the computer to which you would like to transfer your subscription)
Click the My Protected Computers tab
3) If you want to transfer your subscription without restoring any files, click the Transfer button. To transfer your subscription and restore files to your new computer, click the Restore button
4) Follow the instructions to download and install Carbonite
Again, some of these steps will depend on whether or not you reformatted your drive. And if you did reformat the drive, you can use Carbonite to restore the files that were on your old machine.
- Can we buy one subscription of Carbonite to back up both our computers?
- How do I login to my Identity Guard account?
- If I install Identity Guard, will it automatically uninstall Norton?
- 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?
- Wake up and backup!
Are online backup providers responsible for keeping customers' data unencrypted?
Posted by kent on August 28th, 2009
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. This question comes as a follow-up to a question asked earlier this week: If an online backup service provider is subpoenaed, would they have to hand over your data?
Q: As a data storage provider, if forced to turn over a clients data and it is encrypted, and me as a data storage provider that does not have any means to obtain my clients encryption code; I would just essentially be turning over jibberish. How does this play into the whole scenario?
A: Last week I noted that online backup providers must cooperate with search warrants, meaning they must hand over data, unencrypted to law enforcement if subpoenaed. I also noted that Carbonite requires that data not be encrypted, prompting a reader to ask if online backup service providers were required to screen for encrypted data.
I'm glad you asked because your question sent me back to the Terms of Service for a deeper read. It turns out that Carbonite only prevents you from using "the Carbonite Products or Services to decrypt data encrypted by others" as well as disallowing you to "permit others to Use the Carbonite Products or Services to access or decrypt data stored on servers provided by Carbonite…" Specifically this seems to refer to an unauthorized use of Carbonite's own encryption methods (which it uses to securely pull the files from your computer).
So, that entanglement is avoided, and I apologize for that misreading on my part (it seems obvious now). Still, it's important to note that these services are not routinely scanning your files for inappropriate content. That would actually make them liable for everything on their servers, a horrendous and unmanageable burden. Carbonite says it may decrypt your files if "it reasonably believes it must do so in order to comply with a law, subpoena, warrant, order, or regulation…" It may also due so for trouble shooting purposes.
- 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?
- Will Carbonite back up the music I downloaded from iTunes?
- Top rated online backup service continues international expansion
- Google "G Drive" online backup service rumored to be launching soon
- 5 reasons why online backup services are superior to offline home storage solutions
If an online backup provider was subpoenaed, would it have to hand your data over?
Posted by kent on August 27th, 2009
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: I have a question about online backup services. In both civil and criminal lawsuits, we have all heard or read about an individual's computer contents being used as evidence, and if the crime or individual is "newsworthy," the contents splashed all over the news.
Would the same situation apply to software backup services? If they were subpoenaed, would they have to hand them over? Or are there some services that provide some kind of encryption so no one could access the contents except the owner? Not planning on being in court – just that Dell has provided backup service software with my new laptop and I am hesitant to put the entire contents of my PC "out there."
A: That's a great question. First, I should say that I'm not a lawyer and this does not constitute legal advice, but I do spend a lot of time pouring through Terms of Service (TOS) agreements and have worked with legal departments at online service providers in the past. This morning I spent some time with the TOS's of several of our online backup providers.
My entirely non-legally binding findings are: Yes, if your online backup provider was subpoenaed to hand over your data, they would have to do it. Your online storage is, as you suspect, just like the drive on your computer when it comes to a search warrant. Furthermore, the backup service provider does not want to (and legally cannot) store data that they know to be in violation of the law. If the provider were to do anything to disguise your data (i.e, through encryption), they would be in breach of the law. In fact, at least one provider (Carbonite) expressly prohibits you from making your data unreadable, since it would prevent investigations.
In my professional experience, online service providers are sticklers for subpoenas, and will not hand over customer data without a proper court order. While they are required to help out law enforcement, there are consequences to violating a user's privacy (both in terms of public relations and litigation).
But, as you suggest, once that data does get turned over, the genie is out of the bottle. Still, the same would be true if you backed up your data on an external drive and it was discovered during a court-ordered search of your house.
For more on online backup services, check out our reviews and comparisons.
- NextAdvisor launches new detailed online backup service FAQs
- 5 reasons why online backup services are superior to offline home storage solutions
- McAfee to partner with Mozy to offer online backup services
- Google "G Drive" online backup service rumored to be launching soon
- How to set up automated online hard drive backups with Mozy
Does Carbonite offer remote file access?
Posted by kent on August 25th, 2009
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: Your comparison chart and program details table for carbonite says \"No file access except for full system recovery\", while your review says \"Carbonite now offers Remote File Access, so you can access any single file from any computer that has web access.\"
A: It looks like you caught a little misprint in our online backup services comparison chart. Yes, at one time Carbonite only offered full-backups, but they now offer remote access to your files from any web browser. This makes it not only great for online backup, but also extremely useful for anyone who's ever needed to access a file remotely. With Carbonite, you're not only keeping your documents safe from hard drive crashes, but making sure your files are always available to you when you need them.
Carbonite gives you unlimited storage for $54.95 per year, and runs on Windows Vista, XP, and Mac OS X (10.4 or above).
- 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?
- Will Carbonite back up the music I downloaded from iTunes?
- Wake up and backup!
- Can we buy one subscription of Carbonite to back up both our computers?
- Google "G Drive" online backup service rumored to be launching soon
Do any of these storage systems back up external hard drives as well as the internal drive?
Posted by kent on August 18th, 2009
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: I have two external hard drives attached to my laptop for additional storage. Do any of these storage systems back up external hard drives as well as the internal drive?
A: The only online backup system that we've found to offer backup on external drives is Mozy. Mozy earned a five-star rating when we reviewed it. While not quite as inexpensive as Carbonite, at only $4.95 per month (minus an additional 10% discount), it's well worth it. You can even try it out free with a 2GB storage cap to make sure it's right for you.
Does Carbonite's unlimited backup storage include data on other drives?
Posted by Caitlin on April 20th, 2009
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.
- 5 reasons why online backup services are superior to offline home storage solutions
- 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?
- NextAdvisor launches new detailed online backup service FAQs
- Users report bugs on Apple's backup solution
- Wake up and backup!
What would it cost to back up 3 computers with Carbonite?
Posted by Caitlin on April 15th, 2009
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?
Posted by Caitlin on April 15th, 2009
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.
- 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?
- Will online backup services also backup a virus or spyware?
- Will Carbonite back up the music I downloaded from iTunes?
- NextAdvisor launches new detailed online backup service FAQs
- Can we buy one subscription of Carbonite to back up both our computers?
Does Carbonite store Outlook files and email?
Posted by Caitlin on April 14th, 2009
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.
- NextAdvisor reviews new online backup service ElephantDrive
- 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?
- Wake up and backup!
- Will Carbonite back up the music I downloaded from iTunes?
- Mozy and Carbonite receive high marks in security
Will Mozy back up my external hard drive?
Posted by Caitlin on April 13th, 2009
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: Will Mozy, or any of the online backup offerings, allow me to back up my external drive along with my desktop drive? Thanks.
A: Yes, they will. Mozy can backup any drive that Windows recognizes as "fixed." Operating systems consider hard drives "fixed," regardless of whether they are internal or external. DVD/CD-ROMs, media cards and some thumb or flash drives are not considered "fixed," and cannot be backed up.
You can tell if your drive is "fixed" by doing the following: Click Start Menu, then click My Computer. "Fixed" drives appear under Hard Disk Drives, while unfixed drives appear under Devices with Removable Storage. If you do not see these sections, click View > Arrange Icons by > Show in Groups. If your external drive is not "fixed," first copy the data onto one of your "fixed" drives, then select the data for back up.
To learn more about Mozy or other online backup services, see our reviews and comparison chart.
- 5 reasons why online backup services are superior to offline home storage solutions
- NextAdvisor launches new detailed online backup service FAQs
- Users report bugs on Apple's backup solution
- Entrepreneur Magazine calls Carbonite an "essential" for any new business
- Mozy discount promo code for April 2008
Categories
Blog Archives
About Us Blog Contact UsTerms & Privacy PolicyAffiliate ProgramSite map
Copyright© 2006 - NextAdvisor.com - All rights reserved.