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Getting Started with Carbonite Safe

Summary:

You can use the Carbonite application to back up your files to Carbonite’s secure servers. When you need to get your files back, you can use Carbonite to restore your files at any time.

This article applies to:

Carbonite Plans Products Platforms
Basic, Plus, and Prime (Not sure?) Safe (Not sure?) - View the Safe Pro article Windows - View the Mac article

Solution:

The sections below are collapsed. Please click the section title to open / close a particular section.

Setup Your Account

To get started with Carbonite Safe, you’ll need to set up your account.

Install Carbonite Safe and Back Up Your Files

Once you set up your account, you can install Carbonite and configure your backup settings.

  • What operating systems does Carbonite Safe support? – Carbonite supports current Windows and Mac operating systems in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
  • How do I install Carbonite and configure my backup? – When you install Carbonite for the first time, you can configure what gets backed up and choose your encryption method.
  • How do I tell what's backed up? – Carbonite places colored dots on files and folders to indicate their backup status. A green dot means that the file or folder is backed up and up-to-date. A yellow dot means that a file is selected for backup and is pending backup to our servers.
  • How do I add files to my backup? – You can add files and folders to your backup by right-clicking them and selecting Carbonite; Back this up.
  • How do I remove files from my backup? – You can remove backed up files by right-clicking them and selecting Carbonite; Don't back this up. You can also remove backed up files through the Carbonite Backup Drive.
  • How does Carbonite handle situations where I delete files from my computer? – Carbonite backs up your files as they exist on your computer. If Carbonite detects files are missing, it will remove those files from the backup after 30 days.
  • How do I schedule my backup? – Carbonite backs up continuously in the background so you shouldn’t need to worry about scheduling the backup when you use your computer. However, if you’d like full control of your backup, you can choose to back up once a day or not to backup during certain hours.
  • How do I pause my backup? – If you don’t want Carbonite to back up files, you can pause the backup from the Carbonite application.
  • How do I speed up the Carbonite backup? – Carbonite needs a reliable connection and upload speed to back up your files at the fastest speed. For best results, you can shut off or disable devices that don’t need to access the internet during your initial backup.

Restore Files

When the time comes, you can use Carbonite to restore your files several ways.

  • How do I restore my backup to a new computer? – You can install Carbonite on the new computer and set up the restore. After you complete the restore, you can exit Recover Mode to transfer the subscription. Carbonite will remove files from the backup that were not transferred to the new computer and selected after 30 days.
  • How do I restore files from the Carbonite application? – You can use the Carbonite Backup Driver to restore large files and folders.
  • How do I download files from my account? – You can sign into your account from any computer to download small files and folders.
  • How do I restore previous versions of a file from the Carbonite application? – Carbonite keeps up to 12 versions of changed files. You can use the right-click option, Carbonite Backup Drive, or Search and Restore feature to restore previous versions of your files.
  • How do I view the restore status? – You can close out of the Restore Manager and Carbonite will continue restoring your files in the background. You can right-click on the Carbonite icon within Windows taskbar and select View Restore Status…
  • How do I speed up the Carbonite restore? – Carbonite needs a reliable connection and download speed to restore your files at the fastest speed. For best results, disable devices that don’t need to access the internet, configure your power settings, and configure Windows Updates to not shut down Windows during large restores.
  • How do I locate my files after a restore? – Carbonite creates a restore report when the restore completes. You can open the report from your Documents folder to view the status of the restore, locations the files were restored from, locations the files were restored to, and view any files that weren’t restored.
  • How do I import my files into my programs? – Carbonite creates a list of articles as a best effort to support you in importing your data. However, for best results, we recommend checking with your software provider’s Knowledge Base and contacting their support if further assistance is needed.
  • How do I start backing up again? – If you install Carbonite on a new computer, Carbonite enters Recover Mode. In this mode, Carbonite stops backing up your computer and prevents changes made to your backup. When you complete restoring your files, you can exit this mode to back up your files on the new computer. Carbonite will remove files from the backup that were not transferred to the new computer and selected after 30 days.

Transfer Carbonite to Another Computer

When you get a new computer, you can transfer your current subscription to the new computer to restore or start a new backup.

  • How do I restore my backup to a new computer? – You can install Carbonite on the new computer and setup the restore. After you complete the restore, you can start the backup to transfer the subscription. Carbonite will remove files from the backup that were not transferred to the new computer and selected after 30 days.
  • How do I start a new backup on a new computer? –You can install Carbonite on the new computer and start a new backup. Carbonite will remove files from the backup that were not transferred to the new computer and selected after 30 days.
    • o This option is recommended if you already had an IT professional move your files to a new computer.
  • How do I start a new backup when I’m no longer on a Windows or Mac computer? – You can install Carbonite on the new Windows or Mac computer to start a new backup. Carbonite will remove files from the backup that were not transferred to the new computer and selected after 30 days.

Manage Your Carbonite Safe Subscription

  • How do I renew my Carbonite Safe subscription? – Carbonite will notify the email address on file before your subscription expires. However, you will need to manually renew your Carbonite Safe subscription through your account within 30 days of expiration, so your data remains backed up.
  • How do I back up another computer with Carbonite Safe? – To back up another computer, you will need to purchase a Carbonite Safe subscription for each computer that you’d like to back up.
  • How do I enroll in automatic renewal? – Carbonite automatically enrolls you in automatic renew when you purchase a Carbonite Safe subscription. If you disable this option, you can set up automatic renewal through your account. When enrolled, Carbonite will automatically renew your current Carbonite Safe plan and subscription length on the expiration date.
  • How do I deactivate automatic renewal? – You can deactivate automatic renewal through your account, so Carbonite doesn’t renew your Carbonite Safe subscription automatically on the expiration date. However, you will need to manually renew your Carbonite Safe subscription through your account within 30 days of expiration, so your data remains backed up.
  • How do I upgrade to a Carbonite Safe Plus or Prime plan? – You can upgrade to a Carbonite Safe Plus or Prime from your account. Along with the additional features, any unused time from the previous Carbonite Safe subscription will apply to your upgraded subscription as a discount.
  • How do I upgrade to a Carbonite Safe Backup Pro plan (Core, Power, or Ultimate)? – You can sign into your account to upgrade your Carbonite Safe subscriptions to a Carbonite Safe Backup Pro plan. Along with the additional features, you'll receive a credit for any remaining time on your current subscription. After, your Carbonite software and your data will be migrated over to the new plan automatically.

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