Carbonite Support Knowledge Base

Known Issue: Orange Status Dot Appears on Folder But Files Within the Folder Are Green

The folder has an orange status dot on it when all the files within the folder are backed up with green dots.

File Types Excluded from Backup for Carbonite Safe

Carbonite does not back up operating system files because they can cause system conflicts when restored. These files are typically reinstalled when you upgrade the operating system on your existing computer or when you purchase a new computer.

File Types Excluded from Backup for Carbonite Safe Backup Pro

Carbonite does not backup files that could cause conflicts with your operating system when restored. Generally, these files will be reinstalled when you upgrade the operating system on your existing computer, or when you purchase a new computer.

File Types Carbonite Backs Up for Carbonite Safe Backup Pro (Mac 2x)

Carbonite automatically backs up the files that are most important to you. By intelligently scanning your computer, Carbonite does not select unnecessary file types, which improves backup and restore speeds. However, less common user-created data can be manually added to your Carbonite backup.

File Types Carbonite Backs Up for Carbonite Safe (Mac 1x)

Carbonite is designed to back up all the unique and irreplaceable files on your computer. Included in your backup are your text documents, spreadsheets, financial documents, photos, music, etc. With the Carbonite Safe Basic plan, video files are not selected for back up by default. They need to be added to your backup manually.

File Types Carbonite Backs Up for Carbonite Safe Backup Pro (Mac 1x)

Carbonite automatically backs up the files that are most important to you. By intelligently scanning your computer, Carbonite does not select unnecessary file types, which improves backup and restore speeds. However, less common user-created data can be manually added to your Carbonite backup.

Stuck Backup and Backup Errors (Mac 1x)

If your backup appears slow or stuck on your Mac, there are steps you can take to resolve the issue.

File Types Excluded from Backup for Carbonite Safe

Carbonite does not automatically select files larger than 4GB (Gigabyte) for backup. Files that may cause conflicts with your programs or operating system when restored are excluded from being backed up.

File Locations Excluded from Backup for Carbonite Safe Backup Pro

Carbonite does not back up files that are larger than 1TB (terabyte), or that might cause conflicts with your operating system when restored. Generally, these files will be correctly pre-installed when you upgrade the operating system on your existing computer or when you purchase a new computer.

Backing Up Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook 2010 and above stores a local copy of your email, contacts, and calendar on your computer. By default, Carbonite automatically backs up the .PST in the default file location so you can restore your information if you ever it.

File Types Carbonite Backs Up for Carbonite Safe (Mac 2x)

Carbonite is designed to back up all the unique and irreplaceable files on your computer. Included in your backup are your text documents, spreadsheets, financial documents, photos, music, etc. With the Carbonite Safe Basic plan, video files are not selected for back up by default. They need to be added to your backup manually.

Windows File System Backup For CSSB 6.x Enhanced

The product can perform full, differential and incremental backups of Windows NTFS and ReFS file systems. When backing up an NTFS or ReFS file system, you can select directories and files from a browser tree.

Carbonite Windows Version Release Notes

Carbonite Version 6.5.1 is the latest version of the Carbonite product. We are sure you will like the many enhanced features. Installing and identifying your computer(s) is easier than ever. Backing up your files is simpler and there is additional information provided about the status of your backed up files. Restoring your files is now even quicker and easier with additional choices for files you would like to restore first and choosing a destination for your restored files.

The Backup Settings Page / Settings Tab for Carbonite Safe Backup Pro

Configuring Carbonite's settings lets you manage limited resources efficiently. You can change options such as which files Carbonite automatically backs up, how Carbonite uses Internet bandwidth, whether or not colored status dots are displayed on your file icons, and scheduling your backup.

File Size Limits

Carbonite sets size limits for individual files based on your Carbonite plan to avoid backup complications. However, you can manually select user files larger than these sizes to add them to your backup.

Excluding File Types from Backup

Deselecting a file type causes all selected files of that type to be removed from your backup. You can deselect a specific file type from the backup by using the Carbonite tab in the File Properties window. You can always add deselected files to the backup again, or reselect the file type.

Moving Carbonite Safe to Another Windows Computer

You can transfer your Carbonite Safe subscription from your old computer to your new or repaired computer to restore your files or start a new backup.

Selecting Files for Backup (Mac 1x)

This article explains how to select files for backup with the Carbonite version 1x for Mac.

Backing Up Files on an External Hard Drive (Mac 1x)

You can use Carbonite to back up files on an external hard drive from Carbonite within the Apple System Preferences.

Best Practices for Customers with Low Bandwidth For CSSB 6.x Enhanced

For customers whose backups will take a very long time due to low bandwidth, large amounts of data, or both, extra precautions should be taken to ensure that backups function as smoothly as possible. Customers can adhere to certain best practices designed to make very large, long-running backups easier and more likely to complete on time.

Backing Up Microsoft Edge Favorites

Microsoft Edge favorites reside in a folder that Carbonite Safe cannot back up. This article contains instructions on how to export your Microsoft Edge favorites to an HTML file that you can then select for backup.

Advanced Options (CSSB 6.x) For CSSB 6.x Enhanced

On the Advanced page, the Global Settings allow you to set options for Data Transfer and Networking, Retention Policy Enforcement, directories used for backup and restore operations, and the ability to update the amandabackup / CarboniteUser user password.

Windows File System Backup For CSSB 5.x & 6.x Classic

The product can perform full, differential and incremental backups of Windows NTFS and ReFS file systems. When backing up an NTFS or ReFS file system, you can select directories and files from a browser tree.

File Types Carbonite Backs Up for Carbonite Safe

Carbonite automatically backs up the files that are most important to you, such as your pictures, documents and music. By intelligently scanning your computer, Carbonite does not include unnecessary files, which improves backup and restore speeds. Less common types of files can be manually added to your Carbonite backup. Review this article to understand what is and is not included in your backup.

Managing Backup Policies in the Dashboard

Carbonite Safe Pro administrators are able to set backup policies for their end users through their account. The client needs to be running at least version 5.8 of Carbonite in order to use backup policies. While a backup policy is specific to a computer, each computer can use one of the available backup polices that you have created.

Removing Files From Your Backup

You can remove files, folders, and drives from the computer that has Carbonite installed and the deselected files will be removed from Carbonite backup within 72 hours.

Storage Quota Exceeded for Carbonite Safe Server Backup (6.x) For CSSB 6.x Enhanced

To stop receiving this error, you must purchase additional storage, update the retention settings, or delete some data from the cloud.

Storage Quota Exceeded for Carbonite Safe Server Backup (5.x) For CSSB 5.x & 6.x Classic

To stop receiving this error, you must purchase additional storage, update the retention settings, or delete some data from the cloud.

Migrating from Carbonite Mac 1x to Mac 2x

To enhance the customer experience, we are providing a migration path from the legacy Mac version (1.x) to the latest version (2.x). Due to technical differences between the two versions, backups cannot be directly upgraded. As a result, customers will need to start a new backup after installing version 2.x.

Backing Up Your Safari Bookmarks

Carbonite can back up your Safari bookmarks data. However, the data exists in a hidden Apple folder, so it is not included in Carbonite’s default backup selections.

Backing Up Quicken

Carbonite can back up your Quicken data if you are logged into the app on your Mac and manually select it for backup.

Backing Up Your iTunes Media and Apple Music

Your iTunes music and Apple Music data is included in your backup by default if you had Carbonite automatically select files for backup. You can view the backup status of the music and video files by navigating to their locations within the Carbonite interface and the colored status dot on the files.

Backing Up TurboTax

Your TurboTax data should be included in your backup by default if you had Carbonite automatically select files for backup on your computer. You can view the backup status of a file by navigating to its location on the computer and viewing the colored status dot on the file and/or folder.

Backing Up Your Apple Photos Library

Your Apple Photos pictures and video data are included in your backup by default if you had Carbonite automatically select files for backup.

Backing Up TurboTax

If you chose the Automatic setup option when you installed Carbonite, your TurboTax data will be selected for backup by default. If you elected to use the Advanced setup option when you installed Carbonite, you may need to manually select your TurboTax data for backup.

Backing Up QuickBooks

Your data for the current versions of QuickBooks will be backed up by default if you chose the Automatic Setup option during installation. Otherwise, you may have to manually add these files to your backup.

Backing Up Quicken

Your data for the current versions of Quicken will be backed up by default if you chose the Automatic Setup option during installation. Otherwise, you may have to manually add these files to your backup.

Important Things to Know About Carbonite Safe as You Get Started

This article contains information about Carbonite Safe that you may not be aware of when first installing the software.

File Types Carbonite Backs Up for Carbonite Safe Backup Pro

Carbonite is designed to back up all the unique and irreplaceable files on your computer. Included in your backup are your text documents, spreadsheets, financial documents, photos, music, videos, etc.

Windows Defender Controlled Folder Access and Carbonite

Controlled Folder Access is a feature included in Windows Defender for the Windows 10 Fall Creator’s Update. It is designed to prevent ransomware from encrypting your files. Controlled Folder Access can prevent Carbonite from being installed or updated, and it can also prevent Carbonite from being able to back up and restore your files. At this time, it is not recommended to actively use both Controlled Folder Access and Carbonite on the same computer.

Message: "The app you're trying to install isn't a Microsoft-verified app"

When attempting to install Carbonite, you may receive a warning message the app you are trying to install is not a "Microsoft Verified App". To resolve this, the default settings for apps must be changed in Windows

Restoring an Oracle Server For CSSB 5.x & 6.x Classic

The product supports the restore of Oracle databases to the same server or to an alternate server. Oracle restores require access to the SQL*Plus utility that is included with the Oracle database.

After Performing a Bare Metal Image Restore (CSSB 6.x) For CSSB 6.x Enhanced

During a Bare Metal Image backup, if the presence of Microsoft SQL Server, Exchange Server and SharePoint databases is detected on your machine, CSSB will automatically create individual backup sets for each database with default backup settings. After performing a Bare Metal Image restore, these databases are not automatically restored to your machine. To recover these databases, additional steps will be required.

FAQ: How does OneDrive On-Demand for Mac affect Carbonite?

Microsoft added the Files On-Demand feature to OneDrive for Mac with version 18.240.1202.0004 (released January 18, 2019) and requires at least macOS 10.14.2. Files On-Demand allows you to access files without having to store them all locally on your computer. By default, this will not interfere with Carbonite. This article contains instructions to resolve any issues if OneDrive has been configured to prevent backup by Carbonite.

Switching from Manual to Automatic Backup (Mac 2x)

Carbonite enables Automatic Backup Settings by default to back up your most common folders and files. These user folders include:

Creating Recovery Media for a Bare Metal Restore For CSSB 6.x Enhanced

Carbonite Safe Server Backup requires you to create recovery media in order to perform a Bare Metal restore. It is recommended that you create the recovery media after you schedule your first Bare Metal Image backup.

Restoring a Bare Metal Image (CSSB 6.6 or Below) For CSSB 6.x Enhanced

A Bare Metal Image backup can be restored using two methods. You can perform a complete Bare Metal restore or a file/folder level restore. To perform a Bare Metal restore, you first need to create a recovery media. After performing a Bare Image restore, additional steps will be required to recover Microsoft SQL Server, Exchange Server and SharePoint databases.

Creating a Backup Set For CSSB 6.x Enhanced

After launching the product for the first time, you are given the choice to create a new backup set. A backup set defines the parameters for backing up a group of directories or an application. You will be able to configure your backup set by selecting what, where, how, when and for how long you want to back up.

Known Issue: Internet Connection Error Appears When Opening CSSB

When opening CSSB an error box titled Internet Connection Error appears. This most often occurs on systems running Windows Vista and Server 2008.

Creating Recovery Media for a Bare Metal Restore (CSSB 6.7 and above)