Experience with Carbonite? Other choices.
I'm considering Carbonite to back up images and other computer files. Advertising and websites always look good. Would appreciate any eperiences and if there are other choices that are available. T...
Forum Discussion
I got online backup a few years ago, and most computer geeks I talked to at the time preferred Mozy over Carbonite. I think Carbonite is #1 online storage and Mozy is #2? Something like that.
We now have 4 computers using the back up service, two desktops and two laptops. The desktops basically run all the time, so they automatically backup every night. The laptops I have to keep an eye on, as when they go so "sleep" they don't do the automatic backup at night. If they haven't been backed up in 7 days, a little notice pops up in the lower corner of the screen reminding you.
We've had to use the online backup a couple times - once due to hard drive failure, and once when replacing a computer. Worked just as advertised.
Three big things to remember about online backup;
1. Initial backup. When you first get an online service, the first, initial backup could take literally weeks to complete, depending on your "upload" capability of your internet service. Once this first backup is done, future backups go very quick (usually under an hour), as the service scans your computer and only backs up things that have changed.
2. Check and double check what is being backed up! I found that sometimes, for whatever reason, the online backup wasn't saving certain files, and/or new files that had been added later. I just go through the settings every so often and make sure all files are checked off that I want saved.
3. The online backup services DON'T save programs! At least mine doesn't, with how I have it setup. They only save DATA (which includes most files and pictures). For example, when I got a new hard drive for my desktop, I had to dig out my QuickBooks program and load it again... I had thought that the online back up would have saved it, but it doesn't save commercial programs (I assume it is a copyright / trademark thing). Once I loaded up Quickbooks, it quickly and effortlessly found and loaded the Quickbook data files that the Mozy program had saved and I had downloaded onto the new hard drive, and everything was up to date and worked fine.
I am very happy with the online backup.
I used to try to backup information on CDs regularly, but realized that routinely months would go by between backups. I still save on discs irregularly, but I don't worry about it so much now.
We now have 4 computers using the back up service, two desktops and two laptops. The desktops basically run all the time, so they automatically backup every night. The laptops I have to keep an eye on, as when they go so "sleep" they don't do the automatic backup at night. If they haven't been backed up in 7 days, a little notice pops up in the lower corner of the screen reminding you.
We've had to use the online backup a couple times - once due to hard drive failure, and once when replacing a computer. Worked just as advertised.
Three big things to remember about online backup;
1. Initial backup. When you first get an online service, the first, initial backup could take literally weeks to complete, depending on your "upload" capability of your internet service. Once this first backup is done, future backups go very quick (usually under an hour), as the service scans your computer and only backs up things that have changed.
2. Check and double check what is being backed up! I found that sometimes, for whatever reason, the online backup wasn't saving certain files, and/or new files that had been added later. I just go through the settings every so often and make sure all files are checked off that I want saved.
3. The online backup services DON'T save programs! At least mine doesn't, with how I have it setup. They only save DATA (which includes most files and pictures). For example, when I got a new hard drive for my desktop, I had to dig out my QuickBooks program and load it again... I had thought that the online back up would have saved it, but it doesn't save commercial programs (I assume it is a copyright / trademark thing). Once I loaded up Quickbooks, it quickly and effortlessly found and loaded the Quickbook data files that the Mozy program had saved and I had downloaded onto the new hard drive, and everything was up to date and worked fine.
I am very happy with the online backup.
I used to try to backup information on CDs regularly, but realized that routinely months would go by between backups. I still save on discs irregularly, but I don't worry about it so much now.
