I found this question on Twitter. Short answer: Carbonite checks this in the background using something called a checksum. As amazing as it sounds, about every 90 days Carbonite goes through every one of the roughly 25 billion files we have backed up and checks to make sure that the file in our backup still matches what's on your PC bit for bit.

If you are still feeling nervous, try this: Pick any backed up file on your PC (it will have a green dot on it if it's backed up with Carbonite). Delete it. Now open the Carbonite Backup Drive from the icon on your desktop. Find the file you just deleted – the status column will say "Right-click to restore latest backup copy (Original file deleted)." Right-click on the file, and select "Restore." In a few seconds, you'll see a Carbonite pop-up saying that the file has been restored. Go back to your C: drive and open the restored file. You'll see that it's perfect. I'm sure this is true of every file on you've backed up with Carbonite.

— Dave
CEO, Carbonite

In Carbonite's Customer Support department, we answer thousands of questions each week, and many folks want to know the same things. I've compiled a list of the top ten questions we receive most often and the best (general) answers we can give. These answers are specific to Carbonite Version 3.5. (If you're on an earlier version, log into your account and reinstall Carbonite to get the latest version.) Given the length of some of the answers, I have decided to turn this into a multi-part post. And so, without any further ado, here's part 4:

9. Initially I said I want to back up just "my desktop and documents", but now I want to back up more. How do I do that?

The simplest way to change your backup selection is to open My Computer, right-click your hard drive icon, and select Don't back this up from the Carbonite context menu. It will take Carbonite a few minutes to remove your backup selections, and then the colored dot will disappear from your hard drive icon. Next, restart your computer. Now you can select items for backup. Simply right-click any file or folder and select Back this up from the Carbonite context menu to add it back to your backup selection.

If you wish to switch to the "recommended" option of backing up your documents and desktop, right-click the C:\Documents and Settings folder (C:\Users on Windows Vista) and select Back this up from the Carbonite context menu.

10. What if I get a virus? Will Carbonite back that up too?

Viruses live in and affect executable files. By "executable files", I mean files that can perform some kind of task. In the past, it was safe to say that viruses only affected programs, but these days most documents support some type of embedded macro or scripting language. It's possible that documents created by Microsoft Office or other programs could contain what is called a "macro virus" - a virus that can run when that file is opened by the program that created it. Luckily, these types of viruses tend to be the easiest to correct and remove while the virus is still dormant.

When recovering from a virus infection, my recommendation would be to reinstall your operating system and applications, and in particular a good anti-virus program. Be sure to get the latest virus definition files from the manufacturer of the anti-virus program. (This is usually included as part of your subscription, and the latest definition files can be downloaded via the Internet.) After reinstalling your operating system and anti-virus program, restore your backup, but be careful not to open your restored documents until after scanning them for viruses.

Well, there you go. That's our top ten. I hope you find this information helpful. You can find more detail on these topics by searching the frequently asked questions in Carbonite support. But as always, if you have additional questions, please let us know by e-mailing customersupport@carbonite.com.

— Len

In Carbonite’s Customer Support department, we answer thousands of questions each week, and many folks want to know the same things. I’ve compiled a list of the top ten questions we receive most often and the best (general) answers we can give. These answers are specific to Carbonite Version 3.5. (If you’re on an earlier version, log into your account and reinstall Carbonite to get the latest version.) Given the length of some of the answers, I have decided to turn this into a multi-part post. And so, without any further ado, here's part 3:

6. Can I back up my USB external drive? How about my network drive?

At present, Carbonite only backs up local, internal hard drives. It will not back up network drives, external drives, and NAS (network accessed storage) drives. In the near future, we will release a version of Carbonite that supports USB external drives.

7. Can I schedule Carbonite to back up just at certain times?

You sure can! Just double-click on the Carbonite Lock icon in your system tray by your computer’s clock) and select Set Options, and then click Backup Schedule. You can then select the desired times that you would like to back up, or the times that you would not like to back up. By default, Carbonite backs up your system automatically when you add or change files, so you don’t need to set up a schedule at all.

8. How can I view the progress of my backup in more detail than just the percent bar?

Carbonite’s History view can show you exactly which files have been backed up or restored. Hold down the right shift key on your keyboard while you click the Carbonite Lock icon, and select View History. Change the display type to Detail, and you can view a complete log of Carbonite’s backup and restore activity.

To be continued...

— Len

In Carbonite’s Customer Support department, we answer thousands of questions each week, and many folks want to know the same things. I’ve compiled a list of the top ten questions we receive most often and the best (general) answers we can give. These answers are specific to Carbonite Version 3.5. (If you’re on an earlier version, log into your account and reinstall Carbonite to get the latest version.) Given the length of some of the answers, I have decided to turn this into a multi-part post. And so, without any further ado, here's part 2:

3. If I delete a file from my computer, how long will Carbonite keep it in my backup?

As a backup program, Carbonite maintains a copy of each of the files that are on your computer. If you delete files, Carbonite marks those files for removal from the backup server. We know that folks sometimes delete the wrong file by accident and don’t notice right away, so we save the files you delete for thirty days before removing them. If you’re a trial customer, we’ll keep the file for 30 days or for 15 days after your trial has ended – whichever is shorter.

4. Is it really unlimited? No, seriously… How much can I back up?

Yes, it really IS unlimited - we don't limit how much data you can back up. Remember, the more you back up, the longer it will take, both to back up and to restore. Ultimately, practicality will determine just how much you should back up. Folks with hundreds of gigabytes of data really should consider a local backup solution, such as an external hard drive, for their less important files and use Carbonite to back up the most important items.

5. How do I restore just one file (or a few files)?

To restore individual items (rather than the entire computer), just open the Carbonite Backup Drive located within My Computer and browse to items you want to restore. Folders in the Carbonite Backup Drive are organized the same way as they were on your computer. Right-click the item or items you want to restore, and then select Restore.

To be continued...

— Len

In Carbonite’s Customer Support department, we answer thousands of questions each week, and many folks want to know the same things. I’ve compiled a list of the top ten questions we receive most often and the best (general) answers we can give. These answers are specific to Carbonite Version 3.5. (If you’re on an earlier version, log into your account and reinstall Carbonite to get the latest version.) Given the length of some of the answers, I have decided to turn this into a multi-part post. And so, without any further ado...

1. What operating systems does Carbonite support, and what new ones are planned for support in the future?

Right now, Carbonite runs on Windows XP and Windows Vista. We’re just a few months away from our Macintosh version’s release. We didn’t develop for nor test on Windows Server 2003 or Windows Small Business Server, but most folks using those operating systems run Carbonite just fine – we just recommend that you first install a trial, back some files up, and test restoring them to make sure that your Windows Server configuration is compatible with Carbonite. We’re working on a small business edition of Carbonite due for release later this year that will support some Windows Server operating systems. Carbonite doesn’t work on Windows 2000, versions of Windows prior to XP (such as Windows 98 or Windows ME), or Linux.

2. What do the different colored dots mean?

• A green dot on a file indicates that the file is selected for backup, and that the backup of that file is up-to-date.
• A yellow dot on a file indicates that the file is selected for backup, but is out-of-date and awaiting backup. (Note: the yellow dots look orange on some screens.)
• A green dot on a folder indicates that everything within that folder is selected for backup, and that the backups are up-to-date for all of the selected items within that folder.
• A yellow dot on a folder indicates that one or more items within that folder are selected for backup, but that the backup for one or more items within that folder is out-of-date and is awaiting backup.
• A green dot with a hole in the center (a "donut") on a folder indicates that not everything within that folder is selected for backup, but that the backups are up to date for all of the items that are selected for backup.
• No dot on a file means that the file is not selected for backup.
• No dot on a folder means that nothing within that folder (nor the folder itself) is selected for backup.

To be continued...

— Len