Carbonite Reliability
Oct 20, 2012 10:58:29 #
I'm thinking about trying Carbonite for file security. I currently back all my files up onto two external hard drives and then copy them all onto DVD's and put them into another room in the house. It occurred to me, though, that if the house were to burn down, that I would lose it all. How reliable is Carbonite and what are the file size limitations? I have about 45,000 photos of varying file sizes that I would like to maintain. Most are in the megabyte range. How long does it take to transfer or back up those files and then to retrieve? Also, does the base price of $59/year do it all?
Thanks
Dan
Thanks
Dan
Oct 20, 2012 19:58:07 #
I have found Carbonite better than all the claims. Have had a harddrive fail with all my pictures, don't know how many, but a BUNCH backed up with Carbonite. Got back the entire drive except the programs. Initial upload takes a while depending on files and total upload size. The same with download. But it is sure and dependable. The charge is for one computer and is unlimited storage. Hope this helps.
Oct 20, 2012 20:13:17 #
Oct 20, 2012 20:32:38 #
the 59/yr covers the computer, not an extra hard drive. it costs 99/yr to include 1 hard drive. If you have over 200 gig of photos it will take weeks to upload them all, but stil a good service.
Oct 21, 2012 03:00:25 #
Buy a extra hard drive(2tb $99 micro center) buy a sm fire safe and put it away.
Oct 21, 2012 05:54:49 #
Have used them for over a year and they met or exceed expectations. Base price gives you unlimited space on a single hard drive. Initial upload takes forever, but it runs in the background. Subsequent uploads are quick and again are imperceptible.
Oct 21, 2012 07:30:46 #
danielb59 wrote:
I'm thinking about trying Carbonite for file secur... (show quote)
i started to use carbonite but the 59.00 dollars don't include external drive back up. and if you don't mind waiting a couple of weeks for it to download all your stuff. If you want fasted up loads then that is extra as well. I went with backupmypc.com don't cost extra to back up externals. but they do charge extra for faster back ups.
Oct 21, 2012 08:22:07 #
Intense heat from a house fire can still damage contents of an inexpensive Safe. I was scared that if thieves stole my Computer, they would also take my Backup Hard Drive. By the way, take photos of all house items (Open drawers and closets), then store CD-Rom, Travel Drive, etc. off premises. This helps you remember small items and also speeds up the insurance adjustment.
I went Carbonite and like their notes when I return from long trips that had not backed up anything recently...shows they are there working 24/7.
I went Carbonite and like their notes when I return from long trips that had not backed up anything recently...shows they are there working 24/7.
Oct 21, 2012 09:40:16 #
I have around thirty Gig of files mostly Photos and it took ten days for Carbonite to back them all up.
I think it is well worth the price just for knowing you have a safe backup.
Terry
I think it is well worth the price just for knowing you have a safe backup.
Terry
Oct 21, 2012 09:40:21 #
danielb59 wrote:
I'm thinking about trying Carbonite for file secur... (show quote)
I use Carbonite for personal files but not photos. The reason is that even though Carbonite advertises unlimited storage they really limit you to under 200GB. When you approach that number the upload speed falls off to a crawl.
Keep in mind that any secondary single drive storage is just as prone to failure as the storage on your PC unless the secondary storage has some redundancy (RAID) built in. Even an external dual drive RAID1 (mirror) unit is better than a single drive.
Oct 21, 2012 09:50:32 #
I switched to Carbonite at the advice of a friend in the computer business. He likes the fact that it is off-site. I had a computer die last year and Carbonite got everything loaded on the new computer within a few hours. I'm very happy.
MW
MW
Oct 21, 2012 09:52:19 #
I have the premier version of Carbonite.
I've had to use it to recover data lost due to a dead drive. Although it took ten days, I was able to get all my data back without any muss or fuss.
Carbonite i simply the best thing since sliced bread!
I've had to use it to recover data lost due to a dead drive. Although it took ten days, I was able to get all my data back without any muss or fuss.
Carbonite i simply the best thing since sliced bread!
Oct 21, 2012 11:15:50 #
danielb59 wrote:
I'm thinking about trying Carbonite for file secur... (show quote)
I am not infatuated with the cloud. I tried My PC Backup which was rated high and was supposedly free--it ended costing upwards of $100.00 for two computers. I have about 3TB of pictures on three drives. They tell you to never shut down the computer during the initial backup--after several false starts it took 6 weeks for my computer and I never could get my wife's to work on their system. I am using PC's with Windows 7 on both and XFiINITY for our internet carrier which is one of the fastest ones. They could speed it up for an additional $15.00 per month but that would only increase transfer speed by 10%. Then I went on vacation and when I came back all the information on their system was gone. The net result was I cancelled and after quite a fight got my money back. I have since purchased 3TB drives and backup to that. I need to put one in the fire file.
I'm glad some people are satisfied but I sure wasn't. Incidentally when I backed up on the new USB-3 drives, it took one day.
Swede
Oct 21, 2012 12:27:06 #
guy145 wrote:
Buy a extra hard drive(2tb $99 micro center) buy a sm fire safe and put it away.
Good idea. I wouldn't back up terabytes worth of data over the internet. It would take too long to back up and if you needed the data it would take weeks to retrieve it. The 'Tech Guy' Leo Laport on the weekend radio show pushes Carbonite but has also said that it's not suggested to backup huge volume of data over this type of connection.
I have 3 one terabyte external hard drives. I keep two attached to the computer all the time and after I edit, tag and categorize all my images on the C drive I move them to one of the externals. Every week or two I run SyncToy to basically mirror that drive onto the other. Then, less often than I should I take the third drive and swap it for the 2nd drive after a backup and then run SyncToy again. I put the backup of the backup away in my fire resistant gun safe.
In fact, I ran SyncToy as I wrote this. A good time to do it is when you are thinking about it.
Oct 21, 2012 12:37:52 #
danielb59 wrote:
I'm thinking about trying Carbonite for file secur... (show quote)
There is a full review of Carbonite in the November edition of Shutterbug magazine. All the pros and cons.
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