What does Carbonite back up?
By default, Carbonite backs up everything in your Documents and Settings folder, including documents, settings, photos, email, music, and data files from other applications, such as Quicken, Money, etc. The default backup does not include programs, system files, temporary files, videos, or individual files greater than 2GB. You can, however, force Carbonite to add any of these to your backup.
To see what Carbonite backs up on Macs, click here.
How does Carbonite Online Backup keep my data secure?
Only you can see your files
Carbonite encrypts your files twice before they leave your computer. They remain encrypted on our servers, making it virtually impossible for anyone to access your files without your secret password. Carbonite uses a combination of encryption techniques, similar to those used by banks, to safeguard your data.
How much stuff can I back up?
Unlimited Backup
You can store as much as you have on your computer. There are no limits on backup storage capacity. Carbonite will back up all the supported files on your hard drive whether you have 1GB, 10GB or more. As a practical matter, however, the speed of today's DSL and cable internet services will make it very slow to back up more than, say, a few dozen GB of data.
How can I tell what's backed up online?
Dots on files and folders show you the status of your backup at a glance.

- A green dot on a file means that file is all backed up.
- A yellow dot means the file is pending backup.
- No dot means it's not backed up.

- A blue dot on a folder means it contains files or subfolders which
are selected for backup.
- A folder with no dot is not selected for backup.
If you are using Carbonite for your Mac,
click here for inforation about how to tell what's backed up.
How do I restore lost files?
Fast and easy restore
Carbonite makes restoring files fast and easy. Restore any file or folder from your backup with a single click. If your computer crashes or is stolen you can recover lost files by visiting our website.
Recovering small amounts of data (a few files here or there) will probably take only seconds or minutes. Restoring all of your data will take longer and depends on how much data you have and the speed of your Internet connection. Most DSL services will allow you to download about 600-800 MB per hour, or roughly 14-18GB per day. For an average user, complete data restoration is likely to take at most a day or two.
Will Carbonite Online Backup work on my computer?
The current version of Carbonite is designed for Windows XP and
Windows Vista. Carbonite supports both the standard 32-bit and 64-bit
versions of both XP and Vista. Carbonite will not support older versions
of Windows (Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Windows ME). Carbonite for Mac supports
Intel-based Macs running OS 10.4 Tiger or 10.5 Leopard.
How much does Carbonite Online Backup cost?
One Flat Annual Fee
Carbonite is only $49.95 per year no matter how much you need to back up. No hidden fees. No limits on backup storage capacity.
Pre-pay and save! You can save even more when you buy 2 years of service for just $89.95 ($3.75/month)