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1. What (and how much) gets backed up?
The $6.95 edition will automatically backup files that are located in \My Documents and in QuickBooks folders. That's the default backup set. You may add to the backup set individual files that are located elsewhere on your hard disk. In addition to adding files, you can fine-tune your backup set by deselecting files that you may not wish to back up. A total of 100 MB may be protected. All files on your hard disk that are included in your backup set are considered protected.
The $14.95 edition will automatically detect and backup data files that are located anywhere on your hard disk. Data files are files that you create, such as documents, spreadsheets, and preferences that you defined in software that you use. Files that change, dynamic files, are data files. (Files that never change, static files, do not need to be backed up because they can be restored from their original disk or CD.) You can fine-tune your backup set by adding and deselecting files and folders. A total of 4 GB of data may be protected. Files on your hard disk that are included in your backup set are considered protected.
With the $14.95 edition there is an alternative to automatic file selection, which is user-selectable: manual file selection. With this method, no files are selected for you: you build your own backup set from scratch. This option is set from the menu bar by clicking Options | Advanced Backup Rules | File Selection.
2. Full system backup
The $24.95 full system edition will backup your entire computer; system, application and data files. A total of 10 GB of files may be protected. This version does not allow the backup of network drives as it is meant to provide a complete backup of the computer it is installed on. In the event you need a full system restore, your operating system must first be reinstalled and the backup software installed (recovering your existing account). You can then restore your system using either CD's you can order or connecting online. Depending on your unique requirements, a full system restoration may involve additional processes. We suggest that if you are not comfortable performing this task that you seek help from your computer consultant. If you are looking for someone in your area to provide assistance with your computer, please contact us to see if we have a referral partner in your area.
3. What you can and cannot back up
BackUp Solution's data only services are intended to protect your critical data files, not the commercial software that you install from disk or CD. If you were to have a system crash you would be better off re-installing your software so that essential information could be written back into the Windows registry database that is part of your operating system.
We recommend that you not back up multimedia files. Their size and sheer volume would make it costly and lengthy to restore via the Internet. Although you could order a CD of your backups, it is generally cost-prohibitive, possibly costing several hundred dollars.
4. Where your data is stored
When you open your account, it is assigned to a mirrored pair of data centers that are geographically separate. Since the data centers are identical, you can backup to and restore from either one of them. The software automatically handles the connection for you. The redundancy of a mirrored pair increases the security of your stored data. Additionally, the data centers are themselves backed up. Further, duplication permits maintenance to be performed without interrupting the service. An illustration of how data centers are organized can be seen in the backup software's Help file, under Contents | Welcome | Overview.
5. Selecting files in Backup View
When you click the Backup View tab, a scan of your hard disk is initiated. Upon completion, a list of files needing backup is displayed.
You can deselect files by clicking the box in front of a file name. When you do, the file will be removed from the list.
If you want to add files, you will have to change the display to show a directory tree that you can browse. The button for this is in the blue window on the left; click "Explore to pick files." To select/deselect, click the box in from of a file name. In some editions of the software, you will also be able to click on an entire folder to include/exclude everything in it.
6. Deleting files from storage
File management is automatic. Connected Corporation maintains the following data retention settings on our Data Centers for BackUp Solution's customers.
Files older than 10 versions or 90 days are deleted but your most recent version is always kept. Files that have been deleted from your system will be deleted from the data centers 90 days later. Files that you backed up then deselected from your backup set will be deleted after 7 days. Files of accounts that have been canceled are deleted 30 days after cancellation. |
