Disk Defragmenting

• This article is for Windows only

Defragmenting your disk means that you are trying to reclaim "lost" space caused by writing and erasing data from a hard disk. Performing this operation clears up gaps between data on those disks and generally allows your computer to run faster once completed. This may cause Carbonite to see some files as having been changed. If this happens, Carbonite will need to back up those files again.

We recommend that you keep Carbonite paused while the defragmentation tool is running.

To temporarily pause Carbonite, double-click the Carbonite icon in your Windows notification areaThe area next to your system clock that contains the icons of the programs you are running. to open the Carbonite application.

Within the Carbonite application, click the Settings & controls link.

On the Backup settings page, click the Pause my backup button.

A pop-up notification will appear with the option of pausing Carbonite for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 8 hours, 1 day and 1 week. After making your selection, click the Pause button to register your selection.

While Carbonite is paused, a pause symbol (two vertical grey bars) will appear on the Carbonite icon in the notification area. A notification from the Carbonite application will indicate how long the backup has been paused for.

Some defragmenters, such as DiskKeeper, have an "always on" portion of their software. If you find that this is delaying your back upTo send a copy of your files from your computer to our servers for safe keeping., please try disabling the "always on" feature, and only run DiskKeeper when you would like to defragment your hard drive.

Carbonite will remind you through notifications that it has been paused.

You can resume normal back up operations by clicking Resume my backup now.

Once you unpause Carbonite, your normal back up operations will take place in order to protect your files.