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Moving Carbonite Safe to Another Windows Computer

You can move your existing Carbonite Safe subscription to a new or repaired Windows computer to either restore all your files or start a new backup. From the new or repaired computer, click the button below to download Carbonite Safe installer.

Download Carbonite Safe

Need help downloading Carbonite?

Depending on your web browser, there are different instructions on how to download Carbonite Safe and begin the reinstall process. Please follow the instructions for your current web browser.

Google Chrome

  1. Download Carbonite Safe with the button above.
  2. At the top right of Google Chrome, click Google Chrome: Click the 3 dots. > Downloads.
    Google Chrome: From the 3 dots menu, click Downloads or click Ctrl+J on your keyboard.
  3. Click CarboniteSetup-personal-client.exe.
    Google Chrome: Within the Downloads folder, click CarboniteSetup-personal-client.exe.

Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer

  1. Download Carbonite Safe with the button above.
  2. Click Run to open CarboniteSetup-personal-client.exe.
    Microsoft Edge: When the download completes, click Run to begin the Carbonite Safe installation.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Download Carbonite Safe with the button above.
  2. Click Save.
    Mozilla Firefox: Click Save to download the CarboniteSetup file.
  3. At the top right of Firefox, click Downloads > Open File.
    Mozilla Firefox: Click Save to download the CarboniteSetup file.

Reinstalling from your Account

You can also reinstall Carbonite Safe by logging into your Carbonite Safe account at https://account.carbonite.com.

After the download completes, open or run the file to begin installing Carbonite on your computer.

  1. Open the downloaded Carbonite Safe setup file.
  2. Agree to the Terms of Service.
  3. Click Sign in here within the Carbonite interface.
    Carbonite Safe: Click Sign in here
    If you are unable to sign in, please reset your password and try again. If installing Carbonite from your account dashboard, you will not be asked to sign in during the install. Please skip to Get my Files, then Back Up below.
  4. Enter your Carbonite email and password and click Sign in.
  5. Click Replace my old computer to transfer an existing Carbonite subscription to the current computer.
    Carbonite Safe Windows Client: Replace my old computer
Choosing Add this computer will add the new or repaired computer as a new Carbonite Safe subscription.

From here, you will have the option to Get my files, then back up or Start backing up.

If Carbonite recognizes this as an existing computer, you will see Continue backing up and Get files back instead, but the instructions will remain the same after you choose an option.

The sections below are collapsed. Please click the section title to open / close a particular section.

Get my Files, then Back Up (Recommended)

Carbonite recommends getting all your data and then starting the backup on the new or repaired computer.

Unless the data already exists on the new or repaired computer, the restore should be completed before starting the backup to avoid data loss. When Carbonite starts backing up, the files that do not exist on the computer will be removed from Carbonite after 30 days.

Step 1: Starting the Restore

To start restoring your files, follow the instructions below.

If you only want to restore some of your data from Carbonite, you can use the Carbonite Backup Drive to restore them. Alternatively, you can use Anytime Anywhere Access while the full restore is in progress to restore files you need right away.
  1. Choose Get my files, then back up.
    Carbonite Safe Windows Client: Get my file back on this computer
  2. Click Let’s get started to restore the files back to the original location on the computer.
    Carbonite Safe Windows Client: Let's get started
    Alternatively, clicking Download to my desktop will restore all your backed up files to C:\Carbonite Restore and add a shortcut to the location on your desktop.
  3. Depending on your previous backup, you may be prompted to specify where the old drive(s) and Windows user(s) should restore to on the new computer. After making your selections, click Continue.
    If you do not see these options, they are most likely not applicable to your Carbonite restore.
    Please note that your Windows User account type will need to be designated as a Local Administrator account. You will be unable to restore if you do not have local administrator rights and Carbonite will display a message stating: To get files from other accounts, please sign in as an administrator.
  4. Now that Carbonite has been configured for the restore, click Start getting files back.
    Carbonite Safe Windows Client: Let's get started
  5. Now that the restore has started, configure your power settings and Windows Update to avoid restore interruptions.
If the restore unexpectedly stops from a power or internet outage, you can restart the restore by following the instructions above. As long as you restore the files to the same location, Carbonite will skip over the duplicates and restore only the files that are not on your computer.

During the restore, Carbonite will restore your folders then restore your files as fast as your internet and computer allows. On average, a typical full restore can range from a few hours to a few days to complete. While there are too many variables to provide an accurate estimate of restore completion, you can review ways to increase your restore speed.

When Carbonite completes the restore, the restore manager window will automatically appear letting you know that you are almost ready to start backing up again.

Step 2: Viewing the Restore Progress

Given that the restore will take some time, you can close out of the restore manager and let Carbonite restore your files in the background while you use your computer.

Unlike other programs, clicking the X in the top right of the restore manager will minimize the window in your Windows taskbar. You can also close out of the recover mode notification without impacting the restore.

To view the restore progress, double-click the Carbonite icon in your Windows taskbar.

Carbonite Icon

From the pop-up window that appears, click View status of files being restored to re-open the restore manger and view the status of the files that you are restoring.

Carbonite application: View Restore Status

The progress of the restore will be displayed.

Viewing the Restore Progress

Step 3: Starting the Backup

When the restore completes, the restore manager window will automatically appear letting you know that you are almost ready to start backing up again.

Click Next to view a restore summary.

Carbonite Windows Client: Your files are back on your computer, but if you use any of these applications, you will need to take a few extra steps to get them up and running again.
This window will direct you to importing instructions to get your restored files working with certain programs. In most cases, as long as the the related program is installed (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint), you can double-click the file and it will open normally within the program.

After you confirm that you have everything that you need, click Continue backing up and a pop-up message will appear.

Carbonite Safe Windows Client: Continue backing up

Clicking View complete details in the restore report will open a printable restore report that was generated from the restore. This report will overview your restore configuration and detail the location of restored files.

Check the box and click Resume my Backup to begin backing up on the computer.

Carbonite Safe Windows Client: Check I understand and click Resume my backup
Put simply, this warning means Carbonite will back up this new or repaired computer and remove any files that were not restored to this computer after 30 days. If you restored all of your files by following this guide, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

Congratulations, you have successfully transferred your Carbonite subscription! Your files will now back up on the new or repaired computer.

Start Backing Up Without Restoring Files

Carbonite recommends getting all your data and then starting the backup on the new or repaired computer.

Unless the data already exists on the new or repaired computer, the restore should be completed before starting the backup to avoid data loss. When Carbonite starts backing up, the files that do not exist on the computer will be removed from Carbonite after 30 days.

To start backing up your files, click Start backing up.

Carbonite Safe Windows Client: Start backing up

After clicking the button, you will receive a pop-up window that says, “any files that are not on your computer will be available for 30 more days.”

Carbonite Safe Windows Client: Get these files back later
Put simply, this means Carbonite will back up this new or repaired computer and remove any files that were not restored after 30 days. If you manually restored the files or the files already exist on the computer, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

Click Continue to begin backing up the computer. Carbonite will display a window that states that Carbonite was successfully transferred, and your backup will start when you click Close Window.

Carbonite will back up your files as fast as your internet and computer allows. On average, a typical initial backup can range from a few hours to a few days to complete. While there are too many variables to provide an accurate estimate of backup completion, you can review ways to increase your backup speed.

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