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File Types Carbonite Backs Up for Carbonite Safe Backup Pro

Carbonite automatically backs up the files that are most important to you. By intelligently scanning your computer, Carbonite does not select unnecessary file types, which improves backup and restore speeds. However, less common user-created data can be manually added to your Carbonite backup.

For best results, we recommend that you take a moment to verify that the data most important to you is included in your backup.

For more information about what is included in your Carbonite backup, click one of the collapsible sections below.

What does Carbonite back up?
  • Carbonite backs up user-created files such as:
    • Word documents
    • Text files
    • PowerPoint presentations
    • Excel spreadsheets
    • Pictures
    • Archive files (.zip)
    • .PDFs
    • Most proprietary files created within programs.
  • Microsoft Outlook Emails (.PST files).
  • Email files saved with Thunderbird, IncrediMail and Windows Live Mail (individual files 1 TB or larger must be manually selected for backup).
  • Internet Favorites and Bookmarks.
  • Financial files used by programs such as Quicken and Quickbooks.
  • Music files(.mp3, .m4a, etc.)
  • Video files (.mpeg, .m4v. etc.)

Need to back something up? You can select most files or folders for backup at any time by right-clicking them and selecting Carbonite; Back this up.

  • The C:/Users (or C:\Documents and Settings for Windows XP) locations on your computer will be backed up automatically if you chose Automatic settings during installation.
  • Any new files created in these locations will also be backed up automatically.
    • You can always turn this setting off or on by toggling the "Include Carbonite's Default File Types in My Backup" option in the Carbonite application.
      • When off, Carbonite will not automatically back up new file types when they are added to this location.
    • If you chose Advanced settings during installation and opted to start with nothing in your backup, this location will not be selected for backup by default.
      • Enabling the "Include Carbonite's Default File Types in My Backup" option in the Carbonite application will select this location for backup.

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What's not Included?

Files and Folders that are Not Automatically Selected

The following files and folders can be manually included in your backup by right-clicking them and selecting Carbonite; Back this up.

  • Individual files that are 1 TB or larger.
  • Files and folders outside of the C:\Users (or C:\Documents and Settings for Windows XP) locations. Examples are:
    • Files and folders on external, network, and USB hard drives.
    • Files and folders located on a secondary internal drive.
    • Files and folders on the root of the C:\ drive*.

* There is a list of exceptions to this rule below. These folders on the root of the C:\ drive will be automatically included in your backup with the Automatic backup selections:

  • C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AOL\C_AOL*\organize\*\
  • C:\Program Files\AOL*\download\
  • C:\QuickenW\
  • C:\Program Files\Quicken\
  • C:\Program Files\QuickenW\
  • C:\Program Files\Intuit\Quickbooks*\
  • C:\Program Files\PalmOne\*\
  • C:\Palm\
  • C:\1Actwin\Database\
  • C:\Actwin2\Database\
  • C:\Act\Database\
  • C:\My Documents\Act\Database\
  • C:\Program Files\Symantec\Act\Database\
  • C:\Program Files\Act\
  • C:\Program Files\Sage Software\Peachtree\Company\
  • C:\Program Files\Peachtree\Company\
  • C:\Program Files\PeachW\Company\
  • C:\Lotus\Work\

Note: Anything with an asterisk (*) in the file path is used as a wildcard to continue or define folder and sub-folder names.

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Technical Details

What Can't Be Included?

Carbonite Safe Backup Pro is not designed to back up the following types of files or folders:

  • Temporary files and operating system files.
  • Any data that isn't stored locally. This includes data from Exchange email accounts (.ost files) and web based mail apps.
  • Shortcuts
    • A shortcut is a "link" used by Windows to point to a file or folder that resides in a different location. Shortcuts should not be backed up with Carbonite. If you wish to back up the data that a shortcut points to, please navigate to the place where the actual data is stored and select it for backup.
  • Files that make up your live database programs such as SQL and Exchange.
    • Files within a database are interconnected within a folder structure and Carbonite Safe can only backup at a file level. In a recovery scenario, Carbonite Safe is able to restore previous versions of files such as a Word document, but is unable to restore a previous version of a folder where the database exists.
    • Given that Carbonite Safe is not designed to back up such databases, backing up and restoring a database using Carbonite would make this information unusable when it is needed most.
    • Our Carbonite Safe Server Backup program is a robust, comprehensive and easy-to-use service that allows you to back up your complete database "as is" and restore it in a usable format. For more information about backing up your important databases like SQL and Exchange, please contact our Sales team at 1-855-227-2249.
  • System files and Programs such as .EXE and .DLL files.
    • These files can create registry edits (that Carbonite cannot back up) and change similar system-related functions that are excluded.
  • Files located in hidden system folders.
    • These normally govern how the operating system runs and operates.
    • Most users don't store recoverable data in these locations.
  • Files located on mapped or networked drives*.

* While we do not support backing up mapped or networked drives, with Carbonite Safe Pro you can back up NAS devices.

If you wish to see a list of what specific folders are excluded from backup, please click the collapsible section header below.

Folders Excluded from Backup

The following folders are excluded from your online backupA set of copies of your files on our servers.:

Note: Documents and Settings\**\ and Users\*\ are interchangeable within this list.

%TEMP%\*,
%TMP%\*,
%WINDIR%\*,
\**\.DS_Store,
\AdwCleaner\Quarantine\*,
\I386\*,
\MSOCache\*,
\Recycle Bin\*,
\Recycler\*,
\System Volume Information\*,

\Users\**\App*Data**\**\Currents\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\**\Sync & Share\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Adobe\Bridge CS5\Cache\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\AOL\UserProfiles\All Users\cls\common.cls,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Apple Computer\Safari\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\AVG Security Toolbar\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Dropbox\cache\*,

\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Chrome\Application\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\databases\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\JumpListIcons\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\JumpListIconsOld\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Plugin Data\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\User StyleSheets\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Google Desktop*\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\GoogleEarth\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Picasa2\db3\previews*.db,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Google\Toolbar Cache\*,

\Users\**\App*Data**\LocalLow\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\McAfee\*,

\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft Help\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\CryptnetUrlCache\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\iconcache\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Media Player\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Office\Recent\index.dat,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.NK2,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\ExplorerStartupLog*.etl,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache*.db,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\TileCache*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Microsoft\Windows\WER\*,

\Users\**\App*Data**\Mozilla\FireFox\Profiles\*\Cache*\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\*\Cache.Trash\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Mozilla\FireFox\Profiles\*\parent.lock,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\*\places.sqlite*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\*\startupCache\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\*\urlclassifier3.sqlite,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Mozilla\Profiles\*\Cache.Trash\*,

\Users\**\App*Data**\Opera\Opera**\cache*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Thunderbird\Profiles\*\Cache\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\X1 Desktop Search\*,
\Users\**\App*Data**\Yahoo! Desktop Search\*,

\Users\**\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Sqm\*,
\Users\**\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\*,

\Users\**\AppData\Local\Packages\**\LocalState\Bing.Maps\Cache\*,
\Users\**\AppData\Local\Packages\**\LocalState\Cache\*,
\Users\**\AppData\Local\Packages\**\LocalState\ImageCache\*,
\Users\**\AppData\Local\Packages\**\LocalState\NavigationHistory\*,
\Users\**\AppData\Local\Packages\**\Settings\roaming.lock,
\Users\**\AppData\Local\Packages\**\TempState\*,
\Users\**\AppData\Local\Packages\WinStore*\*,

\Users\**\AppData\Local\Temp\*,
\Users\**\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*,
\Users\**\Cookies\*,
\Users\**\Local**\History\*,
\Users\**\NetHood\*,
\Users\**\PrintHood\*,
\Users\**\SendTo\*,
\Users\**\Start Menu\*,
\Users\**\Temp\*,
\Users\**\Temporary Internet Files\*,
\Users\**\Temporary\*,
\Users\**Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom*Catalog Previews.lrdata\*,
\Users\*\NTUSER.DAT.LOG*,
\Users\*\NTUSER.DAT,
\Users\Application Data\*,
\Users\Application Data\Carbonite\Carbonite Backup\*,
\Users\Default\*,

\Users\Public\Music\Sample Music\*,
\Users\Public\Pictures\Sample Pictures\*,
\Users\Public\Recorded TV\Sample Media\*,
\Users\Public\Videos\Sample Videos\*,

\ProgramData\*

\Program Files\**\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\em002_32.dat,
\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast*\defs\*,
\Program Files\Avast Software\Avast*\defs\*,
\Program Files\Carbonite\Carbonite Backup\*,
\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\Engine**\avvscan.dat,
\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Clipart\*,
\Program Files\Trend Micro\*,

Files beginning with a "~" character will be excluded from your backup.

File Types Excluded from Backup

The following file extensions are also excluded from your online backup:

.$$$;

.$db;

.113;

.a;

.abf;

.abk;

.afm;

.ani;

.ann;

.bac;

.bck;

.bcm;

.bdb;

.bdf;

.bkf;

.bkp;

.bmk;

.bsc;

.cf1;

.chm;

.chq;

.chw;

.cnt;

.cpl;

.cur;

.dev;

.dfont;

.dmp;

.drv;

.dvd;

.eot;

.evt;

.ffa;

.ffl;

.ffo;

.ffx;

.fnt;

.fon;

.ftg;

.fts;

.fxp;

.gid;

.grp;

.hlp;

.hxi;

.hxq;

.hxr;

.hxs;

.idb;

.ilk;

.inf;

.ini;

.ins;

.ipf;

.isp;

.its;

.jse;

.kdb;

.kext;

.key;

.lex;

.lib;

.library-ms;

.lnk;

.lwfn;

.msc;

.msm;

.msp;

.mst;

.ncb;

.nt;

.nvram;

.o;

.obj;

.obs;

.ocx;

.old;

.ost;

.otf;

.pch;

.pf;

.pfa;

.pfb;

.pfm;

.pnf;

.pol;

.pref;

.prf;

.prg;

.prn;

.pvm;

.pwl;

.rdb;

.rll;

.rox;

.sbr;

.scf;

.scr;

.sdb;

.shb;

.sqlite-journal;

.suit;

.swp;

.sys;

.theme;

.tmp;

.tms;

.ttc;

.v2i;

.vbe;

.vdi;

.vga;

.vgd;

.vmc;

.vmem;

.vmsd;

.vmsn;

.vxd;

.win;

.wpk;

If your file extension contains a special character (e.g. _, *, etc.), you may not be able to select the file for backup with Carbonite.

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