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Carbonite Safe Restore Checklist (Mac 1x)

This guide will walk you through each step of the Carbonite restore process.

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

Step 1: Transfer Carbonite To Your New Computer

If your Mac crashes or you get a new Mac, you can download Carbonite and use it to get your backed up files back.

To begin restoring your files, you will need to install Carbonite on your new or repaired computer. If Carbonite is already installed on your computer, skip to Step 2: Carbonite Restore Assistant.

  1. Sign in at https://account.carbonite.com using your email address and Carbonite password.
  2. From the Computers tab, click Get files back on the computer you wish to restore.
    Click Get files back on the computer you wish to restore
  3. Select Download my files to this computer and click Next.
    Select Download my files to this computer and click Next
  4. Choose Complete Restore to install Carbonite on the computer and start a full restore of your files.
    Click Complete Restore
  5. Click No and Next when prompted if Carbonite is already installed.
    If you have multiple Macs on your account, you'll be asked two additional questions:
    • Which computer are you currently using? - Select the computer you are using from the options on the screen, then click Next.
    • Which computer's backup would you like to restore from? - Select the computer you wish to restore data from, then click Next.
  6. After this, just click Download Now to download the installer file to your system.
  7. Double-click the installer and continue to Step 2: Carbonite Restore Assistant.
Step 2: Carbonite Restore Assistant

The Carbonite Restore Assistant will be displayed at the end of the installation process. Click Yes, help me restore files now to begin the restore setup.

Any data not restored will be removed from Carbonite after 30 days of exiting Recover Mode if it is not otherwise present on your computer and selected for backup.

If you only need to get a few files back, click No, I'll Do It Later then restore files and folders.

Carbonite Restore Assistant

Match User Accounts

Use the drop-down lists to choose restore locations for each backed up user account.

After making your selections, click Continue.

Matching User Accounts
Carbonite suggests not using the Restore Assistant to create user accounts if your new computer already has user accounts with the same name as the ones in your backup. If you wish to restore files to more than one user account, create the necessary accounts normally through your operating system first.

Confirm Your Selections

Click Start Restoring Files to confirm your selections and start the restore.

Start Restoring Files

Select the Open Carbonite Status Panel when I Click "Done" option and click Done to display the progress of your restore.

Restore Start Confirmation

The progress of your restore will be displayed in the Carbonite Preference pane.

Restore Progress
Step 3: Adjust Your Computer Power Settings

To avoid restore interruptions, leave your computer, keep it connected to the internet, and configure Energy Saver.

Click the Apple symbol in the menu bar and select System Preferences.

Apple: System Preferences

In the System Preferences window, click on the Energy Saver icon.

Energy Saver

In the Energy Saver pane:

  1. Set the Computer sleep: slider bar to Never.
  2. Deselect the checkbox next to Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible.
Energy Saver Settings

Close System Preferences and continue with your normal computer tasks as Carbonite restores your files.

Next Step(s)

After the restore completes, please review the Carbonite Post-Restore Checklist for tips on finding your restored data and making sure your backup starts again.

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