Files Carbonite Will Not Backup
Wed, 08/22/2007 - 19:47 | 
Tom
I've mentioned Carbonite online backup quite a bit (and it is great!), but got frustrated when I could not find out exactly which files it would backup and which files it would not. A quick email to the rapid response support team at Carbonite set the record straight. For those wanting to know, here are the files and directories that are excluded.
"The following folders are excluded from Carbonite backups:
"%WINDIR%\*",
"%TEMP%\*",
"%TMP%\*",
"\Recycler\*",
"\Recycle Bin\*",
"\System Volume Information\*",
"\MSOCache\*",
"\I386\*",
"\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\*", // skipped because most of this is system configuration stuff
"\Documents and Settings\*\Cookies\*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\Local Settings\History\*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\Local Settings\Temp*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\NetHood\*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\PrintHood\*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\History\*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\NTUSER.DAT",
"\Documents and Settings\*\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\*\Cache\*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\Application Data\Opera\Opera\profile\cache*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\Application Data\Microsoft\CryptnetUrlCache\*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\Application Data\Yahoo! Desktop Search\*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\Application Data\Google\Google Desktop\*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\Application Data\Microsoft Help\*",
"\Documents and Settings\*\Application Data\Carbonite\*",
"\Program Files\Carbonite\Carbonite Backup\*",
"\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Clipart\*",The following file types are excluded from Carbonite backups:
.bak;.log;.cab;.cf1;.chm;.com;.cpl;.dll;.dmp;.drv;.evt;.exe;.inf;.ico;.iso;.jar;.lex;.lib;.msi;.msm;
.mst;.ocx;.otf;.pnf;.pf;.prn;.reg;.rll;.swf;.sys;.ttf;.tmp;.vxd;.chq;.chw;.hlp;.hxi;.hxq;
.hxr;.hxs;.abf;.afm;.bdf;.dfont;.eot;.fnt;.fon;.lwfn;.otf;.pfa;.pfb;.pfm;.suit;.ttc;.ttf;.ani;.ann;
.bmk;.cnt;.cpl;.cur;.dev;.drv;.dvd;.ffa;.ffl;.ffo;.ffx;.ftg;.fts;.gid;.grp;.idx;.img;
.ini;.ins;.ipf;.isp;.its;.kbd;.kext;.key;.msc;.msp;.nt;.plist;.pol;.pref;.prf;.pwl;.reg;
.scf;.scr;.sdb;.swp;.sys;.theme;.vga;.vgd;.vxd;.fxp;.jse;.obs;.prg;.rox;.shb;
.tms;.vbe;.wpk;.$$$;.$db;.113;.abk;.bac;.bck;.bcm;.bdb;.bkf;.bkp;.old;.rdb;
.win;.PCH;.SBR;.PDB;.OBJ;.BSC;.ILK;.NCB;.IDB;.v2i;.ost;.lnk;.vhd;.vmc;.vmdk;.vmsd;.vmx;.vmsn;system/;dtSearch*;Intermediate *;VMWare*;Virtual PC*;Virtual Machine*
Additionally, music and video files are excluded during free trial subscriptions of Carbonite.
Files that end in "_" or "~" don't get "Back this up" option in context menu. It means it's a compressed system file. It can be renamed (from the command line) to an extension w/out the "_" (underscore)or the "~"(tilde) and then you will get the backup option."
Make sure that the files you want to be backed up are not included in the above exclusions. Of special note is SQL database backup files are *.BAK by default. Change the file extension to get them included in the backup.
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Rebit
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 19:26.work around
Submitted by Nick C (not verified) on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 23:35.So what are you guys using then?
Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 11/28/2009 - 12:59.Please advise what will be the alternative to Carbonite.
1) I want it to backup everything in a particular folder regardless of the extension.
2) To updtate the backup automatically when there is a change
3) To be able to access the date online via web browser like Live Mesh or Carbonite
4) Unlimited date for 50 or under a year
Suggestions?
How to Easy Fix Carbonite exclusions, Part II
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 09:35.See the article below by the same name. I've just taken this a bit further by creating a vbscript that will generate 0 byte files using all possible 1-3 character file extensions (over 100K of them). Run the script, turn on status dots in Carbonite and tell it to backup the folder where the files were created. Once it's finished backing up you can easilly see which files were ignored. Right click them and select to backup this file type.
For those of you that would rather not run the script yourselves I've also included the 167 file types I found that were not backed up (excluding those that end in "_")
You can get the script and files here.
List is missing some file types.
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 08/31/2009 - 20:46.This list is missing some file types. Carbonite does not (by default) back up .avi or .asx - and those are just two that I immediately noticed. Who knows what other types they also don't back up without telling you. This is terrible, since .avi and .asx are very common files from cameras that every person would want to back up. Otherwise if I had a HDD crash, then I would never be able to recover the camera videos of my son's 1st birthday if I hadn't noticed right now that they weren't being backed up!
They should at least provide a menu or option in the program that shows the file types exluded, and let you select or deselect them.
Agreed (Useless)
Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/29/2009 - 16:30.I have tested every online beackup solution, and they all have issues and limitations.
If Carbonite added or should I say include what they SHOULD, I believe it would be the best option for most users. That option being backup EVERYTHING that is in a slected folder!!!
Not rocket sience here Carbonite staff.
Thats it...
D
Liability Problems
Submitted by Jacob Beasley (not verified) on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 09:17.How to Easy Fix Carbonite exclusions
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 06:50.I took you list above, created a batch file to create a single file in a directory that ends with EACH of the above excluded extensions.
Run this batch file...now you have one of each excluded type in one directory.
Set this dir for Carbonite backup and click on EACH file and set it's Properties - Carbonite to Backup all files of this type...
Now any dir on you system set to use Carbonite will get all these files as well.
Email me if you want the batch file mike [at] espositos [dot] net
Thanks!
Submitted by Jacob Beasley (not verified) on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 09:18.Carbonite KB article shows you how to add extensions in 1 click!
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 12/01/2009 - 06:20.http://cp-carbonite.kb.net/display/4n/kb/article.aspx?aid=1069&n=1&docid...
Just right click on a file of the type you want to backup, select properties. Select the Carbonite tab and select Backup files of this type. This will select all files of this type within the folders already selected.
Carbonite
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/29/2007 - 13:08.Tom: Carbonite's CEO here. Your readers should know that you can easily override our default exclusions by just right clicking on any file or folder and selecting "back this up." The exclusions keep non-technical users from restoring everything to a new computer and messing it up.
David Friend, CEO
Carbonite.com
Not quite honest there Mr Friend
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 10/08/2009 - 01:36.You would be well aware that for some file types there are no Carbonite backup options available and that this is by your design.
Carbonite "peace of mind" evaporates after restoring a folder
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 06:49.Carbonite advertises "peace of mind" on their website. That makes sense because it is a -great- feeling to see files getting backed up moments after editing them, with their little orange dots changing to green as the files get instantly backed up. This "peace of mind" evaporates quickly when it comes time for a restore.
Restoring your own folder tree flagged for backup, and "backed up", in Carbonite may (depending on the number of excluded file types used in your line of work) bring waves of anger, revulsion, and disbelief as you come to understand the implications of Carbonite's exclusion policy. With Carbonite, skipping the fine print can be almost as big a mistake as not backing up at all.
Mozy does not skip certain file types
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 02/22/2009 - 17:54.I should have mentioned that I also subscribe to Mozy and while not as quick to backup files it does backup everything. Can't be too careful!
David H.
Carbonite excludes many files
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 02/22/2009 - 17:37.I am a subscriber to Carboinites service but I just don't buy the explanation given br Mr. Friend.
I notice that mvi files are not backed up so the service makes me go through many dozens of directories to add that file to be backed up.
It certainly saves file space for them but doesn't 100% satisfy my need for a reliable, easy to use total backup tool.
In addition to Carbonite I use Genie because it does backup EVERYTHING and while not as clever as Carbonite in backing up files right after they are modified, it does backup everything without my manual intervention. Also, it can make a boot disk to get me up and running from a total system failure, which has happened to me twice in the last three years due to a power supply failure in one case and a careless drop of a laptop in the other.
David
Carbonite
Submitted by Tom on Thu, 08/30/2007 - 19:44.Shayne Here
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/31/2007 - 10:09.I agree a 45 day trial would be great for our show listners.
Shayne McKinney
Carbonite
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/30/2007 - 19:39.David: thanks for stopping by and thanks for the tip. However, one of the things that users should consider is that if they are relying on Carbonite to backup a file with these extensions, AND the file names themselves are dynamically created like scheduled SQL Server backup files, then this means the user must manually select the file each time one is created, which is not practical. With SQL Server backup files, a user can simply change the backup file extension, but that is not the case with other applications' backup files. Users of Carbonite should be aware that it is not always set and forget. Simply setting the directory to backup does not mean all the files will be sent to Carbonite servers.
I think it would be a good feature if the users could have just a little more control of what is excluded by default and what is not - make it an advanced feature - and that should solve it.
Online Backup - Carbonite's Excluded Files
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 23:10.Hi Tom,
Thanks for this very helpful information. I have been reading about the online backup industry for a while now. Online backup is maturing and slowly getting the attention of the general consumer. One website worth mentioning is the backup review site:
http://www.BackupReview.info
This very informative site, not only posts up to date news and articles from the industry, but also lists about 400 online backup companies and ranks the top 25 on a monthly basis and features a CEO Spotlight page, where senior management people from the industry are interviewed.
Carbonite Conundrum
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 08:57.Carbonite is storing ~35GB for me (4.95/mo.) but I’m limited to my internal drives. I can’t backup my USB drives. Cést la vié.
Just went through and completed (incomplete) a restore. While comparing some restored folders I discovered BIG GAPS in file listings.
I knew one has to right click and select “back this up” to enable exe, dll and others to be backed up. What I didn’t know is how many file types are excluded. I read that file names with underscores and folders named i386 were excluded. Wow, I happen to love using underscores in file names. Finally I found the complete list of file exclusions right here!
You will learn that Carbonite’s exclusions will make it impractical for any user doing serious work who has multi gigabytes of data. Imagin going folder by folder, file by file through thousands of files until one has found them all?!
I learned it is impossible to inventory/compare thousands of files to insure one is not missing something important.
I discovered how SLOW explorer runs when accessing the Carbonite Backup Drive. Mine crashed three out of five attempts. I NEVER was able to view the recovery log. My system would not display it. 2.4GHZ w/2GB RAM and sis 651 32MB video card.
It is my opinion that the online backup industry is in its infancy with lots of business models testing the waters. Consider Carbonites liberal definition of the term ‘unlimited’. http://www.nickstarr.com/2006/06/29/carbonite-when-unlimited-is-limited/
Thanks for this post Tom. I'll have to do some more research. Check out Life Hacker and Backup Review.
Default exclusions make it useless.
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/30/2008 - 13:47.I am an application developer, and the main purpose of online backup for me is to back up my source code files.
One of my source code file types is .prg, which is excluded from Carbonite's backup, making it absolutely useless to me :(
Carbonite not allowing an override to these default exclusions is a huge short-sighted oversight. Furthermore, making users believe that setting a directory for backup means the files in the directory ARE backed up, without "shouting from the rooftops" that there are files not included is CRAZY.
Very disappointed.
filenames with an underscore within the filename
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 04/17/2008 - 23:05.Are files such as mike_12april08.doc excluded because there is an underscore in the filename?
WL
filenames with an underscore within the filename
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 09:32.I've checked my backup. Files with an underscore in the filename were backed up e.g. PCD25 025_1.jpg
A file with an underscore as the last character in the extension will not be backed up e.g. new document.tx_
OnlineBackupVault.com
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 13:54.We have a consulting company based out of New York, we private label and resell an online backup soltution from OnlineBackupVault.com. They provide an encrypted,offsite secure data backup solution backed by an excellent staff. their team leader is a fellow named Moti Mitteldorf who seems to be reachable 18 hours a day, who is very smart and knows his product inside and out. The thing that Mozy, Carbonite are missing is what smaller companies such as OnlineBackupVault.com have...that human touch..a real AMERICAN, English speaking support person.
OnlineBackupVault.com
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 13:54.We have a consulting company based out of New York, we private label and resell an online backup soltution from OnlineBackupVault.com. They provide an encrypted,offsite secure data backup solution backed by an excellent staff. their team leader is a fellow named Moti Mitteldorf who seems to be reachable 18 hours a day, who is very smart and knows his product inside and out. The thing that Mozy, Carbonite are missing is what smaller companies such as OnlineBackupVault.com have...that human touch..a real AMERICAN, English speaking support person.
filenames with an underscore within the filename
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/28/2008 - 13:59.