In this backup tutorial we’ll show you how to install Carbonite. At the end of the backup tutorial you can get a free trial of Carbonite backup. NO CREDIT CARD REQUIRED.
Of all of the online backup services we’ve seen, this one is probably the easiest to set up. They’re the only computer backup provider that offers a total free trial, unlimited data storage, online backup plan. Carbonite lets you backup a computer using their full version online backup for 15 days for free. There are absolutely no data storage limitations. No strings attached.
The 15 day unlimited storage free trial offer is good because you really get to test drive the full version and get the true feel of what it’s like to use Carbonite backup. What it’s like can be summed up in one word, easy. Carbonite is easy to use.
Start by going to the sign up page. All you have to do is enter your email address and pick a password. After that, Carbonite does the rest. I mean literally, they take over and immediately start to back up everything in your documents and settings files, as well as your desktop. You don’t have to make any decisions, just let Carbonite do its thing. No choosing what to back up and what not to back up. No need to learn a new software program. Just sit back and do nothing while Carbonite works. What could be easier than that.
Backup Tutorial: How To Sign Up for the Free Trial
Just go to the Carbonite home page.
This is the Carbonite computer backup homepage.
This is where you’ll find the easy “Start Your Free Trial” form. Just fill in your email address and pick a password. No credit card or other personal data is required.
Just fill in your email and choose a password. NO credit card required.
Once you’ve clicked on the orange “Start Your Free Trial” button, you’ll be taken to a brief survey asking you how you found out about Carbonite computer backup. Click on the little radio button called “Other” and since you found out about Carbonite here, enter backupacomputer.com and click the red “Continue” button.
Answer this brief one-question survey.
After filling out the short survey, you be taken to the main Installation page. Here you can read about the easy 3 step Installation process. All you have to do at this point is click on the orange “Install Now” button
Just click on the orange "Install" button to begin downloading Carbonite
Next you’ll be taken through the typical windows download sequence.
Click on the Save button to begin the download
Once you click on the save button, Carbonite will begin to download. Download time Depends upon the speed your internet connection. Even with a slow connection, it won’t take more than about 5 minutes. With high speed, its almost instant. Once the download is complete, double-click on the Carbonite Setup icon.
Carbonite computer backup software begins to download.
You’ll be taken to the “Run” window where naturally you click on “Run”
Click on the "Run" button to install Carbonite
You’ll be asked to agree to the Terms and Conditions before the program will run.
You must accept the Terms and Conditions
The installation will continue up to the point where your desktop has to be refreshed. So click OK.
Just click OK to continue
Carbonite will begin the activation process.
Carbonite will begin activating the download.
When activation is complete you’ll be taken to this screen where you can either accept the default set up options,which is the easiest thing to do, or you click on the advanced set up if you choose.
Click next to accept the default setup options.
Next you have the choice of letting Carbonite backup your My Documents and Desktop, the default setting, or of choosing manually which files you want to backup. Why not just let Carbonite do its thing?
Choose to automatically backup My Documents and Desktop.
At this point Carbonite is already running on your computer and is already backing up your data. Notice the small audio controls in the top right of the screen. You can click on the play button and a woman from Carbonite will tell you about the features. The rest of these screens are for information purposes.
This screen is informational. Carbonite is already working to backup your computer
Set back and relax. You're done. No more backup worries.
Your first backup could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how much you have on your computer. Home high speed internet connections are capable of backing up about 2 to 2.5 GB of data per day. So if you have 5 GB of files, your initial backup will take about 2 days. Remember, Carbonite works at top speed when you’re not actively using your computer. It’s OK to turn your computer off if you need to. Carbonite resumes automatically when you turn it back on. Carbonite recommends that you leave your computer on overnight until your first backup is complete. After your first backup, updates to your backup will happen so quickly you probably won’t even notice them. Carbonite will automatically upload new and changed files to keep your backup up to date.
Carbonite displays a little yellow padlock icon next to your clock.
