When I login to my IDrive account for the first time on a machine, I notice that some folders have already been scheduled for backup. Why?

IDrive is an automated online backup application. Hence, critical folders like Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music are pre-selected for backup with the scheduled time set to 'off-peak hours'.

If these settings are not altered, the application commences the backup of the default Backup set once the scheduled backup time is reached.

You can modify the settings as desired.

To change the day, time, and frequency for the scheduled backup job, click the 'Scheduler'.

Also, you can select the desired files / folders / drives (under 'My Local') that you want to backup immediately and click the 'Backup Now' button.

I see some files / folders marked in red color on the top pane of the main application screen. Why?

The files / folders marked in red under 'My Local' are excluded from backup.

To include them in the Backup set, click on your name at the top and select ‘Preferences’; choose the 'Exclude files and folders' tab. Clear the check boxes for the files / folders that you want to backup.

How do I take an immediate (interactive) backup of my data?

Select the desired files / folders / drives (under 'My Local') that you want to backup immediately and click the 'Backup Now' button.

How do I schedule a backup?

To schedule a backup, login to your IDrive account and click the 'Scheduler' tab.

You can schedule your backup start time. Select your desired day(s) of backup in a week or schedule it on a daily basis.

It also has the following options:

Start the backup immediately: Take an immediate backup of your files / folders.

Cut-Off time: Set the time at which your scheduled backup should stop.

Email notification: Select this option to receive email notifications on the status of the scheduled backup job. Enter the email address on which you want to receive the notifications.

Notify me on desktop: Receive notifications on the desktop regarding the status of scheduled backup job.

Start the missed scheduled backup when the computer is turned on:Select this option to resume a missed scheduled backup job due to the computer being turned off.

Is there a way to receive an alert in case my scheduled backup fails?

Yes. Click on ‘Preferences’ > ‘General’ tab from the IDrive tray. Select the 'Alert me if the scheduled backup fails for 7 days' check box to receive a desktop alert in case your backup has not taken place. By default, it is set to seven days.

How do I manage my scheduled backup jobs?

You can manage your scheduled backup jobs by clicking 'Scheduler' > 'Manage all the Scheduled jobs' option from the IDrive tray menu.

You can change the frequency and options pertaining to a specific backupset for an account.

Edit the backup jobs in the following ways:

1. Highlight any entry.
2. Edit the time, day and other options.

Delete a scheduled backup entry in the following ways:

1. Highlight any entry.
2. Right click and select the 'Delete' button.

Stop the scheduled backup in the following ways:

1. Highlight any entry where the status is 'In Progress'.
2. Right click and select the 'Stop' icon.
3. Go to 'Status' screen on the IDrive Tray menu and click the 'Stop Transfer' icon.

Does IDrive perform scheduled backups in 'Standby’ mode?

No. This is because the remote access connections are disconnected without any prompting to disconnect manually before the computer goes into the 'Standby' mode. This applies to any remote access connection including connections to Internet service providers (ISPs) and private networks. This behavior is by design of Windows, by default.

Can I view the status of my scheduled backups?

Yes, you can view the status of your scheduled backups using the IDrive ‘Status’ option that is active in your system tray once you install IDrive.

You can also view the status of the scheduled jobs. Click the 'Log' button to see the recent session-wise log files.

Is it possible to view all the scheduled backup jobs of all my IDrive accounts on my computer using IDrive?

Yes. For this, right-click the IDrive tray icon and select 'Scheduler' > 'Manage all the Scheduled jobs'. In the window that is displayed, you can view the list of scheduled backup jobs of all IDrive accounts on the local computer.

What is incremental backup?

IDrive transfers only the modified portions of your files after full initial backup. Incremental backup is a default feature.

How do I backup data from multiple computers to a single IDrive account?

By default, IDrive creates a unique folder with the name of the computer to backup data from multiple computers into a single IDrive account. This prevents data overlap during multiple computers backup.

You can also enter a folder name of your choice. Use the 'Multiple Computer Backup' from the 'Preferences' screen to change the name of the folder for multiple computers backup.

How can I exclude certain files/folders from being backed up?

IDrive allows you to exclude files / folders from being backed up during interactive and scheduled backup.

You can exclude files / folders in the following ways:


Via Main Window

Select a file / folder under 'My Local', right click and choose 'Exclude this item from backup'.

1. Right-click anywhere on the 'Files / Folders with full path names' list box and click the desired option from the sub-menu.

1. Right-click anywhere on the 'Files / folder with partial names' box and click the desired option from the sub-menu.
2. In the dialog box that is displayed, enter the partial name of the folder / file that you want to exclude from backup and enter.

What is the Bandwidth Throttle feature?

The Bandwidth Throttle feature lets you set the Internet bandwidth to be used by the IDrive application for backups.

Bandwidth Throttle (PC in use): This option lets you set the bandwidth to be used by your system for backups, when it is in use. By default, it is set to 100%.

Note: The percentage set for Bandwidth Throttle is applicable for both scheduled and interactive backups.

Bandwidth Throttle (PC not in use): Select the 'Auto-Pause' check box to use this option.

Auto Pause option makes intelligent guesses on bandwidth throttle during backup operation to enable optimum desktop experience during user activity.

This option lets you set the bandwidth to be used by your system for backups when it is not in use. This allows other applications to run without hindrance. By default, it is set to 25%.

What is Bandwidth Test feature?

Using 'Bandwidth Test' feature, you can find out the upload / download speed and an approximate time that it will take to backup / restore 1 GB of data to your IDrive account. To perform the test, click on your username at the top and go to ‘Bandwidth Test’ > ‘Download’ or ‘Upload’.

Can I backup Mapped / USB / External drives?

Yes, you can backup Mapped / USB / External Drives. The contents to be backed up must be a part of the Backup set and available at the time of backup.

Will IDrive backup my data even if the computer is logged off?

Yes. IDrive will perform scheduled backup of your data even if your computer is logged off. This feature is even applicable for mapped drives.

Can I backup my open / locked files?

IDrive application is capable of backing up open files for supported platforms including Windows XP, Windows 2003 and 2008 servers, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 is enabled by default.

Thus, even if your Microsoft Outlook application is open, the IDrive application does a reliable backup of associated data. Similarly, your Quickbooks / Quicken and other possible open files are backed up as well.

I am unable to open my Outlook email client during the backup of my Outlook pst files. I get an error that indicates that the file may be in use. Why?

For Windows XP, Windows 2003 server, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 machines, the above issue should not arise.

However, for other Windows OS, the IDrive agent might lock your Outlook email client to perform a successful backup. To resolve the issue, close your MS Outlook email client before initiating the operation.

Will a missed scheduled backup take place when the computer is restarted after the scheduled time?

Yes. The scheduled backup will commence as soon as you restart the computer even if it is after the scheduled time. However, this is applicable only if you have selected the 'Start the missed scheduled backup when the computer is turned on' option from the 'Scheduler' screen.

In case you have not selected the option, then the scheduled backup will commence only if you restart the computer within 30 minutes of the scheduled time.

If you restart the computer after 30 minutes of the scheduled time, the scheduled backup will commence at the next frequency (as per the date and time that was set earlier).

How do I delete data from my Backup set?

You can delete data from the Backup set in the following ways:

• Right-click the file / folder / drive under the 'Contents of my Backup Set' list and choose the 'Delete all items' or 'Delete selected item(s)' from the menu.
  
• Select the file / folder / drive under the 'Contents of my Backup Set' list and press the 'Delete' key on your computer keyboard.

How do I add items to the IDrive Backup set from my local computer?

To add a file / folder to your Backup set from your local computer, select the desired file/folder, right-click and choose ‘IDrive’ > ‘Add to Backup Set’ from the menu.

The selected files / folders are backed up when you perform an interactive backup or during the scheduled backup.

Do I need to restart my computer after installing IDrive?

There is no need to restart your computer after IDrive has been installed.

How do I restore my backed up data in case my system crashes (or to a new computer)?

To restore data backed up to your IDrive account to the local machine, follow the steps below:

1) Download and install the IDrive application.

2) Login with your Username and Password. If you had set a private encryption key while logging into the application for the first time, then provide the same.

3) From the 'Restore' tab, select the files / folders to be restored.

4) Choose the desired ‘Restore location’ and click on ‘Restore Now’ button.

What is Versioning? Does it impact the available quota (storage space in my account)?

IDrive retains previous versions of all files backed up to your account. Currently, you can restore 30 previous file versions to any location on your local computer.

The additional storage for the previous versions has no impact on your account's quota, as your storage is calculated only for the most current version.

How do I view the versions of a file stored in my account?

To view the versions of a file stored in your account, go to 'Restore' tab, right-click the required file and select the 'View previous versions' option from the list. You can also search your desired file version.

How do I restore the latest version of a file?

Select the ‘Restore’ tab, the latest files that are backed up to your IDrive account are listed there.

To restore the latest version, select the desired file / folder, select the destination to which you want to restore your data and click 'Restore Now' button. You can also search your desired file / folder and restore then back to your local system.

How do I delete data from my account?

Select the ‘Restore’ tab, the latest files that are backed up to your IDrive account are listed there.

To delete a particular file / folder from your IDrive account, select the desired file / folder and click the Delete icon.

I have backed up data on multiple computers. How do I restore?

To restore data backed up to multiple computers:

1. Login to your IDrive account with your username and password.

2. Select the computer(s) name that you wish to restore from the 'Restore' tab.

3. A list of files/folders backed up from the computer is displayed.

4. Select the files / folders which you wish to retrieve.

5. Choose your desired destination on the local computer and click ‘Restore Now’.

What is Archive Cleanup?

The Archive Cleanup feature permanently deletes data from your account, by matching them to the data in your current backup set. It is useful as it deletes data from your account that no longer exists on your computer.

To use Archive Cleanup,

1. Click Archive Cleanup, under the Backup tab.





2. Click on Cleanup Now button. IDrive will generate a list of items to be deleted from your account.





3. Click Delete, to remove data from your account.
   

• Archive Cleanup permanently deletes data which no longer exists on your computer to free up space in your account.
• Archive Cleanup is done to avoid inadvertent data loss in case of an unexpected event on your computer. For ‘Cleanup Now’ this percentage is set to 25% by default.
• The percentage mention refers to files considered for deletion in your account as a percentage of total number of files. The purpose of this percentage based control is to avoid large deletion of files in your account due to some unforeseen event on your computer.

What is Periodic Cleanup?

You can set up automated cleanup periodically by enabling Periodic Cleanup.

Periodic Cleanup gives you more control by allowing you to set the frequency as well as the percentage of files to be considered. The frequency can be set to any thing between 10 and 30 days; percentage to anything between 5% and 25%.

To enable Periodic Cleanup,

1. Click Archive Cleanup on the tool bar under the Backup tab.
2. Select Periodic Cleanup by using the check box.
3. Set the number of days and percentage of data to be considered for cleanup.

• Periodic Cleanup may result in automatic deletion of data from your IDrive account; use/set this option carefully.
• The percentage mention refers to files considered for deletion in your account as a percentage of total number of files. The purpose of this percentage based control is to avoid large deletion of files in your account due to some unforeseen event on your computer.

I deleted files from my IDrive account. Is it possible to restore the files/folders that are deleted accidentally?

The files / folders that are deleted from your IDrive account are moved to Trash. These files / folders will be automatically deleted after a 30 day period. You can either move your files / folders to the original location in your IDrive account or restore them to your local computer.

To restore/move your files from Trash, follow these steps:

1. Click on the 'Trash' icon. The files / folders available in Trash are listed with the latest version.
2. Select the check box to restore / move the desired files / folders.
3. Click to move the files / folders to the original location in your IDrive account OR click to restore your files / folders to the desired location in your local computer.

Note: You can also delete a file / folder permanently from Trash, if it is no longer required.

I want to restore the previous version of a file from Trash. Is it possible?

Yes. To restore previous version of a file, right-click on the desired file and select the 'View previous versions' option. Select the required file version and click 'Restore'.

If I keep on performing backups, will I use up my quota quickly?

IDrive does incremental backup (only the modified portion of your files/folders are sent to the IDrive servers). Your quota depends on the most recent file/folder copy backed up to your online account. The previous 30 versions of files are stored free.

I received a quota overuse email. What should I do?

You may opt to upgrade your account to accommodate the extra storage or remove some data from your account to bring it in line with your current quota.

To upgrade your account, login to your IDrive account with your Username and Password via the browser. Click 'Upgrade' to purchase more storage. Alternately, select the files / folders that you want to delete from the ‘Restore’ tab via your desktop client and click the 'Delete' icon.

Can I halt my backups at a particular time?

Yes. To enable this option go to ‘Scheduler’ tab > set your desired 'Cut-off Time' and select the check box. The backup is resumed at the next scheduled time from the point it was stopped.

Does IDrive support backup and restore of files larger than 2 GB?

Yes. IDrive has been tested to transfer files both ways for files of size upto 10 GB.

How do I view my Backup/Restore activities via the application?

Clicking on the Log tab allows you to view all the Scheduled and Interactive backup/restore activities in your account.

Can I share file(s) / folder(s) directly from IDrive?

Yes, you can share files / folders stored on your IDrive account with friends and associates for collaborative access.

To share files / folders,

1. Select the files/folders and click Share icon under the Restore tab.





2. You will be re-directed to your web account, from where you can set the share parameters.





3. You can share your files and folders via email, Facebook and Twitter.
4. You can password protect and write-enable your shared files/folders.
5. Click Send email to send an email with the share link to your associates.