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Home / Idrive Backup Failure Unable to Continue the Backup Operation

Idrive Backup Failure Unable to Continue the Backup Operation

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When I sign in 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.

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 (using the 'Change...' option) that you want to backup immediately and click the 'Backup Now' button.

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I see some files/folders marked in red color, when I click the Change button. Why?

The files/folders marked in red under 'Select files/folders for Backup' dialog box are excluded from backup.

To include them in the Backup set,

  1. From the 'Settings' tab, clear the check boxes for the files/folders that you want to backup.
  2. Click 'Save Settings'.

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How do I take an immediate backup of my data?

Select the desired files/folders / drives (using the 'Change...' option) that you want to backup immediately and click the 'Backup Now' button.

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Can I immediately backup files and folders on my computer without launching the desktop application?

Yes. Simply right-click the selected files and folders you wish to backup immediately, point to IDrive and click 'Backup Now'. IDrive performs an immediate backup for the selected files and folders.

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How do I schedule an online backup?

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

You can set 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:

  1. Backup set name: Select the backup set you need to schedule ('DefaultBackupSet'/'LocalBackupset')
  2. Backup start time: Set the time at which your scheduled backup should start.
  3. Daily Schedule: Select this option to run your backup jobs daily.
  4. Week-Day(s): Select the days of the week on which you wish to run your backup jobs.
  5. Start the backup immediately: Select this option to run a backup job immediately.
  6. Hourly Schedule: Select this option to configure hourly backup operations.
  7. Cut-Off time: Set the time at which your scheduled backup should stop.
  8. 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.
  9. Notify me on desktop: Receive notifications on the desktop regarding the status of scheduled backup job.
    • Notify always - Select this option to get notifications always.
    • Notify on failure - Select this option to get the notifications only when there are failures.
  10. 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.

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Is it possible to schedule a backup to a local drive and continue to backup to my IDrive account?

You can schedule local backup to a drive and online backup to the cloud as two different jobs. However, it is not possible to schedule local and online backup in a single job.

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

Yes, to receive an alert in case of backup failure, select the required parameters for the following options from the 'Settings' tab.

  • Select the number of days in the 'Alert me if the scheduled backup fails for 2 days' option to receive a desktop alert, in case your backup has not taken place.


  • Select percentage in the 'Notify as 'Failure' if the total files failed for backup is more than 5% of the total files backed up' option, to receive a desktop alert on backup failures.

  • Select percentage in the 'Notify as 'Failure' if the total files missing for backup is more than 5% of the total files backed up' option, to receive a desktop alert on backup failures due to missing files.

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What happens if my backup set contains files/folders that have insufficient access rights?

If your backup set contains files/folders that have insufficient access rights, IDrive will not backup those files/folders. Hence in such a case, by default, your backup will be considered as 'Failure'.

To ignore file/folder level access rights/permission errors,

  1. Go to 'Settings' > 'General'.
  2. Select 'Ignore file / folder level access rights / permission errors' option.

This will ignore any access rights/permission errors on any file or folder that are part of your backup set.

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How do I manage my scheduled backup jobs?

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

You can click 'Scheduler' > 'Pause the scheduled job'/'Stop the scheduled job' option from the IDrive tray menu to pause or stop a scheduled backup.

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

Alternatively, you can also click on 'View and manage all scheduled jobs' from the 'Scheduler' tab to edit, delete or stop a scheduled job.

To edit the backup jobs,

  1. Click on the required entry to highlight it.
  2. Edit the time, day and other options and click on 'Save Changes' button.

To delete a scheduled backup entry,

  1. Click on the required entry to highlight it and select the 'Delete' button.
  2. Click 'Yes' in the confirmation window.

To stop the scheduled backup,

  1. Click in the 'Backup progress' section to stop the backup.

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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.

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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 'View Logs' button to see the recent session-wise log files.

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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 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.

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How does IDrive optimize data transfers?

IDrive transfers only the modified portions of your files after full initial transfer, by transferring only modified blocks of the file, which optimizes your bandwidth usage and ensures that transfers are quick.

This optimization is applied to backups and restores, Sync-up and Sync-down (if you are using the Sync part of the IDrive service). This makes IDrive the most advanced backup and sync application.

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

There are multiple ways by which you can exclude files/folders from being backed up.

Exclude files/folders in the following ways:


Based on full path names

  1. Select 'files/folders with full path names' under 'Settings' > 'Exclusions'.
  2. Right-click anywhere on the list box, and select 'Insert Files /Folders'.
  3. Browse and select a file, and click 'Save Settings'.

To delete a file from the exclude list, right-click a file and click 'Delete'.

Based on partial names

  1. Select 'files/folders with partial names' under 'Settings' > 'Exclusions'.
  2. Right-click anywhere on the list box, and select 'Insert partial file name' or 'Insert partial folder name'.

  3. Enter the partial file / folder name you want to exclude from backup and click 'Save Settings'.

Examples for excluding partial folders:

  • name
    Add the name to the exclusion list and any folder, in any path, with that name will be excluded from backup.
    For example, you want to exclude all folders with invoices from the backup. If these folders are named Invoices, add the same to the exclusion list.
  • ????name
    Exclude any folder that starts with a known number of characters and ends with a specific name.
    If your invoices folder has standard naming such as Jan invoice, Feb invoice, etc. you can then enter ????invoice to the exclusion list.
  • name*
    Exclude any folder that starts with a specific name.
    If you want to avoid backing up folders that contain sensitive information, say folders named Finance 2022, Finance 2021, and so on, enter Finance* to the exclusion list. To specify the word length, enter Finance?????.

Examples for excluding partial files:

  • *.ext
    All files of the specified extension will be excluded from the backup.
    For example, to skip the backup of all text files, simply enter *.txt.
  • name.ext
    All files of the specified name and extension will be excluded from the backup.
    If you want to skip backup of all PDFs named Datasheets in various folders. Add Datasheet.pdf to the exclusion list.
  • ???name.ext
    Exclude all files with known numbers characters in the name, ending with a known word, and specified file type.
    For example, you want to exclude the invoices in all folders from the backup. Your invoices may have standard naming such as Jan invoice and be in PDF format. You can then enter ????invoice.pdf in the exclusion list.

To delete a file from the exclude list, right-click a file and click 'Delete'.

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What is Bandwidth Throttle?

The Bandwidth Throttle lets you set the Internet bandwidth to be used by the IDrive application for backups. By default, the bandwidth throttle value is set at 100%.

You can set Auto Pause option, which makes intelligent guesses on bandwidth throttle during backup operation to enable optimum desktop experience with the following options:

PC in use: This option lets you set the bandwidth to be used by IDrive for backups, when it is in use. By default, it is set to 25%. This allows other applications to run without hindrance.

PC not in use: This option lets you set the bandwidth to be used by IDrive for backups when it is not in use. By default, it is set to 100%.

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What is CPU throttle?

CPU throttle lets you set the CPU usage for backups. You can change the CPU utilization to suit the workload of your computer. By default, the CPU throttle value is set at 100%.

To change the CPU throttle settings,

  1. Navigate to 'Settings' > 'Throttle' > 'CPU Throttle'.
  2. Use the slider to set the CPU to be used, and click 'Save Settings'.

    Note: CPU Throttle feature will be available only for 'Windows 8 / Windows Server 2012' and above Operating Systems.

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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.

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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.

To perform the mapped drive backup in log off mode,

  1. From the 'Settings' tab, under 'Mapped Drive', select 'Authentication'.
  2. Provide the authentication details of the mapped drive.
  3. Click Verify Connection. The authentication details for the mapped drive will be validated to allow access to the IDrive application.
  4. Click 'Save Settings'.

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Can I backup my open / locked files?

IDrive application is capable of backing up open files for supported platforms, by default. The supported platforms include: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows 2019 Server, Windows 2016 Server, Windows 2012 Server, Windows 2008 Server, Windows Home Server, Windows 2003 Server (Service Pack 2).

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.


Note: The Open file Backup feature does not support backup of open files in the mapped/network drives.

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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 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.

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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' tab.

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).

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How do I add items to the IDrive Backup set from Windows Explorer?

To add a file/folder to your Backup set using Windows Explorer, select the desired file/folder, right-click and choose 'IDrive' > 'Add to Backup Set' from the menu.

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Do I need to restart my computer after installing IDrive?

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

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Can IDrive work with virtual machines?

Yes, IDrive works with virtual machines. For this, install the application on virtual machines and perform the backup as usual.

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When I am signing in to my IDrive account it is asking me to replace existing or add a new device for backup. Why?

When you sign in to your IDrive account, you can either choose to add the computer as a new device or transfer the backup set, scheduled jobs, and IDrive application settings etc from an already backed up computer to the new computer.

By transferring the backup set, you can avoid time consuming initial backup in case you are:

  • Replacing an old computer
  • Replacing computer's hard drive
  • Recovering after an OS reinstall

Note: Online / local backup set and scheduled jobs for online and local data will be transferred.

To replace an existing computer,

  1. Download and install IDrive on your computer.
  2. Sign in to IDrive using your credentials.
  3. When the 'Set up your new device for backup' screen appears, click 'Replace Existing'.

  4. Select the desired computer from the 'Select one of the computers from the list to replace' screen and click 'Continue'.

  5. Click 'Continue' in the confirmation screen.

  6. A message appears when the existing computer is replaced successfully. Backups will stop for the existing computer.

In case you do not wish to restore the existing backups on the new machine, you can click 'Add New Device' in the 'Set up your new device for backup' screen.

Read Note

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What is Cloud Drive and how does it work?

Cloud Drive links all of your devices such that whenever a file is updated, it is available on all linked devices. For syncing files, Cloud Drive creates a unique folder on every linked computer and provides separate cloud storage. You can sync files using the Cloud Drive folder on linked desktops, or directly via IDrive.com and download them on the mobile apps.

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How do I sync files using my IDrive account?

To sync files from your IDrive account,

  1. Sign in to the IDrive application with your username and password.
  2. Go to the 'Cloud Drive' tab and click 'Enable Sync'. This will initiate sync and open the Cloud Drive folder on your computer. When sync is enabled, you can click 'Go to My Cloud Drive folder' to open the Cloud Drive folder on your computer.

  3. Drag and drop files to the Cloud Drive folder from your computer. Files added to the Cloud Drive folder will be synced to your cloud account and all your linked devices.

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How do I know where my Cloud Drive folder is located? Can I change its default location?

Sign in to the IDrive desktop app and go to the 'Cloud Drive' tab. You can find your Cloud Drive folder's location under 'My Cloud Drive folder'. Click 'Change' to move the contents of the Cloud Drive folder to a new location.

Alternatively, you can also right-click on the system tray and select 'Cloud Drive' > 'My Cloud Drive folder'.

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How do I access my synced files and folders?

To access your synced files and folders,

  1. Sign in to IDrive with your user credentials.
  2. Go to the 'Cloud Drive' tab.
  3. Click 'My Cloud Drive folder'.

Alternatively, right-click and go to 'Cloud Drive' > 'My Cloud Drive folder'.

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What are the blue and green icons over my files in my Sync folder?

The blue icon refers to files that are still syncing. Whereas, the green icons indicates files that have already been synced.

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How do I know the status of file sync?

  1. Sign in to your IDrive account with your username and password.
  2. Mouse hover over on the system tray. A tooltip appears the displaying the number of files to be synced, the percentage completed, and the speed of the transfer.

Alternatively, you can also right-click > 'Status' to see the sync status within the application notification. When syncing is complete, a brief notification is displayed on your screen.

Note: The first line in the tooltip displays the IDrive files status followed by the status of the Sync in progress.

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How do I pause Sync when it is in progress and resume it?

  1. Sign in to your IDrive account with your username and password.
  2. Right-click on the system tray.
  3. Click 'Cloud Drive' > 'Pause' / 'Resume' from the available options.

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How much data can I sync to my Sync folder?

Your Cloud Drive folder's storage space is the same as the IDrive plan that you choose. The size is independent of the IDrive account storage. Hence, as long as there is enough space in your Cloud Drive folder, you can continue syncing data to it, even if your IDrive account space gets used up.

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Can I check the recently modified files in my Sync folder?

Yes, you can view the recently modified files in your Sync folder.

To look up the recently modified files in your Sync folder,

  1. Sign in to your IDrive account with your username and password.
  2. Right-click on the system tray.
  3. Click 'Cloud Drive' > 'Recently modified items'.

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What is Selective Sync Down and how is it useful?

Selective Sync down is a feature that allows you to select only the folders you want to sync to your computer. It gives you the control to ensure that you have only the files you need on a particular computer. It is helpful if you want to save space on your computers with limited hard disk space.

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How do I select the folders that I do not want to sync to my computer?

By default all the folders will be selected for sync. If you wish to avoid syncing particular folders,

  1. Sign in to your IDrive application and select the 'Cloud Drive' tab.
  2. Click 'Selective Sync Down'. A window appears with the list of all the folders in your Cloud Drive storage.
  3. Clear the checkbox of the folders that you do not want to sync and click 'Save'.
    The folders will be removed from the Cloud Drive folder on your computer.

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I can see duplicate files / folders in the sync section. Why is that?

While renaming a folder, there may be some situations where IDrive might be unable to rename all the items (files / folders) in the folder. This leads to creation of duplicate data as the items which could not be renamed are retained in the old folder and the same are copied to the new renamed folder.

Duplicate files / folders are created when:

  • File / folder rename operation fails due to inadequate permissions. In order to avoid data loss, a copy of the file / folder is created.
  • File path is more than 255 character length. This limit varies based on OS, application used on Windows etc.
  • File / folder is locked by others or is in use.

By default, IDrive retains old files / folders in such cases, to prevent data loss.

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How do I share a file?

  1. Sign in to your IDrive account with your username and password.
  2. Right-click on the system tray.
  3. Click 'Cloud Drive' > 'My Cloud Drive folder' from the available options.
  4. Right-click the file you wish to share and choose 'IDrive' > 'Share This file/folder'. You will be directed to IDrive web account to share your files.

Note:

  • The shared files will no longer be accessible by your friends, once you delete them or move them to another location.
  • The sharing option is available only for IDrive accounts with default encryption.

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Can I retrieve previous versions of my synced file?

Yes, the Cloud Drive folder maintains up to 30 previous versions of all the files.

Steps to restore previous versions of a file:

  1. Sign in to your IDrive account with your username and password.
  2. Right-click on the system tray.
  3. Click 'Cloud Drive' > 'My Cloud Drive folder' from the available options.
  4. Right-click a file and choose 'IDrive' > 'Versions'. All available file versions will be displayed. Download the desired file by clicking .

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Will my files still sync if my computer is turned off?

Cloud Drive will not be able to sync or access your data from computers or other devices unless they are turned on and connected to the Internet. If a computer is turned off when a file is updated from another device, Cloud Drive will update that file, once the computer is on and connected to the Internet.

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What happens when I run out of space in my Sync folder?

Upgrade your IDrive account to a higher plan once you run out of space in your Cloud Drive Sync folder. In order to make room for new files, you may even remove the old data that you no longer need.

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How can I stop sync?

Once you stop Sync, the files on your computer will not be in sync with other linked devices.

To stop sync on your computer,

  1. Sign in to your IDrive account with your username and password.
  2. Right-click on the system tray.
  3. Click 'Cloud Drive' > 'Stop Sync'.

Alternatively,

  1. Sign in to your IDrive application and go to the 'Cloud Drive' tab.
  2. Turn off 'Sync Status'.
  3. Click 'Yes' to confirm.

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Can I use Cloud Drive to synchronize my Outlook data files or QuickBooks files?

Currently, Cloud Drive cannot sync Outlook (.pst /.ost) or QuickBooks (.qbw) files as these files are continuously being accessed, when Outlook or QuickBooks applications are open. However, you can include these files in the backup set of the desktop application and then back them up to your account.

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Can I sync the files in a mapped/USB/external drive?

No, you cannot sync files or folders from mapped/USB/ external drives.

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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. Sign in with your Username and Password. If you had set a private encryption key while signing in to the application for the first time, then provide the same.
  3. From the 'Restore' tab, select 'Restore files from my IDrive account' / 'Restore files from Local, Wi-Fi or Express device'.
  4. Select the file(s)/folder(s) to restore and choose the desired 'Restore location'.
  5. Click 'Restore Now'.

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How is 'Restore to original location' different from usual file restore?

The usual file restore lets you download files to a location, selected by you; whereas restoring files to original location downloads the selected files, keeping their folder structure intact. This means each file is restored to a similar location on your computer, as it appears in your cloud backup or local backup.

For example: if you choose to restore the file '/John-PC/D/Examples/ABC.txt' to its original location, the 'ABC.txt' file will be downloaded to a folder called 'Examples' in the 'D' drive of your computer.

Note: Data backed up from mapped drives and external drives cannot be restored using the 'Restore to original location' option.

To restore files to their original location, go to the Restore tab, select the 'Restore to original location' checkbox and on the pop-up that appears, click 'Restore'. Subsequently, to revert to file restore to a location selected by you, clear the checkbox, set your preferred 'Restore location', and click 'Restore Now'.

Note: Restoring to original location overwrites the existing files with the latest file version available in your cloud backup or local backup.

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Can I restore files backed up from external drives or mapped drives using the 'Restore to original location' option?

No, you cannot restore the files that have been backed up from mapped drives or external drives using the 'Restore to original location' option. To restore such files, on the 'Restore' tab you must clear the 'Restore to original location' check box and restore the files to your preferred location.

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Can I use drag-and-drop to restore files from the IDrive application?

Yes. From the 'Restore' tab, select 'Restore files from my IDrive account' / 'Restore files from Local, Wi-Fi or Express device'. Drag the file or folder you wish to restore and drop it to the desired location on your computer.

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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, and for accounts created prior to 11-07-2018 you can restore up to 10 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.

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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 for your desired file version.

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How do I restore the latest version of a file?

From the 'Restore' tab select 'Restore files from my IDrive account' / 'Restore files from Local, Wi-Fi or Express device'. The latest files that are backed up are listed there.

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

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Does IDrive support folder-wise restore of files with earlier versions? *

Yes, to restore a folder with earlier versions of files, you can right click on the required folder and choose 'Restore Versions' menu, under which you have the following menu options:

  • Most Recent - Use this option to restore all the latest versions of files in the folder.
    Example: If a folder has 5 files, all the 5 files will be restored in its latest versions available.
  • 2nd Most Recent - Use this option to restore files prior to the last backed up version.
    Example: If a file in the folder has 3 different versions, this feature will restore only the version prior to the last backed up, i.e., file version 2.
  • 3rd Most Recent - Use this option to restore third last version of a file in a folder.
    Example: If a file in the folder has 3 different versions, this feature will only restore file version 1.
  • More - Provides an option to restore from fourth to tenth most recent version of files in a folder.

Read Note

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How do I delete data from my account?

From the 'Restore' tab select 'Restore files from my IDrive account' / 'Restore files from Local, Wi-Fi or Express device'. The latest files that are backed up are listed there.

Select the desired file(s)/folder(s) to delete and click .

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

To restore data backed up to multiple computers:

  1. Sign in to your IDrive account with your Username and Password.
  2. From the 'Restore' tab, select 'Restore files from my IDrive account' / 'Restore files from Local, Wi-Fi or Express device'.
  3. Select the computer(s) name that you wish to restore. A list of file(s)/folder(s) backed up from the computer is displayed.
  4. Select the file(s)/folder(s) which you wish to restore.
  5. Choose your desired destination on the local computer and click 'Restore Now'.

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How do I restore my backed up data from the IDrive One device?

To restore your file(s)/folder(s),

  1. Sign in to the IDrive application with your Username and Password.
  2. Connect to the IDrive One device.
  3. Click the 'Restore' tab.
  4. From the 'Select files/folders for restore' drop-down menu, select the IDrive One device.
  5. Select the files you want to restore and click 'Restore Now'.

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Can I search and restore a particular file from my IDrive account?

Yes, you can search and restore specific files from your IDrive account.

To search and restore files,

  1. Type the filename or a related string in the Search field and press 'Enter'.
  2. From the Search results, select the desired file and click .

You can also delete and share the files/folder that appear in the Search results.


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I can see a 'Snapshots' button on the Restore tab menu. What is it?

Certain accounts may see the feature 'snapshots' in the application. Snapshots are a historical view of your data, stored in your IDrive account, which allow you to perform point-in-time recovery. They are useful in case your files are corrupted by malware and you want to restore a previous version of the files.

To perform snapshot based restore,

  1. Go to the 'Restore' tab and click 'Snapshots'.
  2. Select the date and time and click 'Submit'. A list of all the data backed up on or before the selected date appears.
  3. Select the required files/folders and click 'Restore Now'.

Read Note

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What is Archive Cleanup?

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

To run Archive Cleanup,

  1. Navigate to 'Settings' > 'Archive Cleanup'.
  2. Click on the 'Cleanup Now' button. IDrive will generate a list of the items to be deleted from your account.

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

Note:
  • Archive Cleanup permanently deletes data that no longer exists on your computer to free up space in your account.
  • You can regulate the percentage according to your preference. The percentage mentioned here refers to files considered for deletion in your account as a percentage of the total number of files. The purpose of this percentage-based control is to avoid the large-scale deletion of files in your account due to some unforeseen event on your computer. For most aggressive cleanup, set the percentage to 100%.
  • Archive Cleanup is not supported for mapped and USB drives.
  • Users will need to delete empty folders manually in order to remove them from the account.
  • Archive Cleanup is not supported for entire machine backup data sets.

What is Periodic Cleanup?

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

Periodic Cleanup lets you set the frequency as well as the percentage of files to be considered. The frequency can be set to anything between 10 and 30 days; percentage to anything between 5% and 25%. Periodic cleanup helps in sustained control of the amount of data stored in your account over a period of time.

To enable Periodic Cleanup,

  1. Navigate to 'Settings' > 'Archive Cleanup'.
  2. Select 'Periodic Cleanup' by turning on the toggle switch.
  3. Set the number of days and percentage of data to be considered for cleanup.

Note:
  • Periodic Cleanup may result in the 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 the total number of files. The purpose of this percentage based control is to avoid the large deletion of files in your account due to some unforeseen event on your computer.
  • Periodic Cleanup is not supported for mapped and USB drives.

I received an email warning about exceeding the quota limit. How do I adjust my account storage usage to be below the limit?

IDrive allows for usage beyond the allocated quota to ensure that the backups continue to operate successfully.

For usage beyond the limit, IDrive sends you periodic email warnings about the excess usage beyond the quota. You can upgrade your account to a plan with more storage or do the following to bring the storage usage within the quota limits.

  1. Archive Cleanup
    Run an Archive Cleanup operation from the Settings tab in your IDrive desktop application. This may help in immediately bringing down the usage, especially if you have removed a substantial amount of data from your computer and you want that reflected in your account. Set the cleanup percentage to 100% for maximum impact.
  2. Periodic Cleanup
    Schedule a periodic cleanup from the Settings tab in the desktop application. However, note that the changes may not be effective immediately as the removal of data takes place at a later date based on the selected options, and there are limits imposed to avoid excessive deletion.
  3. Delete Files
    Remove file(s)/folder(s) from your account via the desktop application. Go to the 'Restore' tab, choose the file(s)/folder(s) and click . You need to update the backup set after deleting the files so that no fresh backup takes place for those deleted files.

How do I restore the data backed up on a local, Wi-Fi, or Express device?

To restore data from a local, Wi-Fi orExpress device,

  1. Sign in to the IDrive application with your 'Username' and 'Password'.
  2. From the 'Restore' tab and select the 'Restore files from Local, Wi-Fi or Express device' radio button.
  3. Select the location of your local, Wi-Fi, or Express device.

    You will be able to see all the files/folders backed up to the local backup destination.
  4. Select the file(s)/folder(s) to restore and choose the desired 'Restore location'.


  5. Click 'Restore Now'.

After upgrading my OS to Windows 10, I am getting an error message that says IDrive backup engine has stopped. What should I do?

If the IDrive backup engine on your computer stops, you must restart it to be able to proceed with your backups and restores.

Steps to restart the backup engine,

  1. Type 'services.msc' in the Run dialog box.
  2. Locate 'IDriveService'.
  3. Right-click it and select 'Start'.

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Does IDrive remove my account files when they are deleted from my computer?

No, your files will remain in your IDrive account forever, once they are backed up.

This means even if you accidentally delete files from your computer, they are not removed from IDrive servers; unless you delete them manually, or through the automated Archive Cleanup process.

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I deleted files from my IDrive account. Is it possible to restore the files/folder 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. In case of legacy IDrive accounts, the files/folders are removed from the Trash after a 10 day period.

To restore/move your files from Trash,

  1. Click the 'View Trash' button. The files/folders available in Trash are listed with the latest version.
  2. Choose the files you want to restore and click Idrive to move the files/folders to the original location in your IDrive account.
  3. Click to restore your files/folders to the desired location in your local computer.
  4. Click to permanently remove the deleted files.

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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'.

Read Note

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

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

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Can I halt my backups at a particular time?

Yes. To enable this option go to 'Scheduler' tab > select 'Backup set name' (Default Backupset / LocalBackupset) > 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.

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

IDrive has been tested to upload and restore files up to 10 GB in size via the desktop application. Web-based uploads to the cloud and sync storage are supported up to 2 GB.

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

Clicking on the 'View Logs' button on the top-right corner of the IDrive main window, allows you to view all the backup/restore activities in your account.

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

Yes, you can share file(s) / folder(s) stored on your IDrive account with friends and associates.

To share file(s) / folder(s),

  1. From the 'Restore' tab, select 'Restore files from my IDrive account' / 'Restore files from Local, Wi-Fi or Express device'.
  2. Select the file(s) / folder(s) and click IDrive. Alternatively, right-click on the files / folders you wish to share and select 'Share' from the drop-down.

  3. You will be redirected to your web account, and the 'Share' popup appears.

  4. Click 'Advanced Settings' to define the following parameters:
    • Set a password - You can set a password for accessing the link.
    • No. of Downloads - You can specify a limit for the number of downloads. The maximum limit is 25.
    • No. of Days - You can specify the duration for which the link remains active. The maximum duration is 30 days.
  5. Click 'Create share link'.

  6. Click 'Copy link' to copy the link to clipboard. Share the link with the intended recipients.

A share link will be created and you can access it from the 'Shared' tab.

Note: Share feature is limited to IDrive accounts with default encryption key.

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I need a walkthrough of the IDrive desktop application interface.

The IDrive desktop application interface can be split into three sections - application header, navigation pane, and main window.

Application header

The application header comprises the search, account quota information, Upgrade button, Archive Cleanup, and your Username linked to access—Online Help, Proxy Settings, Send Error Report, Bandwidth Test, and Account Settings.

Navigation pane

The navigation pane comprises six functional tabs:

  • Backup - View and select file(s) and folder(s) to back up to your IDrive account.
  • Restore - Displays all backed up file(s) and folder(s), allowing you to restore, share, search file(s)/folder(s).
  • Scheduler – Schedule your backups
  • Sync - Sync your files and folders in real time across all the linked devices.
  • Server Backup - Backup all your databases and servers.
  • Settings - Configure your IDrive account settings.

Main Window

The main window displays contents related to the functional tab, selected on the navigation pane.

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Does IDrive support localization?

Yes. Currently, the IDrive application and website supports four languages - English, Spanish, French, and German.

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How should I avoid backing up a file?

To stop a file from being backed up, you can insert files/folders from 'View Exclude Files' window. This method of exclusion keeps the contents of your backup set unchanged.

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I have backed up certain folders (containing multimedia, etc.) which are not going to change. Can I remove them from my backup set, presuming that the backed up data wouldn't be affected?

After you have backed up files that you will not update, you can remove them from your Backup set. All files, once backed up, remains unaffected in your IDrive account even if you remove their reference from your backup set.

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In my backed up files, I see a numbers of files called 'desktop.ini'. Do I actually need these?

The 'desktop.ini' file is a hidden file used to customize the settings of the Windows folders that contain the file.

If you wish to avoid backing up these files,

  1. From the Settings tab select 'files/folders with partial names' option.
  2. Right-click anywhere in the list and select 'Insert partial file name'.
  3. Enter the partial file / folder name you want to exclude from backup and click 'Save Settings' to exclude the files from being backed up.

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I have included files from a CD and DVD in my backup set. After I back them up, can I run subsequent backups without inserting the CD and DVD while my backup set still refers it?

Yes. The absence of the CD/DVD, referenced in your backup set, will not hinder your regular backup activity. However, files from CD/DVD shall not be backed up.

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What are the options available in IDrive Tray?

On installation IDrive creates an IDrive Tray icon on your system tray.

Right-clicking the IDrive Tray icon provides access to the following options:

Menu Options

  • Upgrade Storage: You can upgrade your account to a higher plan.
  • Start IDrive: Start the IDrive desktop application.
  • Access IDrive Web: Sign in to your IDrive web account.
  • Check for Latest Version: This option gives you updates of the latest version of IDrive application.
  • Proxy Settings: Configure the proxy settings to use the IDrive application.
  • Settings: Configure your IDrive account settings.
  • Status: Displays the latest status of all schedule backup operations.
  • Show progress: You can view the progress of the scheduled backup job.
  • Scheduler: Manage your backup operations from the IDrive Tray.
    • Manage all the scheduled jobs: Manage your scheduled backup jobs and view the scheduled backup job details.
    • Pause the scheduled backup: You can pause your scheduled backup.
    • Stop the scheduled backup: You can stop your scheduled backup.
    • Disable all the scheduled jobs: You can disable/enable all scheduled backup jobs.
    • Disable Web Access: Disable the web access.
    • Sync: Access the Sync options.
      • My Sync folder: Access files in the Sync folder.
      • Pause: Pause a sync operation.
      • Recently modified files: View files that have been recently modified.
      • Disable sync: You can disable data synchronization.
    • View Logs: Check the activity log reports of your operations.
    • Send Error Report: Contact IDrive support team for queries, suggestions or feedback.
    • Online Help: Provides all information on the IDrive application.
    • Quit IDrive Tray: Closes IDrive Tray.

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I am receiving a backup notification stating as 'Success' even though the log details contains 'permission denied' error on files and folders. Why?

If the backup set includes any permission denied files/folders, IDrive assumes that it has been added by you, and will backup all the files/folders except for the denied files/folders. However, IDrive considers the backup operation as success and lists 'Permission denied' information in the logs, for the denied files/folders.

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If I overwrite the IDrive application with the latest version, will the application retain the on-going backups and restores?

When you overwrite the IDrive application with a newer version, the on-going backup and restore operations will get canceled. Ensure there are no on-going operations before installing the latest version of the application.

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How do I uninstall the IDrive app from my computer?

To uninstall the app using Windows:

  1. Go to your start menu and select Settings > Control Panel
  2. In 'Control Panel', depending on the version of Windows you are using, select either 'Add/Remove Programs' or 'Programs and Features'
  3. From the list of programs, right-click on 'IDrive' and select 'Uninstall/Change'
  4. The application will then be removed, but the data present in your IDrive folder will remain on the computer. To delete this, right-click the IDrive shortcut item and select 'Open folder location'. Then right-click the IDrive folder and delete it.

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The backup stops when my external USB drive goes off to sleep. How do I resolve this?

If the external hard disk goes off to sleep, it may interrupt or stop your backup process. To ensure smooth backup, turn off the power saving option for USB hubs.

To turn off power saving,

  1. Go to Control Panel > 'Power Options'.
  2. Click 'Change Plan Settings' on your current 'Preferred plan'.
  3. Click 'Change advanced power settings'.
  4. Expand the 'USB Settings' option and choose 'Disable' for 'USB selective suspend setting'.


  5. Click OK.

Alternatively,

  1. Go to Control Panel > 'Device Manager'.
  2. Expand the 'Universal Serial Bus controllers' option.
  3. Right-click USB Root Hub, and choose 'Properties'.


  4. Click the Power Management tab, and clear the 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' checkbox.


  5. Click OK.

Note: Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 for all USB Root Hubs listed.

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What is two-factor authentication?

The two-factor authentication provides additional security to your account and helps in preventing unauthorized access. Once two-factor authentication is enabled via web, in addition to your password, you will need to enter a verification code sent to your email address or phone number or Time-based OTP authenticator app, while signing in to your IDrive account. Read more on how to enable two-factor authentication for your IDrive account.

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How do I sign in to my IDrive account once two-factor authentication is enabled?

To sign in to your IDrive account after two-factor authentication is enabled,

  1. On the IDrive application sign in screen, enter your username and password and click 'Sign in'.

    IDrive for Windows

  2. If you have selected Email address or Phone number as the preferred method of receiving one-time verification code, enter the same and click 'Verify'.
    Note: You can also add your computer as a trusted device by selecting the 'Trust this computer' checkbox. Once a computer is added as a trusted device, users will not be asked to enter verification code during any subsequent sign in.

    IDrive for Windows

  3. If you have selected Time-based OTP Authentication as the preferred method of receiving one-time verification code, enter the one-time code generated by the Time-based OTP Authenticator app in your mobile device and click 'Submit Code'.

    IDrive for Windows

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* Note: For some accounts, certain functions like folder-level versioning, version restore from Trash, adopting backup archive and settings from a device, and Snapshots are not available.

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Source: https://www.idrive.com/online-backup-classic-faq