Backup FAQs
How does the backup tool work?
How do I know my data will be secure during transfer?
Are my backups backed-up from your site?
How is data transferred to my SwapDrive account when I use the backup tool?
How long will my data remain in my remote Backup account?
What platforms are compatible with SwapDrive Backup?
How do I download SwapDrive Backup?
How do I install SwapDrive Backup?
How do I uninstall SwapDrive Backup?
Will I have to restart my computer after installing SwapDrive Backup?
The installation program freezes. Why?
Can I install SwapDrive Backup on multiple computers?
Should I backup/mirror my entire hard drive?
What is an incremental backup?
What is the advantage of choosing "incremental backups"?
Can I compress the files and folders I backup?
When will my backups occur if I select “3x Daily”?
What happens to my backup schedule when I select “Save and Backup Now”?
How do I add a SwapDrive Backup shortcut to my Start menu?
Does my computer need to be on and connected to the Internet in order to backup?
How do I change my SwapDrive account password?
How can I change my backup settings?
How can I backup now, without waiting for my next scheduled event?
How can I find out when my next backup is scheduled?
How can I find out when my last backup took place?
How can I monitor the progress of a current backup?
How can I cancel a backup in progress?
What will happen if my computer is off or not connected to the Internet during a scheduled backup?
What happens when I run a backup after canceling the previous one?
What happens if I try to backup more files than I have room for in my online storage account?
How can I restore a deleted SwapDrive Backup icon to my desktop?
Q: What is SwapDrive Backup?
A: Swapdrive Backup is an innovative software product that enables you to automatically backup your critical files to our secure servers, accessible over the Internet. You can select the files on your system that are most important to you and pick multiple times when you would like them to be backed up to your remote storage location in your online account.
Q: How does the backup tool work?
A: The backup tool is a Windows based client that is installed once on the user’s PC to backup critical files. Once the software is installed, the user selects the folders and schedule that they wish to have automatic backups occur. Once the first “full” backup has been performed, the backup tool will check for any new or changed files on the user’s PC and automatically/securely transfers the data to our data centers (incremental backup).
Q: How do I know my data will be secure during transfer?
A: All accounts require usernames and passwords before they can be accessed. Your login credentials are stored encrypted in our database so even if someone were to breach all of our formidable security measures, they would only end up with unintelligible characters.
Q: How do I know that the facility where the storage servers are located is safe from power outages and break-ins?
A: We have assembled a world-class team of security experts and a comprehensive set of tools, techniques, and skills that are necessary to protect your data. Our service helps you minimize your online security risk by implementing comprehensive security solutions that enable your business to perform accurate, meaningful, and timely online transactions, while safeguarding both the performance of your operations and the value of your brand. In addition to state-of-the-art firewall technology which protects your data against electronic intrusion, we have selected facilities that protect against physical intrusion. Our data centers are staffed 24x7 by a dedicated security force. Through a combination of restricted access, roving patrols, electronic surveillance, and biometric access technology, your data is 'locked-down' securely in an impenetrable facility. There are redundant sources of electric power so if something happens to the municipal power grid, we can generate our own electricity.
Q: Are my backups backed-up from your site?
A: All of the data stored on our servers is mirrored at two locations as well as backed-up nightly onto tape. We maintain two weeks of backups locally and another four weeks are stored offsite in another secure storage facility.
Q: How is data transferred to my SwapDrive account when I use the backup tool?
A: SwapDrive Backup employs file transfer protocol (FTP) to transfer files between your computer and the remote storage facility. FTP has been in use for many years and is regarded as the most powerful method of transferring large files and large numbers of files.
Q: How long will my data remain in my remote backup account?
A:Your files will remain in your account as long as your account is active. You may delete a file at any time by selecting the file and choosing "Delete".
When you close your account, your login will be disabled and all files that remain in your account will be deleted.
Q: What platforms are compatible with SwapDrive Backup?
A: SwapDrive Backup has been engineered for Windows-based computers that are running Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, or Windows XP operating systems.
Q: How do I download SwapDrive Backup?
A: To download SwapDrive Backup, login to your online account and click on the Download Backup button located on your account's left menu bar.
Q: How do I install SwapDrive Backup?
A: Installing SwapDrive Backup on your system is a simple, two-step process: program file download and account configuration. The first step loads the necessary files into various directories on your computer and the second step configures the program for your specific use.
Save the SwapDrive Backup program to your desktop, double-click on the SwapDrive Backup program icon to launch the installation wizard.
Follow the instructions during the installation process. Choose to launch the program when installation is complete and the Step-by-Step installation wizard will appear and guide you through the process of configuring what and when you backup.
Q: How do I uninstall SwapDrive Backup?
A: To uninstall SwapDrive Backup, click on Start, scroll over to Settings and select Control Panel from the drop-down menu. Double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon and scroll down until you see SwapDrive Backup. Click 'Remove'.
Q: Will I have to restart my computer after installing SwapDrive Backup?
A: It depends. During the installation process, SwapDrive Backup will install numerous files on your system. Most of them are specific to the program, but a few of them are files that are commonly used by the operating system and may have been installed during a previous software installation. If those so-called ‘common files' were not previously on your system, SwapDrive Backup will install them and then prompt you to restart your system to activate the files.
Q: The installation program freezes. Why?
A: Most problems encountered during the installation of SwapDrive Backup are due to a system has insufficient permissions to install new software. In some cases, corporate IT staff will limit the types of programs that users can install themselves. To operate properly, SwapDrive Backup must install a number of files into the Windows directory. However, if the user has not been granted permission to install files into that directory, the installation process may terminate prematurely.
Please contact your network administrator in order to resolve any permissions problems.
Q: Can I install SwapDrive Backup on multiple computers?
A: Absolutely. You are only limited by the amount of space you have in your SwapDrive Backup account. It is important to note that SwapDrive Backup will create a folder in your account labeled backup and will place all of your backed-up folders inside of it. If you use SwapDrive Backup on more than one computer and you backup identically named folders on both computers, the contents will be combined into a single folder in your account. In addition, if you have multiple files with the same name being transferred into your account from different computers, the newer versions will overwrite the older ones.
Q: Should I backup/mirror my entire hard drive?
A: So-called 'mirroring' or replicating your entire hard drive over the Internet isn't really practical yet, especially with hard drives that are growing beyond 100GB in size. Backup only those files you could not afford to lose, rather than your operating system or application files (i.e., Microsoft Word).
Q: What is an incremental backup?
A: Running incremental backup is the preferred method of configuring your SwapDrive Backup tool. During the initial backup, all of the folders you selected for backup will be replicated in your SwapDrive Backup account. Every subsequent backup will update only those files or folders that have been modified since the last backup.
Q: What is the advantage of choosing incremental backups?
A: After selecting incremental your backups will be faster, as only new data will be transferred.
If incremental is not selected all of the folders backed up into your account will be overwritten with identical information, instead of just updated with the newest modifications.
Q: What is compression?
A: Compression is the process by which data is compressed into a form that minimizes the space required to store or transmit it. Compressing a file can reduce its size, but it also means transforming its file type, therefore extracting a compressed file (returning it to its original size and format) usually requires its compression program. The backup tool uses WinZip™ to compress data when the Compress Files option is selected. Any machine to which you download and view compressed files from your account must be running the WinZip™ program, for more information about WinZip™ or to purchase and download the program please visit http://www.winzip.com.
Q: Can I compress the files and folders I backup?
A: Compression is available within the backup tool's Events Setup window. When this option is selected, files will be zipped on your computer before they are sent to your account, the zipped version of the file will then be removed from your local system.
Compressing your files can be of benefit to users who are interested in maximizing their account space, however it can also limit the accessibility of your data as you will have to unzip any folders or files in order to view or restore.
Q: When will my backups occur if I select “3x Daily”?
A: When 3x Daily is selected, the schedule defaults to the time selected, plus 4 hours from the time selected, minus 4 hours from the time selected. This is done in order to maximize the number of incremental backups during regular business hours. For example, if you select the 3x Daily policy and run your fist backup at 12 noon, the next backups will be scheduled for 4pm and 8am the following day.
Q: What happens to my backup schedule when I select “Save and Backup Now”?
A: “Save and Backup Now” will save the your backup policy (data selected, frequency & schedule), and perform a backup immediately. The next backup will then be performed at the next scheduled backup time. For example, if you select a daily backup policy to be performed at 5pm, but you configure your backup at 12 noon and then choose “Save and Backup Now”, your next backup will be scheduled for 5pm the following day.
Q: I deleted backed-up files from my account. The next time I scheduled a backup, it didn't backup the deleted files. Why not?
A: When you backup files using the incremental backup option, your computer looks at each file and checks the status of its archive-bit. If the archive-bit indicates the file hasn't been backed-up yet, it backs-up the file and then flips its archive-bit switch to indicate the file has been backed up. When you modify a previously backed-up file, your computer will automatically flip the archive-bit so that it will be backed up the next time an event is scheduled. Therefore when backed up files are deleted from SwapDrive Backup, your computer will not detect that the files are no longer available online, because their archive-bit has been flipped.
In order to restore all folders into your account, uncheck the Perform Incremental Backups option from the Events Setup (accessible when you right-click the SwapDrive Backup icon). SwapDrive Backup will ignore the archive-bit and backup everything. Depending upon the size and number of files that are in the folders you are backing up, it could take a while to back up everything again. After a successful backed-up the files in question, you can go back into the Events Setup screen and re-check the incremental backup option.
In order to restore a single folder please follow the directions below
For Windows 2000 or XP
1. Right-click on the folder containing the files you want to backup and scroll down to the 'properties' option.
2. Select General, click on Advanced and check the box next to Folder is ready for archiving option. Click Ok and Apply. When asked if you want the changes to apply the folder only or to the folder, subfolders, and all files - choose the option that will apply the changes to the files. The next backup will restore the files.
Q: How do I add a SwapDrive Backup shortcut to my Start menu?
A: Find SwapDrive Backup icon on your desktop. Drag and drop it on the Start button. The next time you open the Start menu you will see the SwapDrive Backup shortcut.
Q: Does my computer need to be on and connected to the Internet in order to backup?
A: Yes. SwapDrive Backup transfers data from your computer to your SwapDrive Backup account over the Internet, your connection must be live and your computer must be on for the transfer to be successful.
Q: How do I change my SwapDrive Backup account password?
A: To change your password, you must login to your online account and select Personal Settings. Enter your new password, and press Save. The next time you login you will have to use your new access information.
Q: How can I change my SwapDrive Backup settings?
A: Right click the SwapDrive Backup icon either on your desktop or in your service tray (located in the lower right hand corner of your screen). Select Events Setup from the pop-up menu. Update your settings and choose Save or Save and Start Backup Now.
Q: How can I backup now, without waiting for my next scheduled event?
A: Right click the SwapDrive Backup icon in your computer system tray (IS) and choose Backup Now.
Q: How can I find out when my next backup is scheduled?
A: Move your cursor over the SwapDrive Backup icon in your system tray and you will see a small status box indicating when the next backup is scheduled.
Q: How can I find out when my last backup took place?
A: Right click on the tray icon and select Event Status to view a window displaying when the last backup occurred, how many bytes were transferred, and when the next backup is scheduled.
Q: How can I monitor the progress of a current backup?
A: Right clicking the SwapDrive Backup icon in the service tray and selecting Events Status from the pop-up window while a backup is underway will display this window:
1 - This bar indicates the progress of the current file being transferred.
2 - This bar indicates how much of the total data has been transferred during the current backup and an estimate of the time remaining until all files have been transferred.
Transfer rates often fluctuate during a lengthy file transfer and are influenced by factors outside of your control such as increases and decreases of network traffic and usage of the Internet in general. Thus, it isn't unusual to see estimated completion times listed in this window expand and decrease significantly throughout a backup.
3 - Selecting "Stop after this file completes" will end the current backup process after the transfer in process is complete. Your backups will complete at the next scheduled backup time, or when you select Backup Now.
4 - Checking "Hide this box" will hide this dialogue box during backups. If it remains unchecked this window will appear in the corner of your screen when backups begin.
Q: How can I cancel a backup in progress?
A: Right click the SwapDrive Backup icon in your computer's service tray and select Exit/Cancel Backup. The current backup will be aborted immediately and no further data will be transferred during the terminated backup.
You may also select the Stop after this file completes box within the Events Status screen and the backup will end after the file being transferred currently is completed.
In both cases your backups will resume at the next scheduled backup date or the next time you select Backup Now.
Q: What will happen if my computer is off or not connected to the Internet during a scheduled backup?
A: You will be prompted to begin the backup the next time you computer is on and connected the Internet.
Q: What happens when I run a backup after canceling the previous one?
A: The files that were backed up before you cancelled the program will remain on SwapDrive Backup. They will not be backed up again unless they have been modified. The files that were not backed-up prior to shutting the program down will be backed up at the next scheduled backup.
Q: What happens if I try to backup more files than I have room for in my online storage account?
A: SwapDrive Backup will notify you through a pop-up error message as soon as the discrepancy is detected. You may then login to your SwapDrive Backup account and make room for the data you would like backup, or contact your account administrator and have your account enlarged.
Q: How can I restore a deleted SwapDrive Backup icon to my desktop?
A: Choose Programs from the Start menu, scroll down to the SwapDrive Backup program. Drag and drop the icon on to your desktop. The icon will be restored.
Q: How do I restore backed up files onto my computer?
A: Login to your online SwapDrive Backup account. You will see a folder labeled backup. All of your backed up data is stored in this folder. If you are viewing your account through the Light Interface you can double click on the file name and it will begin to download. If you are viewing the account in the Drag and Drop Interface you may drag and drop your files and folders onto your computer. You may also right click the files and folders you would like to download and choose Get from the drop-down menu.
Q: What is the Activity Log?
A: The backup tool's Activity Log, which is accessed by right-clicking the icon in your system tray and selecting Activity Log, is a record of all the backup tool's activity. You may be asked to submit your Activity Log during the support process.