avast! BackUp: FAQ - Configuration

avast! BackUp FAQ - Configuration

• How do I upgrade to the latest version of avast! BackUp?
  
  
• How do I change my password?
  
  
• How do I change the e-mail address associated with my account?
  
  
• Can I use avast! BackUp if I am behind an HTTPS proxy?
  
  
• Using Proxy Servers
  
  
• What happens if I delete a file marked for backup?
  
  
• What happens if I delete a file accidentally?
  
  
• What do the symbol overlays on my file icons mean?
  
  
• How do I remove the green check marks appearing on my data files?
  
  
• How do I change the credit card on my avast! BackUp account?
  
  
• Can I view or edit my files on the avast! BackUp servers?
  
  
• Why can't I find my Program Files or Windows folders in my avast! BackUp Configuration?
  
  
• Why are green check marks appearing on my file and folder icons?
  
  
• Can I uninstall and reinstall avast! BackUp without affecting the backup sets I already have?
  
  
• How do I change my account user name?
  
  
• I registered, but I never got a confirmation e-mail. Why?
  
  
• How do I replace my computer with a new one?
  

• Related FAQ's
  
  
  
  

How do I upgrade to the latest version of avast! BackUp?

1. Click the following link or cut and paste it into your browser:
   
   
   • http://files.avast.com/files/backup/avast_backup_setup.exe
     
     
2. Save the file to your computer.
   
   
3. Once it has downloaded, double-click the file and follow the instructions.
   
   
   

How do I change my password?

You can change your password yourself, or reset a forgotten password. You will also need to enter your new password in the avast! BackUp software, ensuring the passwords match so that you can continue backing up your files.

To change your password:

1. In your browser's address bar, type:
   
   
   • https://admin.backup.avast.com/login
     
     
   ...and then press Enter.
   
   
2. Click 'Forgot your password'.
   
   
3. Enter your e-mail address, then click 'Reset Password'.
   
   
4. Click 'Continue'.
   
   An e-mail is sent to the listed e-mail address with a link to reset your password.
   
   
5. Click the link in the e-mail.
   
   
6. Enter your new password.
   
   Your password must contain at least 8 characters.
   
   
7. Click 'Continue'.
   
   Your password has been changed in your online account; however, you must enter your new password in avast! BackUp as well.
   
   
8. Right-click the avast! BackUp icon in the system tray, select 'Settings', then click 'More Settings'.
   
   
9. When prompted for your password, type your new password in the appropriate field, then click 'Login'.
   
   

Your forgotten password is changed, ensuring you can continue backing up your files.

How do I change the e-mail address associated with my account?

1. Log in to your avast! BackUp account:
   
   
   • https://admin.backup.avast.com/login
     
     
2. Click 'My Profile'.
   
   
3. Next to your e-mail address, click 'Change'.
   
   
4. Enter your new e-mail address and password, then click 'Submit'.
   
   
5. Once you have changed your e-mail address, you also need to change it in the client:
   
   
   1. Right-click the avast! BackUp icon in the system tray, then click 'Settings'.
      
      
   2. When prompted for your e-mail address, type your it in the appropriate field.
      
      
   3. Click 'Login'.
      
      
      

Can I use avast! BackUp if I am behind an HTTPS proxy?

Yes! avast! BackUp needs direct outbound access through SSL port 443, or an HTTPS proxy server that will allow connections through it to public servers on SSL port 443. That's just a fancy way of saying that as long as your Internet Service Provider lets us through, we can back up your data even through an HTTPS proxy. If you are having trouble, we suggest contacting your Internet Service Provider to make sure your settings are configured properly to let us in.

For additional information on how to set your proxy configuration, see:

• Using Proxy Servers
  
  
  

Using Proxy Servers

If your computer uses a proxy server, you can choose if you want avast! BackUp to use the server during backups. By default, proxy servers are not used and the 'Do not use a proxy to connect to servers' option is selected.

1. Right-click the avast! BackUp icon in your system tray, then select 'Settings'.
   
   
2. Click 'More Settings', then click 'Options'.
   
   
3. Click 'Advanced', then click 'Setup Proxy'.
   
   
   Figure I.
   
   
4. To use a proxy server, select one of the following:
   
   
   • Use this proxy server:
     Enter the proxy server you want avast! BackUp to use.
     
     
   • Use this computer's default proxy server
     avast! BackUp uses the default proxy server configured for this computer.
     
     
   • Automatically detect proxy settings
     avast! BackUp configures the proxy server based on your local network proxy settings.
     
     
   • Use automatic configuration script:
     avast! BackUp uses the specified script to activate the proxy service. Enter the URL where the script is located.
     
     
   • Import Windows Proxy Settings
     avast! BackUp automatically copies your existing Windows proxy settings at the time you select it. It does not continually monitor your Windows proxy settings for modifications. If your proxy settings change, you need to reimport your settings again using the Proxy Configuration window.
     
     
5. Select a Proxy authentication option:
   
   
   • My proxy server does not require authentication
     No authentication is used.
     
     
   • My proxy server authenticates my computer via the domain
     Uses your domain for authentication.
     
     
   • My proxy requires a user name and password:
     Specify the user name, password, and domain (optional) for the proxy server.
     
     
6. Click 'OK' to save your settings.
   
   
7. When you have finished changing this setting or other settings, click 'OK'. Your settings are saved and the Settings window closes.
   
   
   

What happens if I delete a file marked for backup?

If you delete a document and then run a backup, avast! BackUp assumes that you no longer need a backup copy of that document and marks the file to be removed. (We keep it for 30 days, just in case you change your mind.) After 30 days, the file is deleted from our servers and you are no longer able to get it back.

You cannot delete files from the avast! BackUp servers; however, once a file is marked for deletion it is removed in 30 days and no longer counts against your storage space.

What happens if I delete a file accidentally?

When you delete or deselect a file it is removed from your backup configuration and marked for deletion on the avast! BackUp servers. avast! BackUp keeps a copy of that file in older backup sets just in case the deletion was accidental. Those older backup sets are kept for 30 days and then deleted.

To restore a file you have accidentally deleted, go to one of these older backup sets, before you deleted the file. Restore the file from here and include it in future backup sets.

What do the symbol overlays on my file icons mean?

   The green check mark means the file is currently backed up on our servers.

   The yellow circle with an up arrow means that it is a file that has been previously backed up, but has been changed or modified and will be backed up again when the next backup runs.

   The red exclamation point means it is not backed up on our servers but will be when the next backup runs.

For information on turning these symbols on or off, see:

• How do I add or remove the upload status icons appearing on my data files?
  
  
  

How do I add or remove the upload status icons appearing on my data files?

1. Right-click the avast! BackUp icon in your system tray, then select 'Settings'.
   
   
2. Click 'Options', then click the 'General' tab.
   
   
3. To hide or show the icons, select or deselect 'Show backup status icon on files', then click 'OK'.
   
   
4. Restart your computer for the change to take effect.
   
   
   

How do I change the credit card on my avast! BackUp account?

1. Log in to your avast! BackUp account:
   
   
   • https://admin.backup.avast.com/login
     
     
2. Click 'Change Credit Card' in the left-hand navigation under 'Resources'.
   
   
3. Enter your credit card details, then click 'Submit'.
   
   
   

Can I view or edit my files on the avast! BackUp servers?

No, your files are encrypted and secure on our servers. You must restore and download your files to your computer in order to view or edit them.

Why can't I find my Program Files or Windows folders in my avast! BackUp Configuration?

To help users make better decisions in what they back up, we've hidden these files and folders. We do not recommend backing up your Program Files or Windows folders. However, you can make them show up by opening your avast! BackUp Configuration. Select the Options tab, then select the 'Advanced' tab. Check 'Show all protected operating system files'. You will then be able to select and back up files and folders from your strong>Program Files and Windows folders.

avast! BackUp is a data backup service only, and does not reinstall Windows or your applications. Keep track of your installation downloads, CDs and other media for Windows and your other programs. avast! BackUp does back up installation downloads.

Why are green check marks or other symbols appearing on my file and folder icons?

This lets you know that your files are successfully being backed up.

   The green check mark means the file is currently backed up on our servers.

   The yellow circle with an up arrow means that it is a file that has been previously backed up, but has been changed or modified and will be backed up again when the next backup runs.

   The red exclamation point means it is not backed up on our servers but will be when the next backup runs.

Note:
Files you have not selected for a backup will not show any icon.

If you recently replaced your machine, your files need to be synchronized with your previous backups. Your files should have a red exclamation points on them until you complete a full backup with the new machine.
For information see:

• How do I add or remove the upload status icons appearing on my data files?
  
  
  

Can I uninstall and reinstall avast! BackUp without affecting the backup sets I already have?

1. Before you uninstall, go to:
   
    C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\BackUp\Config 
   
   ...then copy the conf.dat file to a safe place, such as your Windows Desktop or a USB drive.
   
   
2. After you reinstall and configure avast! BackUp, put your conf.dat file back in the same location.
   
   If you have already uninstalled and reinstalled, then you must reselect the same files and folders as you had before.
   
   

Note:
You should contact support via avast! Support Center before you un-install and re-install avast! BackUp, or if you are having trouble.

How do I change my account user name?

You can change it by logging into your avast! BackUp account:

• https://admin.backup.avast.com/login
  
  

Then click the 'My Profile' link on the left. It shows your current user name (e-mail address) with a change link beside it. Click that link to change your account user name.

For information see:

• How do I change the e-mail address associated with my account?
  
  
  

I registered, but I never got a confirmation e-mail. Why?

First, check your junk mail folder. Sometimes the confirmation message gets lost there. If you can't find it there, then simply re-register using the same username and password, and another e-mail will be sent to you.

How do I replace my computer with a new one?

In the event of disaster or data loss, you can use avast! BackUp to easily restore your backup to another computer. You can also migrate your backup from one computer to another, as well as transfer files from an old computer to a new computer. To switch to a new computer using your avast! BackUp account, you must replace your existing computer.

Note:
Once you change computers on your existing account, you will no longer be able to perform backups on the replaced computer, but you will still be able to restore files from that computer for a period of 30 days.

To replace a computer:

1. Download and start installing the latest version of avast! BackUp on the replacement computer.
   
   
2. When prompted during the install, log in to avast! BackUp using your e-mail and password. avast! BackUp automatically recognizes that you are using a different computer and starts the Replace Machine wizard.
   
   
   Figure II.
   
   
3. Enter your password, then click 'Next'.
   
   
4. A dialog appears asking you to confirm the replacement. Click 'Yes' to proceed with the replacement.
   
   
   Figure II.
   
   The Setup Wizard continues with setting up your computer.
   
   
   

Related FAQ's

• avast! BackUp: FAQ - General
  
  
• avast! BackUp: FAQ - Backing up
  
  
• avast! BackUp: FAQ - Restoring
  
  
• avast! BackUp: FAQ - Performance
  
  
  

Conditions

avast! BackUp

Operating systems:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise / Ultimate
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic / Home Premium / Business / Enterprise / Ultimate
Microsoft Windows XP Home / Professional / Media Center Edition
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional