One of the benefits of Cucku Backup Pro is that with one purchase you can have up to three installs. This could be installs on different computers, or different accounts on the same computer.
It's possible that you could use all three installs. Maybe you're setting up a really big backup network, or maybe you used Cucku Backup Pro on an old computer and now want to install on a new one.
To manage your licenses sign in to your Cucku Account (click images below for a larger view):
The first option is to buy an additional license pack. You can purchase licenses in packs of three - just click the Buy more Pro Licenses link.
If you just need to move licenses between installs click the Manage Licenses link:
You see two lists of the places where you have Cucku Backup installed. The lists include the name of the computer, the version of Cucku and the number of partners. Click Downgrade to switch an install to Cucku Backup Free and Upgrade to switch to Cucku Backup Pro.
Note that when you downgrade from Pro to Free all but one backup partner will be disabled and you'll lose access to other Pro features on that install. Typically you'll only want to downgrade an old install that you're not using any more.
For more help see Managing Licenses in the User Guide or send us email.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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From v2.0 Cucku Backup can now connect to the Internet via a proxy server. If an attempt to connect fails you'll see the Internet Connection Failed window. You'll also see this if your firewall or Internet security software is blocking access (this is likely to happen the first time you install Cucku, or after upgrading to a later version).
Click Proxy Settings to expand the window:
You can now enter your proxy server host (or IP address) and port. If your proxy server requires credentials then you can enter your username and password as well.
If you need to change your proxy server settings you can also access them in Settings -> Advanced -> Connection. You'll also be prompted with the Internet Connection Failed the next time Cucku needs to access the Internet.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Tuesday, July 14, 2009
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The default settings in Cucku Backup are designed to balance protection and performance. You can tune these settings to get the right mix for your needs.
The first thing to look at is the Backup Schedule:
The default is to backup your computer every day when the computer is idle. After the local backup completes Cucku will send new and changed files to each of your backup partners. You can change the schedule to run a local backup weekly rather than daily which will reduce the load of both local and remote backup.
With Don't backup while I'm using my computer checked Cucku will wait until your computer has been idle for ten minutes before starting a local backup. If you start using your computer again while the local backup is running Cucku will automatically pause the backup until the computer is idle again (you can change the ten minute idle timeout in Advanced -> Performance).
By default Cucku will run remote backup while you're using your computer. It will also accept backup connection from your partners. You can change this in Partner Settings - check Don't send or receive files while I'm using my computer and remote backup will behave the same way as the local backup default.
If you need even more control then you can decide when to run Cucku, or even run a command line backup.
In Advanced -> Performance uncheck Run Cucku Backup at startup to prevent Cucku from running when you log in to Windows. We really don't recommend this as you need to remember to run Cucku manually and your partners can't connect when Cucku isn't running.
If you don't want Cucku running all the time then a better option is to schedule the command line version of Cucku to run daily, weekly or on whatever schedule works best for you. The command line is capable of running local, remote and partner backups.
Is there anything else we should be doing to help you get the right balance between protection and performance?
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Thursday, June 25, 2009
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With your files safely backed up offsite you might wonder if local backup is about to become extinct. A few Cucku Backup customers have event asked us to provide an option to have remote backup without local backup - in some cases because of low disk space and in others because they lack an external hard drive.
Most online backup companies work this way. You wait weeks or months while your backup trickles into the cloud and then hope that your provider doesn't go bust or lose your data.
We believe in a belt and braces approach. A full local backup protects you from everyday data loss and a remote backup is there in case of a true disaster. Right now you can pick up a 500GB external drive for less than $100. Add Cucku Backup, free for a single backup partner and you're fully covered.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Thursday, June 18, 2009
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A common backup frustration is realizing that your backup drive is full and then discovering that to free up some space you need to start your backup again from scratch.
Cucku Backup 2.0 now includes the Remove Files Wizard. This makes it easy to save space by purging unwanted files from both your local and remote backups. Of course you could always buy a larger external drive and then move the backup location instead.
Run the wizard by clicking Settings and then Remove Old Files. You can choose between removing files that are no longer included in your backup set or deleted files that are in the backup but no longer on your computer.
If you need to remove some files from your backup to save space then edit the backup set first and then run the Remove Files Wizard.
After you click next you'll be presented with a list of each file that will be removed. Click on the Preview Items tab to see a summary view which shows the size and number of files that will be removed from each backup item (i.e. Documents, Photos, etc).
The final step is to decide if you also want to remove these files from you remote backup. Check each partner that you want to remove the files from.
Full instructions for the Remove Files Wizard can be found in the Cucku Backup User Guide.
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Take a full tour of new features in Cucku Backup 2.0 on Facebook.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Friday, June 05, 2009
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Imagine you are happily working on your XP machine and dutifully performing Cucku backups to an external hard drive. Then the worst happens and your main XP hard drive fails.
Safe in the knowledge that your precious data is stored on an external hard drive, you purchase a new Vista laptop and begin the restore process.
You begin by installing Cucku Backup on the new machine.
Then run the setup wizard and use the SAME Cucku account that you originally used to backup the files. This is important otherwise you won't be able to restore the data. [If you have been managing your own keys you will need to import your saved key].
After following the on screen instructions you find that the Backup Index on the external hard drive cannot be opened.
In Cucku Settings/Backup and clicking BackupLocations shows that the drive in not accessible.
The reason for this may be as follows:
When you created the backup under your Windows XP account e.g. YouOnXP, the file system will have set permissions for the backup folder to only allow YouOnXP access to the folder. This is a security feature to stop other users on the same machine accessing or deleting your backup.
However, when you create your new account on Windows Vista e.g. YouOnVista you will not immediately have permission to access the backup folder of the external hard drive.
To remedy this...
- Log into the new machine with an administrator account.
- In Explorer, right click the external hard drive and select "Properties".
- Select the "Security" tab.
- Click the "Edit" button under the "Group or User names" list.
- When Windows asks "Windows needs your permission..." select "Continue".
- Click the "Add" Button to add a new user.
- Type "Everyone" (without the quotes) into the box provided and click "Check Names".
- Click OK.
- Now select "Everyone" in the list of "Group or User names".
- Then click the "Full Control" check box under the "Allow" column and click OK.
- This may take a while to complete.
You should now be able to restore from the backup.
Labels: Tips
posted by Mark on Monday, June 01, 2009
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Cucku Backup Pro just introduced support for multiple backup partners. This means that you can run the online backup service for your friends, family or business. You can also send your remote backup to more than one partner. Don't forget to use the new Backup Export capability to seed those backups quickly!
Once you've added partners the main Cucku window shows you the status of each partner - just click the left and right icons to scroll through the partner list. (Click any of the screenshots below for a high quality version)
To add a new backup partner click Settings, go to the partners page and click Add. We don't limit the number of partners you can add in Cucku Backup Pro. Remote backup runs one partner at a time. Cucku will allow up to five partners to backup to your computer simultaneously.
To change the settings for a partner click on the partner in the list and click Edit.
For each partner you can control if you want to receive backups or send backups or both. You get the chance to choose when you invite a new partner and can easily change the settings later. You can also control how much space each partner is allowed to use on your computer by changing the backup quota.
Labels: Pro, Tips
posted by Rob on Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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Cucku Backup 2.0 includes command line support for local, remote and partner backup.
(Click image for larger view)
Command line backup is ideal if you'd prefer to have full control over when Cucku runs. You and your backup partners can schedule the command line to run local and remote backup at the same time every day.
If you're using Cucku Backup Pro to run a dedicated backup server for your family or business then you can leave the command line running to accept incoming backup connections.
See Cucku Backup Command Line in the User Guide for instructions. Command line support is only available in Cucku Backup Pro.
Labels: Pro, Tips
posted by Rob on Wednesday, May 20, 2009
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One of the main problems with online backup is speed. Let's say that you have 80GB of data to backup and a typical ADSL connection offering 1.5Mbps download / 384 Kbps upload. If you can upload continuously and use the full rated upload speed it's going to take you twenty days to upload the backup.
Of course you'll never use the full capacity of the connection. It's going to take longer than the theoretical time above - maybe twice as long, maybe even four times as long.
Cucku Backup has always allowed you to directly connect to your partner's computer (via LAN or WiFi) so that you can complete your first backup at high speed. In 2.0 we now allow you to export your backup so you don't have to be on the same network as your partner.
Once you complete a local backup click Settings and then Export Backup. All you need to do is pick a folder where the export will be stored. You can export directly to an external hard drive or flash memory drive. You could also burn the export files to one or more recordable DVDs.
(Click the screen shots for a larger view.)
Once you've sent or given your export to your partner they just need to click Settings and then Import Backup. It doesn't matter if you've already started a remote backup, the import will correctly merge the export with the files that have already been sent via the Internet.
If you have more than one backup partner then the same export can be sent to each of them to kick start several remote backups.
Export also works for restore. If you need to restore from your partner, ask them to export by selecting you from the list above in the Export Screen. They can then click export and send (give) you the exported files. You can then import the backup on your own machine and restore one or more files as required.
When you first start using Cucku you and your partner could both buy an external hard drive, export your first backup and then swap drives. You both have an immediate remote backup of your critical data, and you only need to send new and changed files over the Internet.
For more instructions see Export Backup Locations and Import Backup Locations in the Cucku Backup User Guide.
Backup Export/Import is available in both the Free and Pro editions of Cucku Backup.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Friday, May 15, 2009
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(Updated July 21, 2009: Note that from version 2.00 the button text has changed from Backup Details to Browse Backup.)
How can you be sure that your remote backup is in good shape?
The first way is to click the Backup Details... button from either the local or remote backup logs. The log shows you the files that were included in the most recent backup. Backup Details allows you to browse every file and folder in your backup (click each screenshot to see a larger version):
Backup details behaves just like Windows Explorer. You can browse the drives and folders included in your backup on the left and then view the contents of a folder on the right. Double-click a folder on the right to open the folder. Double-click a file to see the Backup History view:
Backup History shows you each version of a file that Cucku has backed up. It also shows you if the version has been sent to your backup partner. Looking at the file above you can see that all three versions of the novel I started work on this morning have been sent to my partner (in this case myself).
Cucku doesn't stop at sending the files to your partner, it also checks periodically to make sure that your partner actually has each version of each file. You can control this process on the Advanced page of Cucku Backup Settings:
By default your local backup is verified every seven days and your remote backup every thirty days. You can change these defaults if you'd like to check more or less frequently. You can also run either a local or remote verify by checking the appropriate box. Local verify runs immediately, remote verify the next time you connect to your backup partner.
Lastly I'd recommend testing to make sure you can restore a file. Pick any file from your partner in the Restore Wizard and restore a copy to your desktop. After you've been backing up for a while try restoring an older version of a file. This is the best way to be confident that your backup is working. It's also a good idea to be familiar with how to restore files in case you ever need to do it for real.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Thursday, April 09, 2009
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To get the most out of Cucku Backup you should store your local backup on an external or network hard drive.
When you install Cucku the default location for your backup is on a different drive if one is available. This way if your hard drive fails you'll have a safe local copy of your data that you can restore from quickly.
To check where your backups are stored click Settings and then Backup Locations. You'll see a list of backup locations and a description of what is stored in each location. If you have a backup partner you'll also see the backups that you're hosting in the list as well.
If the backup for a drive is being stored on that drive then you're at risk of losing both the data and the backup if the drive fails. You should move the location to a different drive. Cucku supports any local, external or network drive that you can reach using a drive letter. If you don't already have an external hard drive then we recommend spending some of the money you're saving by using Cucku on buying one.
This may seem like odd advice from a remote backup company but in most cases a local backup will save the day. Cucku Backup has always included both local and remote backup for this reason. The remote backup is insurance in case you lose both your computer and your local backup.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Monday, March 30, 2009
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I get asked a lot about whether you need to leave your computer switched on all the time to use Cucku Backup. This can be a good idea while you're running your first remote backup and want it to complete as quickly as possible, but after that there's no need.
There's actually a setting in Cucku that will prevent your computer from sleeping while a remote backup is running (see Partner Settings).
This behavior is enabled by default, so once a remote backup starts it will keep running. This means you can set your computer to sleep or hibernate without worrying about getting out of sync with your backup partner.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Friday, March 06, 2009
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Watching a remote backup isn't much fun, but you'll probably spend some time doing this the first time you run one.
By default Cucku will show the speed of the connection to your backup partner (in kbit/s - thousands of bits per second). While a remote backup is running you can click the display to cycle between speed, progress in the current file and overall progress for the entire remote backup.
It's also possible to set the default progress display in Cucku Backup Settings on the Advanced page:
While you're in settings take a look at the Statistics page. This shows the size of your local backup (number of files and bytes) and the same information for each backup partner. While a remote backup us running this page is continuously updated.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Friday, February 20, 2009
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A powerful capability in Cucku Backup is finding and backing up all files of a certain type, regardless of where the files are stored. Several default filesets are provided with Cucku including common photos, videos, music and documents. If you need to, it's easy to add your own fileset. Just double-click the Custom Fileset item on the Edit Backup screen or in the Setup Wizard (if you need more than one custom fileset right-click the list and pick Add Fileset from the menu):
I wanted to backup some C# projects, so I added each file type and also decided to look for projects on all of my drives.
Windows identifies file types by the extension and by default the extensions are hidden. A photo called 'Beach' will probably have the .jpg extension so the full name is 'Beach.jpg'. If you don't know the file type Cucku can help you find it - when you click Add on the Edit Fileset window you can browse to an example file. Cucku then reads the extension and adds this to the list for you.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Friday, January 30, 2009
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Cucku Backup has a couple of settings to control the amount of disk space used for backups. The first is set when you invite a partner from the Setup Wizard or from the Partner page in settings:
If your partner exceeds this limit then remote backups will stop until you agree to provide more space. You can do this on the Partner page by editing the partner. Of course your partner sets a quota for your remote backup as well. On the Edit Partner page you can see this limit and also how much space you're currently using.
The second setting is on the Advanced page (click the Backup tab):
The minimum free space applies to any drive where Cucku stores a backup. If the setting is 10% then backups will stop after 90GB is used on a 100GB drive. You'll see a warning in Cucku that prompts you to free up space or move the backup if this ever happens.
Partner and drive quotas put you in control of how Cucku uses disk space. If you've ever had a program completely fill your hard drive you'll know how important this feature is - Cucku warns you in advance of disaster and helps you fix the problem.
Labels: Tips
posted by Rob on Friday, January 23, 2009
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