To replace a computer you have backed up with McAfee Online Backup, you
should begin by moving, downloading, or restoring all your previously backed up
files to the replacement computer.
- If you can still use your
old computer, you should manually transfer files to the new computer. It is
much faster than getting them all from McAfee Online Backup, and yet you can take
as much time as you need and be very thorough. You can find tools and
information to help you do this on your computers and on the Internet. Some
migration tools can help move settings to your new computer and transfer files
that are not typically backed up by McAfee Online Backup.
- If you
cannot use your old computer, you can download or restore your files from
McAfee Online Backup on the Web.
If your McAfee Online Backup account is
not enabled to use McAfee Online Backup on the Web, you can ask your account
administrator to do this on your behalf.
For more information, see
Restore or Download All Your Files from the Web.
It is easiest to restore your files when the operating systems are
the same, but you may certainly restore your files when the platforms are
entirely different (one computer is Windows and the other is Mac).
When the new computer has the same platform as the computer being
replaced (both use Windows or both use Mac), you can install the
McAfee Online Backup backup software using your same McAfee Online Backup account
credentials to associate your files already in the McAfee cloud
with the new computer, as if they had always been backed up from the new
computer.
CAUTION:
Doing this does not automatically put your
previously backed up files onto the replacement computer!
- If your previously backed up
files are on the replacement computer, the first backup finishes relatively
quickly.
- If your previously backed up
files are not present on the replacement computer during the first backup,
those files in the McAfee cloud are identified as deleted from the
computer. In this case, you must finish recovering those files to your new
computer before the grace period expires. For more
information about how McAfee Online Backup handles deleted files, see
Sending Your Files to McAfee Online Backup.
When the new computer and the computer being replaced have different
platforms (one is Windows and the other is Mac), the backup software cannot
associate your files already in the McAfee cloud with the new
computer. In this situation, first ensure all your previously backed up files
are present on the new computer. Then, install the backup software on the new
computer, using your same McAfee Online Backup account credentials. Once your
files are backed up from the new computer, delete the old computer from your
account. If you have backed up the maximum number of computers allowed by your
account, you cannot install the McAfee Online Backup backup software on the new
computer until you delete the replaced computer from your account.