Replacing an Existing PC Or Activating an Additional PC

Replacing an Existing Computer

CTERA Agent allows you to replace an existing computer connected to an agent and restore the backed up content without involving an administrator.

The process, which gives you full ownership of your devices, allows you to restore all backup files from the existing computer to the replacement device. It also works with different operating systems so that, for example, you can replace a Windows machine with a macOS machine.

To replace an existing computer:

1. Install CTERA Agent on the replacement computer.
2. Sign in using the same account credentials as the computer you want to replace.
   CTERA Agent detects automatically that you have another computer on the same account. The Activating CTERA Agent window is displayed, prompting you to select an agent activation option.
   
3. Select Replace an existing computer.
4. Select the computer you are replacing from the drop-down list.
5. Click Continue.
6. Click OK to the confirmation message that is displayed.
   The computer you are replacing is disconnected from the agent services and a window is displayed that gives you the option to restore its files from the backup to the new computer.
   
7. To restore the backed up files to the replacement computer, click Restore My Files.
   Note

   To restore the files to the replacement computer at a later time using CTERA Agent's regular restore process, click Skip restore instead.

   The **Select Files to Restore **window is displayed.
   
8. Select the files you want to restore:
   • To select specific folders, expand the folder tree in the left pane, then make sure only the folders you want are checked.
     Folders which include content to restore are indicated with the icon.
   • To select individual files in a folder, select the folder in the left pane, and then select the individual files in the right pane.
   Note

   You can create a new folder and restore files to the new folder. You can also restore backups that require a user password.

   
9. Select the settings for restoring the files:
   • To select a different folder to which to restore the files, click and browse to the desired folder in the Directory window.
   • To specify the action to take if the file already exists on the computer, select a new action from the If file exists drop-down list.
   • To restore files attributes, check the Restore file attributes check box.
10. Click Next.
    A progress bar is displayed that shows the status of the restoration process.
    When the files are restored successfully, a success message is displayed. The folders that were just restored are added automatically to the list of files for the backup operation.
    The Set Up Your Cloud Backup screen is displayed. For details, see Setting Up Cloud Backup.

Activating an Additional Computer

You can install CTERA Agent on additional computers in order to back up, restore, and sync your digital content. You are required to have a license available for each additional computer.

Once the agent is installed, sign using the same account credentials as your primary computer's.

To activate another computer:

1. Install CTERA Agent on another computer.
2. Sign in using the same account credentials as the computer you want to replace.
   CTERA Agent detects automatically that you have another computer on the same account. The Activating CTERA Agent window is displayed, prompting you to select an agent activation option.
   
3. Select Set up as a new computer.
   The Set Up Your Cloud Backup window is displayed. For details, see Setting Up Cloud Backup.

Setting Up Cloud Backup

The final steps after replacing an existing computer with a CTERA Agent, or setting up another computer with a CTERA Agent is to set up the cloud backup.

The Set Up Your Cloud Backup screen is displayed.

1. Optionally, click Add Files and Folders to add files to be backed up to the cloud:
   The Files to backup window is displayed.
   
2. Select the files you want to restore:
   • To select specific folders, expand the folder tree in the left pane, then make sure only the folders you want are checked.
     Folders which include content to backup are indicated with the icon.
   • To select individual files in a folder, select the folder in the left pane, and then select the individual files in the right pane.
   Note

   You can create a new folder and restore files to the new folder. You can also restore backups that require a user password.

   
3. Click Save.
4. Optionally, in the Schedule area click Change to override portal settings and configure a schedule for automatic cloud backup.
   The Backup Schedule window is displayed.
   
   Complete the Backup Schedule fields.
   Periodically – Specify that automatic backups are performed every specified number of hours. The maximum period between periodically scheduled backups is 24 hours.
   Start Every – Specify the interval between backups, in hours.
   Specific Time – Specify that automatic backups are performed at a specified hour on one or more specified days.
   Start Time – The hour at which backups start.
   Stop Time – Either on completion of the backup or at a specific time, after which the backup is stopped even if it hasn’t completed.
   On Days – The days backups occur. Click Every Day to specify every day.
5. Click Save.
6. When setup is complete, click All Done!