How can I find the most recent data backup after a full restore from Carbonite?

auklet

Mac died, replaced it a few weeks later. I have Carbonite backup. I installed the latest version of Quicken but I don't know how to find the most recent data (weeks old by now). I'm afraid if I pick the wrong file I'll over-write something. Since everything is downloaded at the same time from backup there is no useful file date.

jacobs

You can find the default location for Quicken data files, if you didn't move yours: in the Finder, hold down the Option key and select Library from the Go menu, then open Application Support, then Quicken, then Documents. In that folder is one or more Quicken data files; the one last modified is likely your current Quicken file.

If there's only one there, you should be set. If there are multiple files, and you can't tell from the names, see if there are different dates -- a file restore from a backup should restore the original dates. But if there are multiple files, and they all have the same date, make a copy of each one (so you have untouched originals should you need to go back), then double-click the files one at a time to launch Quicken and determine which one has your most-recent entries. 

This default location for Quicken files is a little off the beaten path, so I really hope your Carbonite was set to back it up. Some backup programs will skip locations like a Library folder.

If you had moved your Quicken data file, then it could be anywhere (often in your Documents folder). Because Quicken data files end with the .quicken extension, you can search for Quicken data files by opening Spotlight (Command-spacebar) and searching for ".quicken". (This assumes you have subscription Quicken, aka Quicken 2020 If you have the older Quicken 2017, the files end with .quicken2017.)

jacobs

You can find the default location for Quicken data files, if you didn't move yours: in the Finder, hold down the Option key and select Library from the Go menu, then open Application Support, then Quicken, then Documents. In that folder is one or more Quicken data files; the one last modified is likely your current Quicken file.

If there's only one there, you should be set. If there are multiple files, and you can't tell from the names, see if there are different dates -- a file restore from a backup should restore the original dates. But if there are multiple files, and they all have the same date, make a copy of each one (so you have untouched originals should you need to go back), then double-click the files one at a time to launch Quicken and determine which one has your most-recent entries. 

This default location for Quicken files is a little off the beaten path, so I really hope your Carbonite was set to back it up. Some backup programs will skip locations like a Library folder.

If you had moved your Quicken data file, then it could be anywhere (often in your Documents folder). Because Quicken data files end with the .quicken extension, you can search for Quicken data files by opening Spotlight (Command-spacebar) and searching for ".quicken". (This assumes you have subscription Quicken, aka Quicken 2020 If you have the older Quicken 2017, the files end with .quicken2017.)

auklet

thanks, you solved it. Follow up: my restore process has been going on slowly, for a week. I've left the Mac on, though it goes to sleep when unused. Is the restore process happening continuously even if the machine is untouched for hours? definitely getting impatient here :-)

jacobs

I don't know how Carbonite works, but I'd guess it's working even if the display goes to sleep. But you might want to go to your Energy Saver in System Preferences and set the computer to Never Sleep to make sure you're getting it to download around the clock.

(This is one of the reasons I chose iDrive for my online backups: they can provide your data to restore on a hard drive they send you, eliminating the slow process of downloading hundreds of GB of data. It's included at no extra charge in the cost of the service. It will take several days to have it send out and receive it, and then to restore locally, but if you have 500 GB, downloading that could easily take a week or two, depending on your Internet service speed, and more if you have more data.)