Question
The CrashPlan app appears to be backing up all my files from scratch. The backup queue is very large, and the estimated completion time is extremely long. Is my backup starting over?
Answer
No, your backup is likely not starting over. The CrashPlan app has queued your files as "potentially new" due to a recent system change, such as a device or drive replacement, or files being moved to a new location. As the app processes the queue, it uses data deduplication to recognize files that are already stored in your archive. It will simply verify these existing files without re-uploading them.
Additional Info
- Why the queue is so large: When files are introduced from a new device, a new drive letter, or a new folder location, the app cannot immediately assume they are identical to your existing backup. It must add them to the backup queue for processing.
- Why the estimated time is so long: The app calculates the estimated completion time based on the size of the queue and the current speed it's backing up, assuming every file in the queue must be uploaded from scratch. Because most of the data will be deduplicated, the actual time to complete will be significantly shorter than what is shown.
- Why the backup might seem slow at first: The app processes the queue sequentially. If there is a batch of new data at the front of the queue, the backup will proceed at normal upload speeds. Once the app reaches the previously backed-up files, data deduplication kicks in, and the effective backup speed will dramatically increase.
- What to do: Allow the app time to process the queue. You do not need to restart or alter the backup. For tips to increase the overall backup rate, see Speed up your backup.