How do I Login to my PackRat account?

There are three pieces of information that you need to Login to your PackRat account; your Username, Password, and the Encryption key. From the PackRat home page (www.PackRatinc.com), click the top menu item labeled Client Login. Enter in the Username, Password, and Encryption key that you created when you first opened your account. When you enter your information, the Password and Encryption key are not displayed for security reasons. If you cannot remember some of your information, please click on the forgot items shown on the Login page.

Why doesn’t PackRat remember my Username and other Login information?

Because we know your data is important to you, we take all possible measures to protect it. By not saving your Username, Password and Encryption key on your computer, your data can’t be retrieved in the event someone else uses your computer.

What is an Encryption key?

The Encryption key is an extra security measure that PackRat offers to its clients. Before your data are saved, the PackRat software compresses the data and encrypts it using 128-bit code before sending it over the Internet to the PackRat servers. This Encryption key ensures that the data cannot be intercepted and opened either during the transmission over the Internet or while in storage on the PackRat systems. Use of 128-bit encryption ensures the highest level of security currently available on the Internet!

What is a Save Set?

A Save Set is a list of files and/or directories that you want to backup. Each Save Set can include different files and/or directories. Moreover, each Save Set can have a different backup schedule. Save Sets are used in the manual backup, as well as the automatic backup processes.

What kind of files should I save?

Imagine that your computer was just stolen or crashed. What data would you like to have saved before this event happened? You should ask yourself this question when determining which files and directories to backup or save. Most PC users maintain important files in the My Documents, My Pictures, and My Music directories. Don’t forget to look through your other directories and be sure to also copy any important files that exist on your desktop and other external drives.

Please note that software files and executables (.dll and .exe files) do not need to be backed up if you have your original software installation CD disks. These and other software packages can be reinstalled from CDs in the event of a hard drive failure. Backing up these files may be unnecessary and will use up much of your PackRat data space.

How should I set up Save Sets?

People tend to organize and store things differently so Save Sets can be setup many different ways to accommodate your style and needs. A recommended method is to create several directories, each one for a different type of file. For example, create a directory for documents, tax records, and pictures. This way you can set up different schedules based on how often you add to or modify files in those directories.

How do I create a Save Set?

The full description is in the Building Save Sets section of the user manual. Here is the abbreviated version:

While using the Save Set tab, select the files and directories on the left side and move them to the right side. When the list is complete, click on File, Save and save the file. (NOTE: Do not change the directory name where the files are saved)

How often should I schedule a backup?

How often you schedule backups depends on often you create new files or modify existing files. If you create or change files frequently, you will need to schedule frequent backups - maybe every day or every other day. If you do not create or modify files frequently, you may want to schedule a backup once a week or once a month, depending on your needs.

How do I retrieve my files?

The full description is in the Restoring Files section of the user manual. Here is the abbreviated version:

While using the Restore tab, select the files and directories on the left side and move them to the right side. When the list is complete, click on the Restore button. You will be prompted to make sure you want to restore the files.

Can I retrieve my files on a different computer?

Absolutely! You can retrieve your files from any computer that meets the system requirements and has the PackRat software installed on it.

Are my files completely backed up each time they are scheduled?

No, PackRat uses a special technique which checks to see if anything in the Save Set files or directories have changed since the last scheduled backup. If data has been created or modified, the new data will overwrite the previous data. By using this comparison technique, the PackRat software minimizes upload times for our clients.

What if I’m not online when my files are scheduled to back up?

The PackRat software runs as a Windows service. This means that you don’t have to be logged on to the software to have the files backed up. A proprietary process logs into the server and backs up the files.

How do I know if my data was successfully backed up?

Occasionally an error may occur during the transmission of your data to the remote servers at PackRat.

What do I do if I have a hard drive failure?

In the unfortunate, but common event that your computer hard drive completely crashes, you can rebuild the system by reloading your operating system and any software packages you had previously installed on your computer. Once your computer is rebuilt (or if you decide to run out and purchase a new computer), simply go to the PackRat home page (www.PackRatinc.com) and download the PackRat software to access your account and retrieve your files and data.

What if I don’t need certain files or directories in my PackRat account any more?

No problem! To remove files from your PackRat account, simply use the File Maintenance tab. Select the files on the left side of the account window which you wish to remove, and transfer them to the right side window with the arrow buttons. When your right window list has all the files you would like to delete, click on the delete button. You will be prompted to make sure you really want to delete these files before they are completely deleted. Please be sure that you never want to retrieve these files because once they are deleted from your account, they cannot be retrieved.

What do I do if I run out of space in my PackRat account?

You have two options. The first s to manage the files on the offsite server and delete the ones you don’t need anymore. This will free up space for other files. The second is to purchase additional space. This can be done at lexcontech.com. This will require an additional monthly charge.

How do I change my password?

Click on Admin, and Change Password. Enter your old password, your new password, and confirm your new password. Then click the OK button.

What if I forget my password?

Go to the lexcontech.com web site. You can get your userid and password emailed to the email address you registered with.

What is encryption?

Encryption is the method used to secure your data. The key is used in a process to convert you file so it can’t be read without converting it back. The encryption process used is one of the strongest available to protect your files.

Can I change my encryption key?

The encryption key is used to secure your files. If the key is changed, you would not have access to the files. Therefore, the encryption key must stay the same.

How do I disconnect to work offline?

Click on File, Disconnect. This will disconnect from the offsite server and allow you to work offline.

After working offline, how do I log into the system?

Click on File, Connect. The login screen will be displayed requesting your userid, password, and encryption key. After this information is entered, click on Login.

Can I back up more than one save set at a time?

Using the manual backup tab, you select all the save sets you want to backup. Click on the backup button and the software will process each save set.

Can I backup more than 1 computer?

Technically, yes, but it takes a little effort. The software should only be on one computer. If it is loaded on more than one, there should be multiple userids.

To backup multiple computers, a small network must be setup. The main computer should have drives mapped for the other computers. This will allow the software to backup files without causing them to be overwritten.