Here are how-to instructions for SpiderOak Groups users who formatted their hard disk and reinstalled the operating system, or are replacing a computer with another one, or who has replaced their hard disk with a new one.

This how-to considers two cases:

• The user has all his/her files available locally and can locally copy them to the new computer. This is the recommended method.
• The user has lost his or her files and needs to download them from the SpiderOak servers.

If you use SpiderOak One, see those instructions instead.

Method 1: Locally copying files (recommended method)

Set up the new computer as desired. Copy your files to the new computer using an external hard drive, a USB memory stick, or similar device. Move them from the external device to where you want them on the new computer. You can of course also download your files from the SpiderOak servers (see method 2) but locally copying them will save you considerable download time.

On your new computer, download SpiderOak Groups. Install it. Choose that you are an existing user, and enter your email and password. Set your computer as a new device, not an existing one, and give it a new, unique name.

When setup completes, open the Backup tab, select the files and folders that you want to protect, and press Save. SpiderOak Groups will appear to start uploading all your files all over again, but it will deduplicate them and only update its internal record of where the files are located. With that, you are all set.

If you're trying to upload files that will deduplicate but you are being warned that you will exceed your space limit, open the Preferences window. Under the General tab, check the box which says "Disable disk space calculations during backup selection" and press Save. This will suppress the warning. You can now select your data for upload and it will deduplicate before being sent to our servers. Once you have resolved the immediate problem and deduplicated those files, you will want to clear the "disable disk space calculations" checkbox.

Optionally you may then delete the old device. Delete eliminates the device from your account along with SpiderOak's copy of any files that are stored only on that device, so do be sure that you have completed the instructions in the previous paragraph before doing so. Historical versions of files are tied to the device that they originated from, so deleting the old device will also delete your historical versions. To delete a device, open the Manage tab, select the device to delete, and press the Remove button.

Method 2: Downloading files from SpiderOak servers

The following presumes that you will need to download your files from SpiderOak’s servers. If you have local copies of any of your files, use a memory stick or external hard drive to copy them to your new computer or hard disk. Locally copying your files will save you considerable download time.

On your new computer, download SpiderOak Groups. Install it. Choose that you are an existing user, and enter your email and password. Set your computer as a new device, not an existing one, and give it a new, unique name.

When setup completes, open the Manage tab. To restore your files, select the files or folders that you want and push the Download button. To select multiple files or folders at the same time, hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard when selecting files. While SpiderOak's servers do not prohibit you from downloading everything at once, many people find that due to intervening network difficulties or their computer’s hardware limitations they have better results downloading in batches rather than all at once.

SpiderOak Groups will prompt you whether you want to restore these files to their original locations or to download them to your default download location. Choosing to restore them to their original locations lets the application do all the organizing work for you: your files will be placed back in their old locations in your files structure. If you choose to send your files to a location such as your Downloads folder, that is fine but you will need to manually move them to the desired locations before continuing.

Once your files are in place where you want them, open the Backup tab, select the files and folders that you want to protect, and press Save. The application will appear to start uploading all your files all over again, but it will deduplicate them and only update its internal record of where the files are located. With that, you are all set.

Optionally you may then delete the old device. Delete eliminates the device from your account along with SpiderOak's copy of any files that are stored only on that device, so do be sure that you have completed the instructions in the previous paragraph before doing so. Historical versions of files are tied to the device that they originated from, so deleting the old device will also delete your historical versions. To delete a device, open the Manage tab, select the device to delete, and press the Remove button.