{"id":77248,"date":"2022-12-21T08:40:33","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T16:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/?p=77248"},"modified":"2025-12-12T13:42:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T21:42:41","slug":"beginner-guide-to-computer-backup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/beginner-guide-to-computer-backup\/","title":{"rendered":"The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Computer Backup with Backblaze"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Wouldn\u2019t it be great if computers never crashed? If laptops never got lost? If that cup of coffee never spilled across your keyboard? As much as we\u2019d like to believe that our computers will always work and the data on them will always be safe and accessible, accidents happen. Regardless of how you\u2019re using your computer, you\u2019re storing data that needs to be backed up.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019ve accidentally deleted a synced file<\/a>, have a social media presence<\/a> that\u2019s just too valuable to lose, are going back to school, or you want to make sure you\u2019re protected from cyberattacks<\/a>, having your data backed up means that your important information isn\u2019t lost forever. So, let\u2019s talk about how to get the most out of your Backblaze account.<\/p>\n

1. Set Yourself Up for Success<\/h2>\n

Backblaze backs up all the files on your computer, including documents, photos, music, movies, and more. When you\u2019re creating your account for the first time, that can take some time\u2014longer than you might think depending on how much data you have and how fast your internet connection is. (If you think it will take a really long time, you should probably be considering Backblaze B2<\/a> and our Universal Data Migration<\/a> solutions). It\u2019s important that your computer is on and awake during that time period, so we suggest that you turn off your computer\u2019s sleep mode during your initial backup.<\/p>\n

2. Keep Your Account Secure<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve talked before about how to keep your passwords safe<\/a>, but we just want to make sure it\u2019s clear how important that is for your backups. When backups are your last line of defense\u2014your only option for recovery\u2014then it\u2019s imperative that you use unique passwords and practice a 3-2-1 backup strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Like Librarians, We Work Quietly<\/h4>\n

Backblaze works quietly in the background while you go about your normal computer life. Note that we\u2019ll only backup a document that\u2019s not actively open. So, make sure to close out your projects when you\u2019re done for the night (or day).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

3. Bring Your Drive to the Table<\/h2>\n

If you have external drives, it\u2019s essential that you connect them to your computer to be backed up to your Backblaze account. In order to give us enough time to scan the whole drive, make sure that it\u2019s plugged into your primary computer for at least four hours in a row<\/strong>, once every two weeks. Here\u2019s some more information<\/a> on using external hard drives with Backblaze.<\/p>\n

4. Check In<\/h2>\n

Once a week, it\u2019s a great idea to check that your backups are working properly. If they\u2019re not, make sure that you have the most recent version of Backblaze<\/a>, or you can always contact our Support Team<\/a> to make sure everything is running smoothly.<\/p>\n

And, once a month, it\u2019s a good idea to try to restore files from your online account. This is especially important if you have external devices. It\u2019s always good practice to double check that things are running well, but it also gives you an opportunity to make sure you\u2019ve backed up your external drive successfully.<\/p>\n

5. On Restoration: The Sooner, The Better<\/h2>\n

When you\u2019ve lost data, make sure you restore your data ASAP. If you\u2019re ever worried you may need data continuity, remember that you can easily enable Extended Version History<\/a> for $2\/month. That will give you the ability to restore any version of a file for one year\u2014or forever\u2014depending on what you need.<\/p>\n

Remember that Backblaze offers lots of file restoration options. Of course, you can use our website, but you can also restore from your mobile device or even order a USB. (We know; old school.)<\/p>\n

Backup and Beyond<\/h2>\n

We are big advocates of backing up, of course. Hey, it\u2019s for good reason<\/a>. We want our tech to be accessible to all types of users. We love when you tell your friends<\/a> about us, or you can use us to help your family and friends<\/a>. If we\u2019re missing any good tips or you have questions for us, feel free to comment below, say hi on socials<\/a>, or contact Support<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, we’re covering some basic fundamentals of backing up and sharing some tips to help you get the most out of Backblaze Computer Backup. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":107617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[121,434],"tags":[469],"class_list":["post-77248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backing-up","category-featured-1","tag-consumerbackup","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Does Backblaze Do? 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