Wednesday, April 25, 2012

How to back up your (updated blogger) blog. And why you should NOW.



Yesterday, Google (blogger?) asked me to verify who I was. So I punched in my user name and password. And then the unthinkable happened. Two of my older blogs evaporated.

I had big plans for one of the blogs that disappeared and you guessed it.. I never backed it up... continued...



UPDATE: it came back. It came BACK!!! Just now as I'm writing this post. Thank-you to the powers that be! Thank-you!!

Know what? Glitches happen. So please be prepared and back up your blog onto your hard drive NOW. It's easy and only takes a couple of  minutes, I promise. 

(This tutorial was done on a new mac without issue. PCs may require more steps. I have no tutorial avail for WordPress users at this time. Please refer to the old dashboard method for additional info. Please visit these comments again for answers to your questions.)

Here's how to back up with 
the updated blogger dashboard. 

(old dashboard instructions are HERE)




1. Go into your DASHBOARD and SELECT THE ARROW.







2. This fly out menu will appear. Select SETTINGS.








3.  Select OTHER.





 3.  Select EXPORT BLOG






3.  Select DOWNLOAD BLOG.




Edited to add: word has it most errors are coming from Internet Explorer. Try another browser if you're having issues. I personally love Safari, but Firefox and Chrome are other good choices as well. It is not hard to use another browser and it doesn't wipe your other one away. You just have 2 to chose from! :)

 Once your download is complete, ensure you back it up somehow other than just on your hard drive.

This is the most boring blog post ever, however it could also be the most important one you'll ever read. :)

(old dashboard instructions are HERE)

Just do it! At least once a week. 

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69 comments:

  1. Katie @ Wildwood CreekApril 25, 2012 at 9:58 AM

    Thanks for the reminder to backup our blogs. Life gets busy, and I haven't done it in awhile. When I'm a good blogger, I try to do a back up on the first of every month.

    ReplyDelete
  2. heather @ new house, new home, new lifeApril 25, 2012 at 10:13 AM

    I just read that one of the blogs I followed had the same problem. She lost EVERYTHING and has had to start over. I'm backing up right away!!! Thanks. Not boring.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sandi @ The Primitive SkateApril 25, 2012 at 10:14 AM

    Thank You Donna!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cindy The Victorian JourneyApril 25, 2012 at 10:22 AM

    Thank you... Followed your easy directions and backed up my blog. Great info and needed info..
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  5. LifeLessOrdinaryApril 25, 2012 at 10:25 AM

    Thanks for the reminder. I hadn't backed my blog up for several months....but I did today!

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownApril 25, 2012 at 10:32 AM

    Thanks! I just did it. I've never backed either of mine up before and our family blog is a living scrapbook over the past 7 years. I would have been devastated if I lost it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Stephanie @ The Cozy Old FarmhouseApril 25, 2012 at 10:36 AM

    I've tried exporting and downloading before to back up my blog, but I guess I'm confused. I followed the steps and after I click "download" it goes to a page with a blue header with the name of my blog and a sort of list of all my posts. But I don't know what to do from there. Did it download it? If so, where is it stored? Under what file name? If it didn't download, then from there what do I do? I see no other options for continuing the download or saving it or whatever. I feel like a complete computer dunce right now asking how to do this, but I really need to get it backed up. No more tempting fate. : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cristy @ Art•ing Shed•quartersApril 25, 2012 at 11:31 AM

      I had the very same experience!
      Went through the steps, waited, then viola`, nothing.

      Delete
    2. AprilApril 26, 2012 at 6:54 PM

      I'm in the same boat with you ladies. Where is it? When using Safari it says, "Safari could not update this feed because the source file is no longer available."; in Firefox it downloads a file, but it's an Adobe Illustrator file - a couple pages of link code, but not my actual blog. We're not "computer dunce's", we just get the fun of a computer glitch :-D.

      Delete
  8. SandyApril 25, 2012 at 10:36 AM

    Thank for reminding me.. it's been
    months!
    Sandy

    ReplyDelete
  9. KristelApril 25, 2012 at 10:44 AM

    Thanks for the reminder. I did it months ago on my son's laptop, it's a pc, which brings me to this question: I use a Mac (safari), why can't it let me download the blog??? Did you use your Mac? Would love to know, thanks for the help?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ann @ HousefinallyApril 25, 2012 at 10:47 AM

    Wow, thank you. It would be terible to lose all this hard work! The new blogger interface is just not user friendly IMHO, they make it difficult to even do a backup, all hidden in the menu like that! Thanks again, I would have NEVER figured that out.
    Is it taking you forever to upload your pictures too? I find I have to publish the post, then go back and edit it several times just to get all my pics in! Arrgh!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funky Junk InteriorsApril 25, 2012 at 11:41 AM

      No Ann, I've had non issues downloading pics. I reduce them in size to 800 pixels which helps a great deal. Make sure you do the same or it's a killer to download for you and for your viewers. I reduce through free Picasa.

      Delete
  11. GinaApril 25, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    Thanks! I just downloaded mine. :) I have been getting a message everytime I try to "pin" something for the past few days. It says "Our robots tell us you look a little fishy. Fill out this captcha to prove them wrong!" and then asks to copy the word and submit. I am afraid it do it because I am afaid I'll download a virus (been there done that.) I just wonder if anyone knows anything about that. :/

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sass - aka - KathyApril 25, 2012 at 11:03 AM

    I have never done this. Sounds like it's about time! I'm on it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anita at Cedar Hill April 25, 2012 at 11:20 AM

    I started doing back ups a few months ago, but then when my blog evaporated, I started doing a back up every time I posted. It was the same thing with me, verify who you are, then *poof*. Mine came back later that day.

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownApril 25, 2012 at 11:24 AM

    Done :) Thank you for the reminder and how to! Just out of curiosity, have you thought about switching to WP? I'm on the fence and can't decide what to do! I do love that blogger is free!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Funky Junk InteriorsApril 25, 2012 at 11:38 AM

    Hey guys,

    The following directions are done on a mac in the new dashboard. I personally had no other steps to do other than what I wrote and it works flawlessly as above to the letter. If your computer isn't allowing you to download, there must be a setting restricting you to do so that's enabled.

    Pc's are trickier, you generally have to tell the computer more things to do. I'm sorry I don't have a pc to try this with.

    Please also visit the old dashboard instructions for more info.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Pattern PatisserieApril 25, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    Thank you!!! I didn't know any of this info and if I lost my blog I would pass out - 4 years of work - THANKS!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. ReneeApril 25, 2012 at 11:49 AM

    thanks. I hate to sound dumb, but how do you ensure it's backed up somewhere other than your hard drive? I followed your instructions, but have no clue where it is saved? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ann from On Sutton PlaceApril 25, 2012 at 11:49 AM

    So Donna...as one of the top rated blogs out there have you thought about moving to WordPress? Seems most of the giants have either moved or are planning to move. Just wondering what your opinion is. If you've already blogged about this I'm sorry to make you repeat yourself. Feel free to point me in the direction of a relevant post. Love your blog by the way. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Funky Junk InteriorsApril 25, 2012 at 11:55 AM

    Gang, I'd love to answer more questions, but I find blogger incredibly glitchy to comment on in replies from my end. Feel free to come on over to FJI Facebook with your questions of you wish!

    https://www.facebook.com/FunkyJunkInteriors

    ReplyDelete
  20. Funky Junk InteriorsApril 25, 2012 at 12:01 PM

    Jamie and Ann, I'm moving to WP later this year. It won't be free any longer unfortunately however I earn on my blog so hoping my earnings will be enough to cushion the new financial blow. :)

    Renee, you'll have to figure out where your computer is hiding your downloads. Google it and you'll probably have your answer in seconds! (ie google - where do downloads go on windows 7) or whatever. I'm on a mac and I have a special download button on my upper right. No idea about win 7 if that's what you're on.

    Stephanie and Cristy, not sure what happened! I think I remember my computer doing that on win previously... it's been awhile. I suggest to google about the issue.

    ReplyDelete
  21. PamApril 25, 2012 at 12:28 PM

    Thank you for this post! I had noticed changes to the way my blog acted but never knew you could even back up a blog!

    Mine opened in the same "blue window" (actually a version of IE) and after some trial and error, I found the "save as" command under the "Page" tab. I saved it to my hard drive and to my Dropbox account. Now, if ever the blog disappears, I will be back asking how to translate the code I just saved to recreate a blog! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Diane HigdonApril 25, 2012 at 12:56 PM

    I am sorry this happened to you, but looks like it all has turned out well. I am so glad you are writing this about backing up the blog. I had no idea that this needed to be done. Never even crossed my mind. Appreciate the steps to do it too. Thanks!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Linda@Coastal CharmApril 25, 2012 at 1:35 PM

    Thanks so much Donna...I have wanting to do this.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  24. ShannonApril 25, 2012 at 1:37 PM

    Hey girl,
    Just sharing what I do with my wordpress blog...I have installed a plugin called Wordpress Database Backup. It emails me my database (my blog stuff!) every day. Which includes everything I've done in the past 24 hours. It is found here: http://austinmatzko.com/wordpress-plugins/wp-db-backup/
    Hope that is helpful to someone!
    xo,
    Shannon
    (www.akadesign.ca)

    ReplyDelete
  25. EllenApril 25, 2012 at 1:52 PM

    It's not boring - its a public service announcement! Thanks for the step by step. I hadn't looked through that whole menu yet & there's probably other important stuff in there too.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Funky Junk InteriorsApril 25, 2012 at 2:15 PM

    Hey guys, if you're receiving an error message or things stall, word has it to try another browser. Most of the errors come from Internet Explorer.

    I personally use Safari (avail for both mac and pc) and firefox my 2nd choice. Good results have been had in Chrome as well although I haven't tried it.

    ReplyDelete
  27. UnknownApril 25, 2012 at 2:16 PM

    Hi Donna,
    I'm happy to hear you got your blogs back, I have not been so lucky. I lost mine about a month back, and I have given up and started a new blog, I have only been blogging about 6 months so I only had about 40 or so posts, but I lost everything...

    ReplyDelete
  28. Carli The QuilterApril 25, 2012 at 2:16 PM

    Thanks so much, I'd really be hooped if I had to start all over. Check out my blog, I'm a BC Blogger.
    http://www.goodearthquilting.blogspot.com

    Love your blog and I'm now on the hunt for all sorts of reused stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Diana @ AnyoneCanDecorateApril 25, 2012 at 3:35 PM

    Thanks for the reminder!!! I hadn't done it in awhile and I needed to :) Hope you are doing well!!!

    Blessings,
    Diana

    ReplyDelete
  30. BrendaApril 25, 2012 at 4:55 PM

    Thank you, Donna, for the reminder and for taking us through the steps on the new Google dashboard format. I gotta rememeber to make backing up a weekly thing. Always a pleasure to visit you here! :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. TracyMB @ Crows Feet ChicApril 25, 2012 at 6:09 PM

    Thank you for the reminder... I haven't backed it up since the last time you reminded us!

    PS I use both Safari and Firefox. Ancestry.ca does not work well with Safari at all... so I use Firefox about 1/2 the time & find it loads quicker... does that make sense?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sonia ValdezApril 25, 2012 at 6:37 PM

    Every time I do that all it does is put a URL with the Feed on my web browser - what am I supposed to do with that? Saving the link won't put the files on my computer? Not sure what I'm doing wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Julie @ followyourheartwoodworkingApril 25, 2012 at 7:46 PM

    I'm not a computer genius, but my son is, and he has told me for years that Internet Explorer is not the browser to use, it has many faults. I use Google Chrome and have Windows 7 and have no problems doing what Donna has carefully listed here as the steps to save a blog.
    Thanks for the reminder, Donna.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Heaven's WalkApril 25, 2012 at 7:56 PM

    Thanks for the great reminder, Donna. This past autumn my blog suddenly disappeared. I had to jump through all sorts of Google hoops --- panicking all the while - and then two days later it was back and all was right with my world once again. It was petrifying, though. I immediately purchased a Seagate to back everything up on and do it religiously every single Sunday.

    xoxo laurie

    ReplyDelete
  35. Michael Wurm JrApril 25, 2012 at 8:24 PM

    Done and done! Thanks Donna!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Heidi LisaApril 25, 2012 at 9:43 PM

    Done too! thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. From G2BApril 25, 2012 at 11:29 PM

    Thanks for the awesome tip! Just did it- and had no idea I could before your post!
    Thanks a million Donna and ';m happy to hear your blogs were restored! yay!
    xo Becca

    ReplyDelete
  38. HomeroadApril 26, 2012 at 3:47 AM

    Thanks Donna, I am also ending up with that blue screen and I'm not sure if it actually downloaded like it did with the old format. I'm going to have to look around and make sure it did!
    Thanks for the tute!
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  39. HomeroadApril 26, 2012 at 3:58 AM

    Opened up Firefox and it worked perfectly! Safari didn't work
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  40. Janis@All Things BeautifulApril 26, 2012 at 6:57 AM

    Good to know Susan! I'm going to try Firefox! I kept getting the blue screen list too...ugh! You saved me some research time!!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Janis@All Things BeautifulApril 26, 2012 at 12:07 PM

    Thank you Donna for this great tutorial! I'm the one who always hits a glitch when everyone else says it worked easily. I had tried backing up before, and had gotten that blue screen list that Stephanie commented about. As I read down the comments, thank you so much Susan for sharing your solution, because it worked for me!!! Finally!! I have a Mac and was using Safari. I downloaded Firefox, and followed the instructions and it worked like a charm! I am one excited, backed up blogger!!!

    ReplyDelete
  42. SwedishCorner ~ DownUnder...PernillaApril 27, 2012 at 3:42 PM

    Thank You Thank You Thank You :)
    Greetings from Australia♥
    ~Pernilla

    ReplyDelete
  43. Grace @ Sense and SimplicityApril 29, 2012 at 5:52 PM

    Not boring - I would say very useful. I just followed your excellent instructions and need ot remember to do so more often.

    ReplyDelete
  44. MimiMay 1, 2012 at 5:16 PM

    thanks Donna! I haven't been able to figure out how to do this with the new blogger and I needed the reminder!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Jessica @ FourGenerationsOneRoofMay 2, 2012 at 2:45 PM

    Definitely a good idea Donna :) Thanks for the reminder. Glad you got your blog back!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Shannon FoxMay 2, 2012 at 3:35 PM

    Thanks Donna! Shared on my facebook page, spreading the word ;) Appreciate the step by step walk through. Just did mine again.

    Glad you got back all your info and everything is okay!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Four Marrs and One VenusMay 2, 2012 at 3:53 PM

    Thank you and Thank you Shannon at Fox Hollow for posting this on FB! I backed it up- silly that I have never known how to do it- so easy! Thanks for the steps! Perfect! Jen

    ReplyDelete
  48. Little City FarmMay 2, 2012 at 5:17 PM

    Just did it. I didn't know how to before and never really thought about it. Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  49. The Beauty ProfessorMay 8, 2012 at 5:42 PM

    Thanks so much for sharing this! Your directions and visuals were crystal clear! I just performed the procedure (my gosh...I sound like a surgeon!) successfully. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  50. AnnMay 9, 2012 at 6:32 PM

    Wow! I just found this and did it right away. What a great service you've done for all us unsuspecting bloggers.

    ReplyDelete
  51. MarvaMay 20, 2012 at 5:18 PM

    Awesome! Thank you sooo much! I would be heartbroken if my blog disappeared!

    ReplyDelete
  52. U MELLUZÍNKY - Látky plné radostiJune 12, 2012 at 1:17 PM

    THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS GREAT IDEA! :) I´ve never thought that this could happen at all...!!! :)) Lovely days to you,m.

    ReplyDelete
  53. AliceJuly 23, 2012 at 7:46 AM

    i backed my blog up, but i have no idea where it went. can you tell me how i find it? i'm on a mac. thanks, alice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funky Junk InteriorsAugust 18, 2012 at 11:55 AM

      Hey Alice, go to your finder menu and search 'downloads'. It'll take you right to your download folder. You may also see the download tab on your upper right hand side. It looks like a little box with a down arrow.

      Delete
  54. TammyAugust 9, 2012 at 9:14 PM

    Thanks for this post, Donna. I remembered reading it back when you posted it and thought to myself, "yeah, I should do that".. but of course never did.. then tonight, when I tried to load my blog I got some terrifying message that said my blog had disappeared. When I clicked on the "Where did it go" hyperlink, that didn't help.. it was all like, "are you sure you didn't delete it by accident?" Delete it by accident??? I didn't even know I COULD delete it, so how on earth did I do it by accident?? ugh! So I took a deep breath and just went to blogger and tried to log in. They had to call and give me a code to enter, but finally I was able to log in and my blog was there. I came straight here for your instructions and backed it up right THEN! Whew! Maybe I'll be able to sleep tonight after all! Thank you!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. MoeSeptember 5, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    Thanks so much for this post. I am a new follower from the WLW blog hop and I thought I was backing mine up, but was not doing it right at all. I am going to back mine up as soon as I get home today.


    www.adventureswithcaptaindestructo.com

    ReplyDelete
  56. UnknownSeptember 7, 2012 at 7:24 PM

    Freaking Awesome! Thank you. :)

    Following you on Facebook now. I recently joined twitter and mentioned to you how grateful I am for your blog. Again, many thanks. Hope you have a great weekend.

    Amanda

    www.mommyiscoocoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  57. Keeping It CozySeptember 11, 2012 at 5:24 PM

    Thank you so much for this tutorial! I suddenly felt the urge to save everything and remembered you posting about this very thing!

    ReplyDelete
  58. UnknownOctober 1, 2012 at 11:40 AM

    I was linked here from pinterest and love this post. I have now backed up my blog and am going to be writing in to back up the blog once a week on my schedule. Thank you so much for letting us know the steps involved.

    ReplyDelete
  59. UnknownOctober 23, 2012 at 5:12 AM

    Just backed up my blog. I am all new to this and still learning everyday. I had no idea and never even thought of it duh!k
    Thanks a bunch!
    Kim :)

    http://myhappyobsessions.blogspot.com/2012/10/pennsyltucky-punkin-pickin.html

    ReplyDelete
  60. Sarah Bradford-BurtonDecember 23, 2012 at 8:25 AM

    Sometimes when you log in to Blogger after not doing it in a long time you might log in with a new or old password...this is when all your blogs may or may not show up...I checked with Blogger and they said just try logging in again. Your blogs will not disappear...they are still there. But I totally agree that backing up should be a weekly or monthly practice depending on how often you update your blog and posts.

    ReplyDelete
  61. UnknownJanuary 10, 2013 at 8:57 AM

    Thank you thank you! Found this on Pinterest and just backed it up!

    ReplyDelete
  62. BethJanuary 10, 2013 at 9:15 AM

    I have been wanting to do this for a loooong time! But when I wanted to do it, everyone else was still using the old dashboard and the instructions were quite different & I wasn't familiar enough with the new version yet to muttle my way through it.

    THANK YOU for posting this Donna! I guess I won't know what to do with the file IF/WHEN I should need it. I'll cross that bridge later, but at least the critical part is there & I have it on disc too.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Marti CarrollJanuary 10, 2013 at 9:55 AM

    I purchased Carbonite so that every night my computer is backed up at an off site location....just in case my hard drive crashes. I never have to do a thing. Its like $59 a month. I'm sure hoping that this also covers my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  64. JeannieJanuary 10, 2013 at 10:11 PM

    NOT boring. This happened to me Tuesday. I had no idea what went wrong. It just said, "Disabled due to unusual activity". I searched through some forums and somehow, quite by accident, found a link that got a confirmation number sent to me via my alternate e-mail account. So glad I had set that up before hand!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  65. UnknownFebruary 1, 2013 at 10:15 PM

    I agreed. This is a really great reminder. Something I'd also like to know is how to restore a blog from the download? Do you have a post for this? Thankfully, I don't need to know, but I always like to be prepared....just in case. :)

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments and read every one of these! For more interactive feedback from me, I'd love it if you'd join my FJI Facebook page where communication is always current and incredibly fun! Thank-you!