Back Up to a Computer You Own

If have another computer to which you are connected, you can use it as a convenient backup destination. Because this is a computer you can access at any time, you won't have to wake up anybody in the middle of the night when you accidentally delete that presentation you've been working on. And you won't need to send an invitation or get permission to use that computer as a back up destination.

In this example, the computer you're backing up (the source) is a laptop called “Laptop.” You are going to back up Laptop to your other computer called “Desktop.”

With both computers in the same location, your backup is vulnerable to disasters that affect the whole building. For example, you're protected in the event of a hardware failure, but not fire that damages your entire home.

1. Download and install CrashPlan-DFWDV on your computer.
   The set-up assistant will guide you through the rest of the installation. See Installing CrashPlan-DFWDV.
2. Launch CrashPlan-DFWDV by clicking the CrashPlan icon on your desktop (Windows) or in the Dock (Mac).
3. Create an account if you haven't already done so.
4. (Optional) By default, CrashPlan-DFWDV backs up your entire home directory. If you'd like to change this, go to the Backup tab on Laptop and click Change File Selection, under Files to Back Up.

1. Download and install CrashPlan-DFWDV on Desktop.
   The set-up assistant will guide you through the rest of the installation.
2. Click the CrashPlan-DFWDV icon on your desktop (Windows) or in the Dock (Mac).
3. Click Use existing account.
   
4. Enter the email address you used when you created your CrashPlan account on Laptop.
5. Enter the password that you used when you created your CrashPlan account.
6. Click Sign In.
   Now Desktop is available as a backup destination for Laptop (and any other computers in your account) under Destinations > Computers.

1. Open up CrashPlan on Laptop and click the Destinations tab. Screen Details
   
2. Click Desktop in the list of computers.
3. Click Start Backup.

Done!
Laptop is now backing up to Desktop. You can also set up Desktop to back up to Laptop. Just repeat the process in Step 3 from Desktop.