External hard drive setup in Exeter
Professional external hard drive setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30 mins-1 hr
Location
Exeter, Devon
External hard drive set up properly and working. Whether you need backups running automatically or just want extra storage space, I'll get it configured correctly for your computer and show you how to use it.
You've Got An External Drive... Now What?
You bought the drive. It's sitting on your desk. The box is open. But you've no idea what to do with it and you're worried about breaking something or doing it wrong.
💡 Pro tip: Most drives come "formatted" for Windows. If you've got a Mac and just plug it in, it might not work properly. This is fixable in about 2 minutes.
Why This Matters
Your computer's hard drive WILL fail eventually. Not if, when. All those photos, documents, years of work - gone in an instant.
| ✅ With Backups | ❌ Without Backups |
|---|---|
| Computer dies? No problem, restore everything | Everything gone forever |
| Automatic, happens in background | Constantly meaning to do it, never do |
| Sleep easy at night | Low-level stress about losing stuff |
| Takes 30 minutes to set up once | Years of regret when it all vanishes |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Format | Drive prepared properly for your computer type |
| Configure | Backup software set up and tested |
| Explain | Show you how it works, what to expect |
📦 You're Left With
- Drive formatted correctly
- Automatic backups running (if wanted)
- Understanding of how to check it's working
- Peace of mind your stuff is protected
Pricing Guide
| What You Need | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Format drive + basic setup | 30 mins-1 hr | £60 |
| Setup + automatic backups | 1 hr | £60 |
| Multiple drives or complex setup | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. First backup can take hours but you don't need me there for that.
Perfect For You If...
✅ You've got irreplaceable photos - kids, holidays, family events
✅ You work from home - losing work files would be a disaster
✅ You've bought a drive but don't know what to do with it - common as muck
✅ Your computer is getting full - move old files to free up space
Why Choose Us for External hard drive setup in Exeter?
Drive formatted and ready to use
Automatic backups configured
All your important files protected
Works with Mac or Windows
What to Expect
Step 1: Check What You've Got
I'll look at your computer, how much stuff needs backing up, what drive you've got (or recommend one if you haven't bought it yet).
Step 2: Format & Setup
Drive gets formatted properly for your computer. If you want automatic backups, I'll configure that. If you just want extra storage, I'll set that up instead.
Step 3: Test & Explain
Make sure everything's working, do a test backup, and explain how to check it's running properly. You'll know exactly what's happening and how to use it.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to do this yourself? Here's the basics:
🔧 For Mac users (Time Machine)
- Plug in the drive
- Mac should ask "Do you want to use this to back up with Time Machine?"
- Click "Use as Backup Disk"
- Wait while it does first backup (hours, usually)
- After that, it backs up automatically when plugged in
💻 For Windows users (File History)
- Plug in the drive
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Backup
- Click "Add a drive" and select your external drive
- Turn on "Automatically back up my files"
- It'll backup to that drive from now on
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not checking the backup actually worked
- Filling the drive so full there's no room for new backups
- Formatting the wrong drive (yes, this happens)
- Never testing if you can actually restore files from it
💡 Pro trick: Once set up, check your backup once a month. Just open it and verify recent files are there. Takes 30 seconds and means you'll know if something's wrong before you need it.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
💾 Multiple computers? You can use one drive for multiple machines, but each needs its own partition/folder. I can set this up if needed.
Bought a massive drive? You can use part of it for backups and part for general file storage. I'll partition it properly so both work well.
Old computer running slow? Moving big files (photos, videos) to an external drive can speed things up noticeably. Your computer's drive has more breathing room.
Already got files on the drive? No problem. I can set up backups without wiping what's already there, or help you move files around if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
I bought a hard drive but don't know how to set it up - can you help?
That's exactly what this service is for. I'll plug it in, format it properly for your computer, set up automatic backups if you want them, and make sure you understand how to use it. You'll leave with everything working.
Will this backup all my photos and documents automatically?
Yes, if that's what you want. I can set up Time Machine (Mac) or File History (Windows) to backup everything important automatically. Or just show you how to drag files across manually. Whatever suits how you work.
What size hard drive do I need for backups?
Rule of thumb: at least double your computer's storage. So if you've got 500GB of stuff, get a 1TB drive minimum. I can check what you've currently got stored and recommend a size before you buy anything.
Can I use the same drive for my Mac and Windows PC?
Yes, but it needs formatting a specific way (exFAT usually). I'll set it up so both computers can read and write to it. You'll lose a couple of features compared to Mac-only or Windows-only, but it'll work fine for most people.
How often should I run backups?
Once it's set up properly, you don't have to think about it - they happen automatically when the drive's plugged in. For important stuff, I'd recommend keeping it plugged in so it backs up daily. For peace of mind more than anything.
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