Choose between external hard drives (cheaper, more capacity) and external SSDs (faster, more durable, portable). For backups, a standard external HDD is usually sufficient.
Step 1: Choose and Prepare Your Drive
Select the right drive and format it correctly.
1
Choose the Right Drive
Backup drive should be at least 2x your internal storage
External HDD: 2TB from £50, 4TB from £80, best value for backups
External SSD: 1TB from £60, 2TB from £100, faster and more portable
Look for USB 3.0 or USB-C for adequate speed
Seagate, WD, Samsung, and Toshiba are reliable brands
2
Format the Drive
Windows: Right-click drive in File Explorer → Format
Choose NTFS for Windows-only use
Choose exFAT for use with both Windows and Mac
Mac: Open Disk Utility → Select drive → Erase
Choose APFS for Mac-only or exFAT for cross-platform
Quick format is fine for new drives
Warning:
Formatting erases all data on the drive. Only format new or empty drives.
Step 2: Windows Backup Setup
Configure Windows File History for automatic backups.
1
Set Up File History
Connect your external drive
Settings → Update & Security → Backup
Click 'Add a drive' and select your external drive
Toggle ON 'Automatically back up my files'
Click 'More options' to configure what's backed up
2
Configure Backup Settings
Set backup frequency: Every hour (recommended) or custom
Choose how long to keep backups: Forever or until space needed
Review which folders are included
Add any additional folders you want backed up
Exclude large folders you don't need (e.g., game installs)
3
Create a System Image
Control Panel → Backup and Restore → Create a system image
Select your external drive as the destination
Include your system drive at minimum
Click 'Start backup'
This creates a complete snapshot you can restore from
Step 3: Mac Backup with Time Machine
Time Machine provides comprehensive Mac backups.
1
Set Up Time Machine
Connect the external drive
System Settings → General → Time Machine
Click 'Add Backup Disk' and select your drive
Time Machine will format the drive (backs up everything by default)
First backup takes several hours
Subsequent backups are fast (only changes are backed up)
2
Verify Your Backups
Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar
Select 'Browse Time Machine Backups'
Navigate to check that recent files are present
Try restoring a test file to confirm backups work
Check backup status regularly in System Settings
Replace the backup drive every 3-5 years for reliability
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