Computer Setup · Melbourne

New Computer in Melbourne? We’ll Set It Up Properly — at Your Home

The store sets up the basics. Everything else — your files, photos, emails, printer, passwords and programs — gets left for you. Fixable comes to your home and does it all properly.

Windows 10 & 11 Mac & MacBook Data transfer Seniors welcome All Melbourne suburbs
Updated April 2026 6 min read Windows & Mac both covered

You bought a new computer. Harvey Norman or JB Hi-Fi might have done the initial setup. But your documents aren’t there. Your emails aren’t connected. The printer stopped working. And the old computer is still sitting on the desk because you haven’t moved your files yet.

This is the most common situation Fixable walks into across Melbourne every week. The computer is fine. The setup just isn’t finished.

Here’s what a proper new computer setup actually involves — and why it takes two to three hours when done right.

What a proper setup covers

Most store setups get you to the desktop and stop. A proper setup gets you to the point where you can actually use the computer the way you used the old one.

Microsoft or Apple accountSigned in, verified, and connected to all your devices
Files transferred from old computerDocuments, photos, music, desktop — all of it, verified
Email accounts connectedOutlook, Gmail or your provider’s email — working properly
Printer reconnectedDriver installed, tested, confirmed printing on the new machine
Microsoft 365 or Office set upActivated on the new computer, old activation removed
Browser bookmarks movedAll saved websites, passwords and history transferred
Old computer cleared downPersonal data wiped if the old machine is being donated or sold
Walkthrough before we leaveYou know where everything is and how to use the new setup
Real story — Blackburn: A retired teacher bought a new HP laptop from JB Hi-Fi. The store set up her Microsoft account and connected her to Wi-Fi. When Fixable arrived, her old Toshiba was still sitting next to it — twelve years of documents, thousands of family photos, and her entire email history still on the old machine. Three hours later everything was on the new laptop, the printer was working, and she had Outlook open with all her old emails exactly where she left them. The Toshiba went to the bin.

How Fixable moves your data — visualised

People worry about this step the most. Here’s exactly how it works.

The data transfer process — step by step
Old Computer Backed up first Nothing deleted Transfer Files · Photos Email · Bookmarks Verified item by item New Computer Everything checked You confirm it’s all there Old Computer Wiped if keeping or donating Only after you confirm ✓

The old computer is never touched until you’ve confirmed every file is on the new one. Nothing is deleted or wiped without your say-so.

⚠️ Never wipe your old computer first — some stores or well-meaning family members wipe the old computer before confirming the transfer is complete. Once it’s wiped, recovery is difficult and expensive. Fixable always verifies the new computer has everything before the old one is cleared.

Windows vs Mac — what’s different about each setup

🪟
Windows 10 & 11
  • Microsoft account setup and activation
  • Windows 11 Start menu and taskbar configuration
  • Microsoft 365 or Office installation
  • Outlook email with full account history
  • OneDrive setup and folder sync
  • Printer driver installation (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother)
  • Windows Update run and completed
  • Default apps set — browser, PDF, photos
  • Accessibility: text size, display scale, contrast
🍎
Mac & MacBook
  • Apple ID sign-in and iCloud activation
  • Migration Assistant transfer from old Mac or PC
  • Mail app setup with all email accounts
  • iCloud Drive, Photos and Contacts sync
  • AirPrint printer setup
  • Microsoft 365 for Mac if needed
  • macOS updates completed
  • Time Machine backup configured
  • Accessibility: Display Zoom, VoiceOver settings
💡 Microsoft 365 licence tip: Many Melbourne residents pay for Microsoft 365 without realising their subscription covers up to five devices. If you’re paying for it on the old computer, we transfer the licence to the new one and check whether your phone and tablet can be added too — at no extra cost to you.

What if my old computer is slow or won’t turn on?

This comes up more than you’d think. The old computer gave up the ghost at the worst possible time — right when you bought the new one.

Here’s the honest picture:

  • Slow but still turns on — we can almost always get the files. It takes longer, but it works. We copy everything to an external drive first, then move it to the new computer.
  • Won’t turn on but boots to the login screen — usually a software issue. We can often get it running long enough to copy what matters.
  • Completely dead — screen black, nothing — we assess whether the hard drive is intact. If the drive is healthy, data recovery is possible in most cases. If the drive has failed physically, professional data recovery is needed and we’ll tell you that honestly.
Real story — Hawthorn East: A woman in her 60s called us because her old Dell had completely stopped turning on. She had eight years of photos on it — grandchildren, overseas travel, events — and no backup. The new computer was already set up but completely empty. Fixable removed the old hard drive, connected it externally to the new computer, and recovered 47,000 photos and all her documents. The Dell itself was gone. The memories weren’t.

New computer setup for seniors in Melbourne

Buying a new computer is stressful at any age. When you’ve used the same machine for ten years, everything looks different and nothing feels familiar.

Fixable takes extra time with older Melbourne residents to make sure the new computer feels comfortable — not just functional.

What we configure specifically for seniors:

  • Larger text and display scaling — so everything is readable without squinting
  • Simplified desktop — just the programs you use, not a screen full of shortcuts you didn’t ask for
  • Email set up the way you know it — Outlook arranged to match the layout you’re used to where possible
  • MyGov and Medicare bookmarked — saved to the browser toolbar so they’re always one click away
  • Video calling ready — Zoom or FaceTime configured and tested with family before we leave
  • Printed cheat sheet — we leave a simple one-page summary of the main things to remember about the new setup
Something most people don’t realise about Windows 11: Windows 11 moved a lot of familiar settings to different places compared to Windows 10. The Start menu, the default browser, the printer settings, the Control Panel — all shifted. We reconfigure these to work the way you’re used to, so the new computer feels familiar rather than foreign.

Frequently asked questions

What does new computer setup in Melbourne include?

Fixable’s setup covers Microsoft or Apple account setup, Wi-Fi, email, full data transfer from the old computer, printer reconnection, Microsoft 365 or Office activation, browser bookmarks, accessibility settings, and a complete walkthrough before we leave. Everything — not just the basics the store does.

Can you transfer everything from my old computer to the new one?

Yes. We transfer documents, photos, music, desktop files, email history, browser bookmarks and printer settings. We verify everything is on the new computer before the old one is cleared. Nothing gets wiped without your confirmation.

My old computer is very slow or won’t turn on — can you still get the files?

Often yes. If it still powers on — even slowly — we can usually extract everything. If it won’t turn on at all, we assess whether the drive is recoverable. In most cases the data is still intact even when the computer has failed. We tell you honestly what’s possible when we see it.

Do you set up new computers for seniors in Melbourne?

Absolutely. New computer setup for seniors is one of our most requested services across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. We configure larger text, simplified desktops, accessibility features, MyGov bookmarks, and spend as much time as needed walking you through the new setup before we leave.

Can you set up Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365?

Yes. We install, activate and configure Microsoft 365 or Office, set up Outlook with your email accounts and history, and check whether your subscription covers other devices in the household. Many Melbourne residents are paying for a five-device licence and only using it on one machine.

How much does new computer setup cost in Melbourne?

$89 per hour, no call-out fee. A straightforward setup with data transfer typically takes two to three hours. If the old computer is slow or data recovery is needed it may take longer. We give you an honest estimate when we arrive and don’t charge for time spent waiting on slow transfers.

New computer that needs a proper setup?

Fixable visits your Melbourne home, transfers everything from the old one, and sets it all up properly. $89/hr, no call-out fee.

About Fixable: Friendly, patient in-home IT support across all Melbourne suburbs — computers, phones, printers, Wi-Fi and more. Always plain English, no call-out fee. Call 0435 955 429 or visit fixable.au