Windows 10: Backup using File History does not work and Backup/Restore stops at 97% - Windows 10

Windows backup using File History does not work anymore.Backup using Backup/Restore stops at 97%. When doing Google search of these issues, it seems many people are experiencing the same issues. I have tried many suggestions and they have failed to resolve these issues. Should I continue to try or just use a third party software to do intermittent backups? If so, what software do you recommend?

:)

 

Windows 10 File History backup not working


I want to back up my Windows 10 laptop using the built-in Windows back up facility. All of the advice I have read on the internet suggest the use of File History.

I have a Western Digital 500GB USB hard drive which I attached to the laptop and followed the advice on the Windows 10 web site: Settings/Update and Security/Backup/Backup using File History/Automatically back up my files set to 'on'. Then in More options I clicked 'Back up now'.

I could feel the external HDD spinning for a couple of minutes and it then stopped. I left it for another hour to see if anything else happened, but nothing. I looked under 'This PC' for the external HDD, which was listed but remains empty, although it shows a folder 'File History' which is empty. That suggested that something was started but not completed.

I found this thread elsewhere on this forum:

file history - Windows 10 Forums

which discusses the possibility of the USB port (and HDD) being automatically turned off to save energy, and wondered whether that might be happening in my case.

I have now followed the procedure recommended and found that the external HHD now spins for a longer time. However, it stopped again after about 30 minutes, so I had a look in More options/Restore files from a current backup. This somehow caused the HDD to spin up again, but the message on that page states that the backup procedure is still working. Also, in 'This PC' the HDD icon still shows empty. After a further 20 minutes, it stopped spinning again, yet still no sign of any backup files on the external HDD.

Unless there is something obvious that I am doing wrong, I can only assume there is a problem with File History.
I notice that there is still the option to use the old Windows 7 backup facility, which I have found to work well on my old W7 computer. I suppose there is also the option of using some third-party backup software.

Three questions, please:

1. Should I persist with File History and, if so, is there an easy fix?

2. Should I use the Windows 7 backup option or another recommended software?

3. I am also not sure about leaving my (internal) HDD being left turned on, as explained in the thread I link to above. Is it advisable to leave it set to 'never turn off'?

Apologies for being so verbose, but I felt it necessary to include as much information as possible!

 

W10 Backup & Restore and File History

Hi,

Yes, you can use both Backup and Restore and File History at the same time.

Here are the difference between File History and Backup and Restore:

File History backs up copies of files that are in the Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders and the OneDrive files available offline on your PC.

Backup and Restore back up files or create system image backups. A system image is an exact copy of a drive. It includes the drives required for Windows to run. It also includes Windows and your system settings, programs, and files. You
can use a system image to restore the contents of your computer if your hard disk stops working.

For more information, your may check these articles:

File History in Windows

Back up and restore your files

Keep us posted.

 

Backup utility

Cobian backup will do file backups locally or to ftp, with or without encryption and compression. However it doesn't do image backups, which is really what you need if want to fully restore your system.

I've used the W7 back up program and Acronis a few times to restore a system and both work great. With Acronis though, you need to burn the recovery cd they suggest FOR EACH and EVERY machine you use it on.

One problem with W7 backup is that seems to break easily. On one machine I did an upgrade re-install and the backup utility doesn't work. No luck in trouble shooting it either. So I now rely on Acronis exclusively for image backups. But I use Cobian for file backups to ftp.