Windows 10: Does windows 10 file history backup take over the whole drive

I want to start using File History.

Using a drive I already have some files on.

I can't lose those files.

I'm afraid that File History might take over the whole drive deleting the files that are already there.

Is that what happens or does it simply add a new file?


Does windows 10 file history backup take over the whole drive?

:)

 

File History restart

Hi Jim,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community forums.



To change the backup drive for File History, the current process should be stopped. I suggest you to try the steps listed below to stop file history on an older drive and restart it on a new drive:



Change File History backup drive:

• Open Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Backup.
  
• Click on More Options, scroll down to locate
  Backup to a different drive section, and choose Stop Using Drive.
  
• Plug in the new storage drive, navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Backup,
  and choose Add a Drive.
  
• Restart File History and configure it by referring to the article
  
  File History in Windows.
  

Hope it helps.

Regards,

 

File History drive

Hi Joseph,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

I would like to inform you that if your File History drive has been disconnected for too long, or it doesn't have enough space to save temporary versions of your files. To continue saving copies of your files, you'll need to reconnect your File History drive.
Plug in your external File History drive or reselect your network. You can start a backup manually or wait for the next scheduled backup or reselect the drive. Here is the steps:

To manually start a backup

• 
  Open File History by pressing Windows key> type File History
  > Click on File History.
  
• 
  Tap or click Back up now.
  

To reselect your drive

• 
  Open File History by pressing Windows key> type File History
  > Click on File History.
  
• 
  Tap or click Select drive.
  
• 
  On the Select a File History drive page, tap or click your current drive or network location, and then tap or click
  OK.
  

Hope it helps. Let us know if you need more help and we'll be glad to assist.

 

Disconnect and reconnect File History drive

Hi David,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



To stop file history using a drive, you can try the steps listed below.



Ideally, File History will save copies of your files every hour, so disconnecting and reconnecting the backup drive every hour would be a tedious task. However, if you still would like to go for it, you may try the steps listed
below.

• Open Settings and go to Update & Security > Backup using File History.
  
• Scroll down to Backup to a different drive
  and choose Stop using the drive to disconnect the drive.
  
• Later, when you would like to reconnect, go to
  Settings>
  Update & security>
  Backup>
  Add a drive to reconnect the drive.
  

Additional Info: Use File History to backup and restore
in Windows 10



Let us know how it goes.

Regards,