Windows 10: File History issue

I am using a Seagate EHD as a backup using File History. I didn't have any problem with the initial backup. After working on organizing several files over several days, I wanted to check and make sure that things were backing up correctly. Unfortunately, my computer had lost the connection to the EHD. I have gone through all the reconnect a drive directions, and my computer will see the EHD, but it will never start the backup process again. I have disconnected the device under the backup settings, I have physically removed the EHD from the computer, I have rebooted and reattached physically and within the backup settings. It wouldn't read that there was a previous FH on the EHD, even though I can go in through File Explorer and open it.


I am running Windows 10 20H2, build 19042.867. I was previously running Windows 10 1909, not sure on build, and had hoped after updating that things would be better, but it doesn't work on either build or version.


Does anyone have any advice other than what is found previously here in the community because I've already read & followed all of those without success. I do not want to have to do a manual backup every time I want a correct version of my files. It's very time consuming, and honestly, very frustrating to have something that is built in to Windows 10 not work correctly.


If FH is just not the right thing to be using, any advice or suggestions for what to use or do for a backup system would be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, I am unable to do a Cloud Based service because I am in a rural area with high speed internet.


Thanks so much for any help or suggestions!

:)

 

File History on/off status issues

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

1. Are you able to access your missing Email files on Web mail?
   
2. Which drive was selected to set up your back up on file history?
   
   
   

Probably the files might have been deleted when you perform the cleanup operation.

However, you may try the suggested steps to recover files from file History.



Restore files from File History

You may also refer this

Video link for more information regarding restoring files.



Hope it helps.

Muralidhar

Microsoft Community Moderator

 

File History never copies anything

Hi,

Temporary system failure is one of the possible reasons why this issue is happening. To help resolve the issue, we suggest deleting the files in the USB drive. Follow the steps below:

• Open Settings > Update & Security > Backup > More Options.
  
• Click Stop using this drive.
  
• Delete the File History folder on your external drive.
  
• Try again to add the USB drive to backup File History.
  

Keep us in the loop with the result.

 

File History Physical Connected But Not Electronic

Hello Candun,

Thank you for posting your concern in Microsoft Community and welcome to the Windows 10 Family.

From the description provided, I understand that File History is not recognizing the external USB expansion drive, even though the drive had worked initially and it was behaving normally in File Explorer.

This issue may occur if any of the backup in the drive you are backing up is corrupted or the library is corrupted.

Please follow the below suggested methods and check if it helps to resolve the issue.

Method 1

1. Open File History and click Select Drive. Select a different drive other than the one that is failing to be recognized. you can consider adding an extra internal HDD to your PC in this situation.

2. Go to the external USB drive that wasn't being recognised, find the File History folder and rename it to "File History.old" or delete it.

3. Go to your C:\Users\your user folder\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows, find the File History folder and rename it "File History.old" or delete it.

4. Re-open File History, click Select drive and select the original USB drive that was not being recognised. The drive should now set up normally and start operating.

5. Delete the File History folder on the drive used in step 1

Method 2

This issue may happen due to system file corruption. I suggest you to run System file checker. System File checker (SFC) scan is done to check if there are any corrupted system files that could be causing this issue. Kindly follow
the below given steps:

• 
  Press Windows key + X, select
  Command prompt (Admin) to bring up elevated Command prompt.
  
• 
  In Command prompt type
  sfc/scannow and press enter.
  

• Restart the computer.

If no corrupted system files were found in the previous state, then I suggest you to try the following steps to employ the DISM command lines:

• 
  Open command prompt by pressing Windows key + X and selecting “Command prompt admin”.
  
• 
  In command prompt, type the following commands and press Enter after each command:
  

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

• 
  Close the command prompt and restart the PC and check if it works.
  

Also refer: What if something goes wrong in File History?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/what-something-goes-wrong-file-history

(Note: Applies to windows 10)

Hope the above information was helpful. If you need further information, feel free to write to us and we would be happy to help you.

Thank you.