Windows 10: File History not recognising external hard drive for backing up

Discus and support File History not recognising external hard drive for backing up in AntiVirus, Firewalls and System Security to solve the problem; HiI'm having issues with File History. It is turned off, and won't let me turn on. When I go through settings into update and security and into backup... Discussion in 'AntiVirus, Firewalls and System Security' started by Backoch, Jun 25, 2021.

  1. BACKOCH
    Backoch Win User

    File History not recognising external hard drive for backing up


    HiI'm having issues with File History. It is turned off, and won't let me turn on. When I go through settings into update and security and into backup it says 'no usable drives found'. When I go through the Backup and Restore route, it says 'File History is off' and the option to turn on is greyed out.Between the two I cannot back up my files because it refuses to recognise my external hard drive, even though the computer has backed up onto it through 'Back up and restore'. Are Back up and Restore and File History mutually exclusive?ThanksBackoch

    :)
     
    Backoch, Jun 25, 2021
    #1
  2. PETER L MURRAY
    Peter L Murray Win User

    File History does not recognise this drive

    Hi Eeshwar

    Thank you for your suggestion.

    I tried a quick reformat of the external drive - that did not work.

    So I then did a full reformat - which took several hours - then disconnected the drive. After re-booting the machine and reconnecting the external drive File History persisted with the message "File History does not recognise this drive".

    I have tried to read the forum you suggested but I got completely lost in all the attempts and failed suggestions that I was totally unable to discern what I should do to get File History to just use the now perfectly clean external drive.

    Could you give me further guidance?
     
    Peter L Murray, Jun 25, 2021
    #2
  3. TWYNOG
    twynog Win User
    External hard drive not recognised

    Thanks for this. I've done what you suggested and been through all the steps mentioned in the article. The hard drive works fine on a Mac computer, and I've managed to copy the information on it. It must be a Surface issue so I'll try to get a chat line tomorrow.
     
    twynog, Jun 25, 2021
    #3
  4. PTF1
    PTF1 Win User

    File History not recognising external hard drive for backing up

    File History does not recognise external hard drive in Windows 10

    I have attached an external hard drive and it has backed up my files I cannot access File History as It cannot detect the external hard drive.

    I'm using Windows 10
     
    PTF1, Jun 25, 2021
    #4
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File History not recognising external hard drive for backing up

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