Windows 10: File History Setup

I am looking for some assistance on my setup.
There is 4 people on my family (dad, mom, 2 kids).
Mom, kid1, and kid2 have each their laptops.
I have setup a microsoft family and they are all on the same homegroup. They all login with their own MS account.
My wife and myself have login access to all. Kids only have login access to their own laptop.

I have a "homeserver" laptop with windows 10 that has attached an external seagate 2TB that I want to use for file history. I have login access to this one.
I am trying to understand how file history will work in this situation (I have login access to 4 laptops, so does my wife)
I recommended file history drive to other members of homegroup. I see a message: "I want to use a previous backup on this File History drive " checked but not sure if this is a good idea

Is Windows 10 smart enough not to overwrite backups for the same user on different computers? Would it be a problem to restore since everything may get mixed up between laptops for same user? Should i be worried about the prompt above? I decided not to select it. Thanks for your help and patience

:)

 

File History error 0x80040304 during Backup/Restore

Hi Kenneth,

I will be glad to help you with the issue you have with File History.

How did you setup file history on the computer?

Please follow the below link to know how to setup file history on Windows 10:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/getstarted-back-up-your-files

Thank you.

 

Windows 10 home edition & my drive.

Hi Monzeem, it seems Windows File History is a bit mixed up . . .

Open the Settings App (gear icon on your Star Menu)

Go to Update and Security - Backup

Is File History setup and if so is there a drive listed there to hold the File History?

 

I don't have a complete answer for you. Just give you what I know by personal experience.

I have 2 laptops. They are not in homegroup setup.
I do not do file backups because all the files/documents I want to keep are saved to an external hard drive right away. So, there is no need.
I do run system image backup regularly, about once every 2 weeks or after major update.
I will insert my ext. hdd to laptop #1 and run the File history > system image backup > Create a system image.
When finished, I'll take the ext.hdd to laptop #2 and do the same.
The system will store my 2 backups under WindowsImageBackup folder inside whuich there will be 2 folders of different names. One name for laptop #1 and another name for laptop #2.
From then on, all subsequent image backups will go to the corresponding folders. They will never get mixed up. Not a chance.
I don't know if there is a different procedures on home group setup. I doubt that.

Rest assured very soon people will start telling you their preference, such as Macrium Reflect or Acronis True Image.
Those 2 seem to be the prevalent favourites in this forum, at least.

3rd party programs offer more features, that's for sure, and more "sophisticated."
Whether you want to use the built-in program or need a 3rd party program to do what you want is entirely up to you.

 

@davidhk Thanks. I really want it automated/network based and not dependent on connecting the hard drive to every computer every so often. Set it and forget it... Appreciate if others could comment. Thanks!

 

Might be time to invest in a NAS/Network Attached Storage drive that attaches by Ethernet cable to the Router. It doesn't depend upon any one computer being on and all computers can Map it for access. I have Windows, Mac OS X and Linux Mint accessing mine.

 

They won't get merged or overwritten as the name of the PC is stored in the path.

The structure of file history is like this:

<Drive>:\FileHistory\<User name>\<Computer name>\Data\<Drive letter>\Users\<User name>\etc etc

So you'll end up with paths like this on your FileHistory drive. Code: F:\FileHistory\grarce\PC1\Data\C\Users\garce\Documents F:\FileHistory\grarce\PC1\Data\C\Users\garce\Music F:\FileHistory\grarce\PC2\Data\C\Users\garce\Documents F:\FileHistory\wife\PC1\Data\C\Users\wife\Documents F:\FileHistory\wife\PC3\Data\C\Users\wife\Documents F:\FileHistory\kid1\PC1\Data\C\Users\kid1\Music[/quote] You can check this for the PC you are already backing up with file history if you open up the FileHistory folder on the backup drive.