Windows 10: Is there any way to solve error 0x800700E for connecting to an external hard drive in...

I have been using FileHistory in Windows 10 for several years. Recently (probably after my antivirus program was updated), my computer said that it could not connect to my external harddrive, which I use for backing up.


At first, I solved the problem by deactivating the drive, and then choosing a new drive (which actually was the same drive). However, that procedure creates a new backup copy, which takes up a lot of space on my external harddrive. Thus, I can't do that every time, and it shouldn't be necessary when using FileHistory. I do not have my external harddrive connected to the computer always. I only connect it, when I want to do a backup. The computer is set to backup automatically every 24 hours, but I always run the backup manually ("Back up now"). When I tried updating my backup some time later, I again could not connect to the external hard drive. I however, got the possibility to choose the drive in a separate window (some kind of advanced settings, I believe, but it is a little unclear to me now). I could see several versions of the backup in that window (I have before started over because of problems). I tried first with the topmost, which did not make any difference. Then, I tried the second from the top. After that, I see error 0x800700E instead of being given the possibility to choose a drive for backing up.



I can both read from and write to the external harddrive in Windows Explorer and saving a Word document to the drive. Thus the connection as such is working.



I tried googling the error code, and I have run both DISM and sfc scannow. Neither found any errors. I also tried using a restore point, which failed. I can't remember what error code I got, but I am quite certain it said something with error on system files.


Any suggestions what I can do to be able to use FileHistory again?

:)

 

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.

 

External Hard Drive

Hi John,

We suggest that you try the troubleshooting steps below:

• Open your External Hard Drive file in File Explorer.
• Type the name of the file you want to search on the search box and click Enter.

The file will show up in Search Results and you will be able to move it to the correct folder.

Let us know if you need further help.

 

Is there any way to reuse an external hard drive for file history in Windows 10

Concerning your questions:

1) I have downloaded and installed the automatic updates from Windows Update. Additionally, I recently updated to the 2019 version of my antivirus program, which is Bitdefender International Security.

2) I don't get any error messages, when I plug the drive into an USB connection on the computer.

3) No, I haven't, but please see below

4) I only have one external hard drive, so no.

I can read the information on the external hard drive, when I access it from Windows Explorer. I can also save a file directly to the external hard drive.

Since I wrote to you, I tried once more to do a backup using File History, which has aggrevated the problem. No when I try to use/switch on File History (I am not quite sure of the terminology here, as my Windows installation
is in Danish), I get error code 0x800700E. This means, I can't use File History at all now. Thus, I don't think it will make much sense to try connecting to another USB port.

I tried googling that error code, and have run both DISM and sfc scannow. Neither found any errors. I also tried using a restore point, which failed. I can't remember what error code I got, but I am quite certain it said something
with error on system files.

Any suggestions what I can do?

Kind regards,