Windows 10: Using copied files from the Windows backup history

I copied some old backup files from an old hard disk to a new hard disk and I'm having a hard time getting windows 10 to see and use them now for backups. These files are organized under a directory that has the name of my pc, the next level of the file hierarchy is "Backup Set DATE NUMBER", and then another level of hierarchy with folders labeled "Backup Files DATE ANOTHER NUMBER" and then a final level of hierarchy with folders labeled "Backup files number.zip", where the number start at 1 and increment for each file. Is there some way I can get Windows to recognize them now, or di

:)

 

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 Backup making multiple copies

FH should not be copying the file if it is unchanged. I can't tell why it ids doing so, but suggest you remove the Downloads folder from FH anyway - not much point in it. You should tweak the folders it is backing up to only what you need - and most of the stuff in your profile (which is where it seems to start from) is pointless - as you wouldn't know how & when to restore most of the files anyway. So check what folders it is doing...



This is my list (found under settings>update>backup>more options - bizarrely, one cannot set this from Control Panel (poor old CP, we loved having you around).

 

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,