Windows 10: Windows 10 does not recognise an external drive for backup purposes (file history)

I've just bought a new laptop with an internal SSD and an external 1Tb HDD. Windows 10 does reflect the HDD in File Explorer, and the drive can be used for copying files to and from it. But when I try to set up a regular backup process, via "save backup copies of your files with file history" the system says "no usable drive was found".

:)

 

File History does not recognise this drive

I have a new Windows 10 machine.

I started to use File History on an external drive to secure my data.

I then made a complete mess of accidentally loading data within the File History file.

So I deleted the File History file from the external drive.

Now Windows 10 refuses to recognise this drive as a suitable place to secure my data with the message "File History does not recognise this drive".

How can I get Windows 10 to be reasonable, and just do what I ask it to do?

 

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?

 

Windows 10 file history will not backup files located on an external drive

I have windows 10 pro. I turned on file history and selected the folders that I want to be backed up. Some of these files are from an external drive. (I have two external USB drives one for storing the file history and the other for large documents. The
file history USB drive has the letter F: the external drive that has the files I want backed up is on Y: I have selected the Y: external USB HD drive from the Select Folder as a folder I want backed up and ran the backup. Windows did not backup the files
on the Y: drive. I then selected a subfolder on the Y: drive to be backed up. The same issue Windows backup will not backup any folders or files on the external Y: drive even when I specifically select the folder to be backed up..

Question is how can I get windows 10 backup to backup folders on the Y: drive. I cannot copy these files to the C: drive because the file size would be too big.

The File History drive is 1.8Terrabytes and the amount of files on the Y: drive is only 650 gig. Therefore there is plenty of space on the F: drive to store the files.

Does anyone know how to get the files backed up from the Y: drive.

If windows 10 cannot backup files from an external drive then why does Windows 10 allow me to even select the Y: drive as a folder to backup without any error message? The Y: drive is selected as a folder to backup and as a further test a subfolder of the
Y: drive is also included however neither is backed up.

Anyone know how to solve this problem?

Best regards

John