Windows 10: Windows 10 File Backup no longer working, can't go into file history or start backup

Hello there.I had a mostly successful backup a few months ago via file backup, however I wasn't great about plugging in the drive regularly as I share it with a family member. The other day I messed something up in a game I was modding and had the thought to grab the files from my backup a few months ago as a good place to start over. However when I plugged it in and went to file history, the drive reported there were no files. I tried to start a backup to see if that helped it recognize the backup that was there, but after clicking "start backup" I get a loading dial, and then eventually the

:)

 

Windows 10 File History backup not working


I want to back up my Windows 10 laptop using the built-in Windows back up facility. All of the advice I have read on the internet suggest the use of File History.

I have a Western Digital 500GB USB hard drive which I attached to the laptop and followed the advice on the Windows 10 web site: Settings/Update and Security/Backup/Backup using File History/Automatically back up my files set to 'on'. Then in More options I clicked 'Back up now'.

I could feel the external HDD spinning for a couple of minutes and it then stopped. I left it for another hour to see if anything else happened, but nothing. I looked under 'This PC' for the external HDD, which was listed but remains empty, although it shows a folder 'File History' which is empty. That suggested that something was started but not completed.

I found this thread elsewhere on this forum:

file history - Windows 10 Forums

which discusses the possibility of the USB port (and HDD) being automatically turned off to save energy, and wondered whether that might be happening in my case.

I have now followed the procedure recommended and found that the external HHD now spins for a longer time. However, it stopped again after about 30 minutes, so I had a look in More options/Restore files from a current backup. This somehow caused the HDD to spin up again, but the message on that page states that the backup procedure is still working. Also, in 'This PC' the HDD icon still shows empty. After a further 20 minutes, it stopped spinning again, yet still no sign of any backup files on the external HDD.

Unless there is something obvious that I am doing wrong, I can only assume there is a problem with File History.
I notice that there is still the option to use the old Windows 7 backup facility, which I have found to work well on my old W7 computer. I suppose there is also the option of using some third-party backup software.

Three questions, please:

1. Should I persist with File History and, if so, is there an easy fix?

2. Should I use the Windows 7 backup option or another recommended software?

3. I am also not sure about leaving my (internal) HDD being left turned on, as explained in the thread I link to above. Is it advisable to leave it set to 'never turn off'?

Apologies for being so verbose, but I felt it necessary to include as much information as possible!

 

File History Backup Starts and Immediately Stops

EDIT: I was able to fix the problem by simply choosing to stop using my drive (option found in the backup settings) and creating a new backup on the same drive.

I periodically back up selected folders onto an external hard drive using File History on Windows 10, but I have been unable to do this for awhile. Now, when I click "Back up now", the backup will start and stop just a few seconds after, with the date of
the last backup (2/2/2017) not changing. I have tried several different steps to fix this problem, including the following:

• Performing a clean boot
• Running sfc /scannow and DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth in Command Prompt
• Restarting the appropriate services in services.msc
• Running MRT to perform a full system scan

Regardless of what I do, the problem still occurs. I checked event viewer, and noticed that, in the File History backup log, there were 2 errors on February 16th saying
"Unable to scan user libraries for changes and perform backup of modified files for configuration C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory\Configuration\Config" with all attempts to backup afterwards showing errors saying
"Unable to start a backup cycle for configuration C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory\Configuration\Config".

How can I fix this so that I can use File History as I normally would for backups?

 

File History backups

Hi William,

To help you with your File History backups issue, we suggest running the
System File Checker with the steps found on this
thread.

Update us on the results.

Regards.