Starting with Windows Vista, Microsoft introduced a feature called as Shadow Copy or Previous Versions. This allowed users to restore earlier versions of their files using the Backup and Restore feature.
File History is a data backup feature for Microsoft Windows operating system. You can use it to automatically backup files to external, internal or network connected storage and restore them at a. Backup and Restore was removed in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. Microsoft said that this program is underused and is touting File History as the feature to replace file-based backup. All access points were removed except a Control Panel applet called Windows 7 File Recovery.
In Windows 8, Microsoft has introduced a feature called as File History. File History in Windows 8 saves copies of your Libraries, Desktop, Favorites and Contacts, so that you can get them back any time, if they are ever lost or damaged. While System Restore allows you to completely restore your computer to an earlier state, File History lets you restore your files and data from an earlier point in time. File History in Windows 8To access File History, open Control Panel and under System and Security, click on Save backup copies of your files with File History.By default, File History is turned Off.
You will have to turn it on.File History does not allow you to back up files to another drive on the same hard disk – but there is a way out, which has been discussed at the end of this post. You will have to connect an external drive or you can use a network location.
So before you enable File History, you will have to connect and external drive. Once you have done so, you will be able to Turn On File History.
You will see the following notification in the top right corner of your screen. Tap or Click on it to see the options.Select Configure this drive for backup. You will see this option, the first time you connect it.File History will be turned on and will start working!Restore FilesTo restore files, click on Restore personal files. The Home of File History will open. Here you will see all the folders which are included in your Libraries, along with some other files.Browse to the file you want to restore, select it and then click on the blue Restore button at the bottom of the Home.You will get a confirmation box asking you to confirm the replacement. Choose the appropriate option. Clicking on Replace the file in the destination folders, will replace the file.Add more filesBy default, File History backs up Libraries, Desktop, Favorites and Contact only.
So if you want additional files to be included, you will have to add them to your Libraries. Change DriveIf you want to change the drive for backing up, click on Change drive. Here you may select an alternative drive or add a new network location. Once done, File History will start moving your data to the new drive. Exclude foldersIf you wish to exclude certain folders from being backed up, click on Exclude folders and select the one’s you do not want File History to back up.It’s so simple! Configure File HistoryFile History offers you more control on what to back up and how frequently.
The best thing about File History in Windows 8, unlike Previous Versions in Windows 7, is that you can choose how often you want to save copies of your files and how long your computer should keep the saved versions. To do so, click on Settings.By default, Windows 8 will save your file copies every 1 hour, but if you wish you can change this setting from 10 minutes to 24 hours.File History uses an external disk or network drive for backing up, it caches data to your primary disk. By default, 5% of disk space is allotted for offline cache. This too can be changed from 2% to 20% of the disk space.You can also configure how long you want the backed up files to be saved. The default is forever.
You can choose from 1 month to 2 years. If you select Until space is needed, the older versions will get deleted, as and when space is required. Delete old versions in File HistoryIf you wish to clean up File History, click on the Clean up versions button. Here you can delete old versions of the files as per your requirement.File History is also integrated with Windows 8 explorer. In the ribbon interface you will see the History button. Selecting a file and clicking on the History button, will allow you to restore available versions.Create Backups on Local Drive using File History in Windows 8As I had mentioned, by default, Windows 8 does not offer any direct way to let you create backups on your local hard drive. But there is a way out.
To do so, select the drive you want to create the backups on. Lets say you have selected D drive. Now right-click on it and select Properties. Under the Sharing tab, click on Advanced Sharing button. In the window which opens, check Share this folder.
Next give the folder a name. I have given the name as FileHistoryBackup.Next click on Permissions. In the folder’s Permissions box, check the Allow boxes for Full Control, Change and Read. Click Apply/OK.Now in the Change drive setting, click on Add Network Location and enter the following in the Folder field.127.0.0.1FileHistoryBackupClick Select Folder Save OK. The backups via File History will now get saved in your D:FileHistoryBackup folder.If I have missed out anything, please do share in the comments. Supposing you want to exclude a specific folder from the File History backup AFTER you’ve already backed it up.
So you add it to the excluded folder list. Problem is, doing so won’t automatically delete the backup files. The clean up utility can’t be performed on one specific folder and even if you could, it still leaves one copy, the latest one.I have this problem with my podcasts folder – and it’s taking up a lot of space on my remote drive, space that I want to free up.Is it safe to go to the file history backup folder and just delete the folder that you’ve chosen to exclude?
That is, will there be adverse consequences that I am not aware of?
Tip: You can also, such as Word 2016, or open earlier versions of Office files in mobile applications ( Menu History).Go to the.You might need to sign in with your Microsoft account, or your work or school account.Select the document for which you want to restore an earlier version, and then at the top, select Version history.(In Classic view, select the document, then at the top, select More Version History.).Do one of the following:.If you're signed in to OneDrive with a Microsoft account, the file opens in a viewer. Select the older version that you want to restore, and then click Restore.If you're signed in to OneDrive with a work or school account (with Office 365 business), the Version History pane opens. Select the ellipses (.) next to the version of the document that you want to restore, and then click Restore.In Classic view or earlier versions of SharePoint Server, in the Version History dialog box, select the arrow next to the version of the document that you want to restore, and then click Restore.If you see a confirmation message, click OK.The document version you selected becomes the current version. The previous current version becomes the previous version in the list.
Notes:.If you're using OneDrive as part of SharePoint Server, your administrator may have turned off document versioning. For more information about SharePoint versioning settings (which also apply to OneDrive for Business) see or.If you're signed into OneDrive with a Microsoft account, items in the recycle bin are automatically deleted 30 days after they're put there. If your recycle bin is full, the oldest items will be automatically deleted after three days. If you're signed in with a work or school account, items in the recycle bin are automatically deleted after 93 days, unless the administrator has changed the setting. See more information about for work or school accounts.Need more help?Learn how to or.Get online helpSee more support pages for and.For the OneDrive mobile app, see.Email supportIf you still need help, shake your mobile device while you're in the OneDrive app. To contact OneDrive for Business support from your PC or Mac, select the OneDrive icon in the notification area or menu bar, then select More Send feedback I don't like something.OneDrive for Business Admins can also view the, or.TipsLetting us know your location may help us resolve your issue more quickly.All fixed? If you contacted us and OneDrive starts working again, please let us know by replying to the email we sent you.