Maintenance :: Could Not Enable File History - Doesn't Recognize Drive
Oct 18, 2013
I am getting the errors Could Not Enable File History: The System Cannot Find the File Specified and File History Doesn't Recognize This Drive. I tried deleting the File History folders on the external drive and in the AppData folder (although the File History folders never contain any files, they are always empty). I tried sharing the File History folder on the external drive with Everyone. Nothing has worked.
I've also tried to select another drive or reselect the external drive; I get the message "We found some files you previously copied using File History" and asks if I would like to move them. It won't let me choose No, i.e. choosing No has the same effect as choosing Cancel. If I choose yes, I get an error message saying it can't complete the migration. It seems like I need to reset File History somehow and maybe get rid of these leftover files (although I don't know where they would have come from, because I don't think I've ever turned on File History in the past, but I could be wrong there.) At any rate I don't know where these leftover files would be located because I've already deleted every File History folder I could find (in AppData and on external drive).
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Oct 23, 2013
I have been using File History (in Windows 8 and 8.1) to an external drive connected through a USB 3.0 port. Since upgrading to 8.1, the 3.0 port is unreliable (Renesas driver errors) and I have not been able to find a solution. So I reconnected the drive through a USB2 port. When I restart, the drive is recognized in Explorer as "File History (E" as it was before. But File History will not recognize it (Unknown Error). When I use "Select another drive", I am given the option to select my File History drive, but when I do so, I get a prompt about moving files from the old drive to the new one. Since they are the same drive, needless to say, this doesn't work! If I decline the option, I get an error message "Could not enable File History - The system cannot find the file specified".
Any way (short of re-formatting the drive (which would destroy all previous FH backups) and changing its letter!)?
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Nov 29, 2012
it says File history cannot recognize my external HD.
Under the icon of my external HD it says "Unknown error". Its HP SimpleSave 1TB external hard drive.
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Jan 29, 2014
I really like the way Skydrive synchronises my folders between my work and home laptops and I have my Skydrive docs available offline. But why is Skydrive excluded from the list of libraries that are backed up by File History. I want to be able to back my docs up onto an external hard drive. Is there no way of doing this? Same with Backup on Windows 7, Skydrive seems to be excluded.
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Jul 17, 2014
make the 'file history' feature work. I keep getting the 'No usable drives were found' message along with a recommendation to use an external hard drive. My PC rig has a 240GB SSD (C drive) and a 1TB HDD (D drive) - both internal obviously - but I don't quite understand why there's no way to use the D drive to make a complete backup copy of both the system and the Documents folder, etc. that are on the C drive. I clicked here and there and somehow ended up creating a backup copy (a folder called "WindowsImageBackup") on the D drive but that seems to be a copy of the Windows system only and excludes the Documents folder. how to make the file history work so as to make the complete backup on the D drive?
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Apr 18, 2014
I've been using File History with an external HDD. I now want to use a USB Flash Drive instead. Although my computer shows the flash drive in the devices area, I can't get File History to see the flash drive and use it for back ups. I'm running Win 8.1, and the flash drive is a USB 3.0.
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Dec 24, 2013
windows 8.0
I was happily using file history, it was backing up to my G partition, which is located on my second hard drive (both drives are internal)but now I get error message:
I think the problem is that this partition got added to my user, that's what the network path shows:
How do I get it out of my user, and back on a normal path?
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Nov 26, 2013
Running Windows 8.1 and File History was working OK for my computer, actually on two different computers worked just fine. (I never could get File History to work with Windows 8). Then suddenly this feature just up an quit. Got a little "red" flag in the Action Center. Using the control panel an "setting" up File History my system says that file history is turned off. I never did turn it off, it seems it just up an turned itself off.
But here is the thing, I select my external drive to use for file history and the system says the service can not be started because its disabled or no enabled devices are associated. It "sees" the drive but will not enabled this drive. I have used various windows programs, such as system services..to "turn" on file history. But there seems not to be anything that will fix file history.
It seems all the support is non specific to file history not working. I have yet to see a simple fix to "make" Windows 8.1 to again run file history. I would just like to point and click to backup the computer...but windows is now becoming NON-USER friendly to manage these types of things.
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Apr 24, 2014
I have a Samsung SE-218 External DVD drive, and I cannot seem to access it in Windows 8.1 (though I have not had a chance to try it on any other computers yet, so there is always the possibility that something is wrong with the drive). Whenever I plug it in the light comes on and it will spin the disc for a bit, but nothing shows up in File Explorer or in Device Manager.
I've tried the command prompt command noted in this thread with no luck:
How to make empty ODD show?
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Feb 9, 2013
I don't know how I did it but I got both Windows 7 File Recovery and Windows 8 File History active at the same time. I upgraded from Win 7 to 8 Pro and transferred settings so win 7 file recovery was already active, when I tried to turn on win 8 file recovery I got a message saying I cant because win 7 FR was active. So I deactivated win 7 FR then activated win 8 FR, for giggles I went back and turned on win 7 FR and it worked. Now I have both active, from what I have read this was not possible. Did I break my OS or am I just lucky?
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Oct 30, 2013
In Windows 8.0 File History, it had the nasty habit of duplicating your library files on your backup ( in my case, my external USB backup drive ( Replica 2 Terabyte ). By DUPLICATING, I mean they get copied over and over and over again... This happens to ALL of them, even though you have not touched the majority of them for YEARS. (File History is suppose to copy them over the FIRST time, then copy a new copy with a new name (old name plus date) if you edit the file in any way). I turned of file indexing on ALL my drives, except my C: drive, to see if that would stop it ( this is recommended in many threads on other sites ).
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Jun 30, 2014
I moved File History from one drive (E) to another (F) and although FH shows in F drive, it isn't recognized in "select a drive" in FH. The only option shown is a new drive (G) I installed for Media Recording only and the FH folder isn't there at all. How do I get FH the F drive to be recognized to enable for backup?
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Nov 22, 2013
I used file history on 8 but since 8.1 upgrade It has stopped backing up my Work Folder or my SkyDrive folder/library, how to add these folders to File History?
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Sep 16, 2014
I am trying to to back up my files, using file history, but the program will not recognize my Iomega portable hard drive.
I keep getting this error message every time I try to back up the files.
"File history does not recognise this drive"
There doesn't appear to be any problem with the Omega as I have copied my files to this and double Save when modified.
It seems this problem has been around generally for a long time now as W8.1 search turns many pages on this and I have tried several of the suggestions without success.
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Oct 20, 2013
I take a File History snapshot every night. I have had to do a restore of my c: drive and need to apply my File History for four days. How to do this because I have never done it before.
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Apr 2, 2013
I initially started a File History backup 6 days ago and when I open File History from the control panel it still says "Files last copied on 'and the original date'. I have set a daily preference for backing up so shouldn't the date change each day? When I click on the "run now" link a line appears saying "File History is saving copies of your files", but after about 10 seconds that line is gone and it goes back to "run now". So, it is not saving copies of my files.
I have a brand new Western Digital 3T My Book external hard drive that has the initial "File History" folder and backup on it, but if it's not going to update/backup and just stays as it, is it isn't going to be very useful.
Why won't it backup even when I click the "run now" link?
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Jul 11, 2013
My OS is Windows 8. I normally backup my files to external drive simply using the copy/past command. It always shows a progress bar so I always know when it's finished. Today is the first time I used Windows file history which I do like. But I see no progress bar nor does it tell when it's finished. Is there a way I can see the progress or at least know when it's finished?
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Nov 19, 2013
I'm having an issue with the new File History (sure do miss the windows 7 backup) thing in 8.1.
Basically when I tell File History to run it says it's updating for a minute or two, then says it's done, but it doesn't actually back up anything at all. I have it set to backup to my 750GB external drive (connected via esata) which is solely for backups. The only files that show up on it are the configuration files.
Here's the setup I'm working with:
HP DV7-4285dx laptop with > 2 week old fresh 8.1 install
SanDisk 256GB SSD (C: internal; for OSs and installed programs only)
Samsung 1TB HDD (D: internal; for data only)
Sandisk 750GB HDD (G: external over esata; for backup)
I'm suspecting the problem might have something to do with the fact that I have all of my documents, music, etc. folders redirected (changed the targets of all of the folders in my user directory to D:UsersMatt...) to my D: drive instead of them being on the C: drive.
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Oct 31, 2013
I'm trying to backup my Quicken data files using File History. I tried creating a new Library folder and moving the files into it, but they don't backup to my external HD when using File History.
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Jan 10, 2013
Running Windows 8 Pro x64 as a Domain User with full Admin privileges, I am unable to use File History. I cannot open/start the File History tool. When I attempt to click on it from the Control Panel, nothing happens. When I try running it from the Metro search tool, it switches to the desktop and nothing loads. I've also tried in the Action Center, under Maintenance, "File History is Off. Turn On." Clicking "Turn On" does nothing.
All other items under the Control Panel that I have tried open and work with no problems.
I also tried in a "clean boot". System file checker reported no errors.
I just noticed in Control Panel there is "Windows 7 File Recovery". If I launch that and try to set up a Windows 7-style backup, it seems to work. I suppose I could just use this older tool instead of the new File History, although I haven't researched the differences.
I have another machine with the same version of Windows 8, and I am able to launch File History with no problems. I click File History from control panel and am taken to another screen that allows me to enable it. No such screen on the problem machine. The only main difference is the working machine is a regular user account; whereas, the non working machine is a domain account
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Jan 2, 2014
Im running windows 8.1 pro x64. I just did a clean install and very foolishly I let the file history back up my data instead of doing a manual backup like I usually do.
I tried to do a recovery and it didn't show any recovery dates other than yesterdays date which was when I did the clean install
My computer used to be named Desktop and it had my name as the User. After the during the install I decided to name computer Office with my name as the user instead. I figured maybe changing it back to desktop would do the trick but it didn't work. I even assigned the backup drive the same letter it was prior to clean install.
I can see all my data on external I wouldn't mind just manually moving it back but theres a couple problems with that. First of all every file has now the time stamp right into the file name which is annoying but also for some stuff theres multiple copies with different time stamps.
No matter what I try I cant get the recover files to recognize theres a back up there.
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Sep 18, 2013
I know SkyDrive is explicitly excluded from File History backup in 8.1 but how I could get the same functionality?
I'm using File History to make ad-hoc system images from C: to E: and also various libraries. As SkyDrive doesn't get backed up even if in a library is there some other (free) tool I can use or some way to replicate the functionality?
I'd like to have the time stamped versions of files if possible. I was thinking of replicating Skydrive to another folder somehow and then backing that up with file explorer but that seems a rather inefficient way of doing things.
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Nov 9, 2013
My 12 month old Win 8 64 bit self-build pc has been very stable and as yet, no BSODs.
I want to update /upgrade to Win 8.1 (I have also acquired the ISO) and have managed to execute a File History to my Samsung USB3 1TB ext HDD as a safeguard in preparation. I would prefer to update via the Store to avoid having to reinstall all my programmes
However the File History event log is indicating yellow warning signs and Code 204 errors. Detail states: "Unusual condition was encountered during finalisation of back up cycle for configuration". I am concerned therefore that this might prevent me properly doing a File History recovery should I need to. Researching elsewhere indicates that 204 errors result from corrupted system files.
I have checked the Ext HDD which has the File History folder (12.5 GB) and all my files seem to have been copied OK.
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Jun 14, 2013
I just did a backup (using File History) of files to an external HD. When I looked in the Folders on the HD, there were multiple copies of the same files; some with different dates, and others with the same dates but different ?file numbers. How to do a backup so that files are not duplicated. I'd also like to have files with changes overwrite the old file, provided that I haven't the file name.
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Oct 7, 2013
see attchments...I think I need to know what service or process needs to be turned on.
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May 6, 2014
I'm not sure if I'm using File History properly, even though it seems to be a plug-and-play type of feature. The situation is: when I leave my USB Flash Memory device plugged into the laptop, and the frequency of backup is set to every 10 minutes, it seems that some of the memory is being nibbled away at, even though I haven't created or changed any files.
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Dec 30, 2013
I was happy to discover that Windows 8 came with a program to automatically back up our files to our external HD, but it frustrates me that I cannot specify a time for that to happen. Daily is more than frequent enough for us, but we don't keep our computer on 24/7. If we did, does file history still run even though the computer is in 'sleep' mode?
So is it possible to specify a time somewhere I'm not seeing? Or is the answer to just do more frequent backups and hope that one of them will fall within the window that the computer happens to be on?
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Aug 16, 2013
I have file history set up and running to an external hard drive, happily saving each version of any changed or new data files in the various libraries. I am able to go back and recover older versions of edited or deleted files. All of this I think I have a handle on.
OK, now imagine that one day my hard drive grinds it's heads into the platters, dying a fast death with no recovery possible. I buy a new drive and restore Windows 8 to the way it was when I first got my computer using the saved system restore I have on a USB drive (My PC is an Acer Aspire M5 481PT-6644). So far so good.
Here is my question: how do I re-link this new installation to the existing File History database on the external drive so that I can restore my precious data?
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Dec 2, 2012
I have switched on file history to an external drive and it seemed to be working however changes doesnt seem to be saved. As an example, if I click on restore personal files I get yesterdays date i.e. 1st December, but when I click on the Desktop icon it takes me back to the 17th November. My desktop has changed since the 17th November I have added some files to the desktop but they are not showing up in file history.
There is plenty of space on the backup drive and it is set to back-up every hour. Also it states on the main file history screen that files were last copied 17/11/2012 17:33 and this doesnt change even if I click run now?
Another example, I scanned some documents in a couple of days ago but they are not in the My Scans folder in the file history. If I click on restore I get yesterdays date 1st December (today is the 2nd December) and then if I click on the Documents Icon it takes me back to the 28th November and the My Scans folder doesnt have the latest documents in it?
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Oct 17, 2013
I naturally thought that if I used File History that I would be able to get my files back from the external drive if I had to reinstall Windows8. After a HDD crash it appears that isn't the case.
13gb of Excel Spreadsheets is riding on this solution.
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Feb 26, 2013
I thought the Win 8 File History backup feature looked like a good idea so I bought a 1TB external hard drive to use solely for backup. I was thinking that I would be able to store a massive history of backups on it but I can only set the size of the offline cache to a maximum of 20%. Why is it limited to such a small amount of space? Why not 80% or 100%? Is there a registry setting to increase this?
It seems to be a strange arbitrary thing to set it to such a small amount of space if you want to use a drive dedicated for the purpose.
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