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I would like to use the File History feature of Windows 8 and so far it has been working fine. However, I have come across a scenario and need input on practicality for the following:
2. System crashes and new HDD required
4. Time to use File History for restore.... BUT
From what I understand you cannot "point" the new Windows 8 machine to use the external drive with previous File History. You will need to do a manual copy and paste from the external USB (by selecting the appropriate file in the File History directory on the USB drive).
The problem is, File History appends the date and time stamp, thus the file name changes. For example, MYDOC.DOC become MYDOC.DOC ((2013_04_04 18_27_46 UTC).
How do you remove the parenthesis from the file name when copying the file back to its original location or is File History not a "system restore" type utility. Whilst the parenthesis will not stop applications working (like WORD, OUTLOOK etc), it looks horrible and creates these long file names that is unwanted.
Thoughts/suggestions/comments?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
I just had to try to do this, and I was able to (on a new Win8 machine) point at the previous backup by clicking Drives and then selecting my backup drive (a network share in my case). Then I was able to check "I want to use a previous backup on this File History drive" and it displayed my existing backups on that drive. Finally, I was able to do the regular (if not very intuitive) restore files by clicking the settings icon in the upper right of File History.
Hope that helps,
Glenn Gailey
Glenn, I have a similar challenge, but I don't understand where you check "drives".
Hi,
I'v find how to do that. You have to reset the extern HD has the HD for file history and after that, do not execute the back up but only actived the external HD at the last back up. After that you have to retore all files to the initiate emplacement. That's it.
Excuse my bad english. This is the page where you can read the procedure in french. The same page would be found in english.
Good luck. Have a nice day.
http://windows.microsoft.com/fr-ca/windows-8/how-use-file-history
http://windows.microsoft.com/fr-ca/windows-8/what-something-goes-wrong-file-history
Has anybody considered using the 'Windows Easy Transfer' app that came with Windows 8?
Try it, you might like it.
Alison
It's incredible how people who try to be helpful never read/understand the thread in which they attempt to offer a solution.
No one is talking about transferring documents and settings between new computers, so "Windows Easy Transfer" belongs in a different thread.
This is an issue related to "Windows File History" in which users are unable to restore previously backed up files using this feature when they are running a new Windows installation.
And it is a major problem for anyone who has encountered it and quite amazing that the developers of this app have simply ignored customer issues.
Has anybody considered using the 'Windows Easy Transfer' app that came with Windows 8?
Try it, you might like it.
Alison
