File History and restore to another PC

Anonymous
2013-04-08T08:46:59+00:00

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:

  1. File History working well and keeping 3 month of file versions on external USB drive

2.  System crashes and new HDD required

  1. New Windows 8 system loaded on to HDD and all is up and running

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?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2013-08-27T05:44:44+00:00

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

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-11-10T12:46:17+00:00

    Using Glenn Gailey's method on Windows 10:

    If you have already selected a file history drive you'll have to stop using it in Settings\Update and security\Backup; choose More options and scroll down to Stop using drive.

    Go to Control panel\System and security\File history.

    From the menu on the left select Select drive. From the list select the

    drive with the old backup on it; if it's a network drive click Add network location.

    When the list of existing backups is populated choose your old backup.

    Respond to the dialog about reusing a previous backup.

    I've just done this (right now) on a Surface Pro with the files from my old laptop, both running Windows 10. I didn't want all the old  files so I'm just copying the ones I want. If you want all of them you can restore the top-level directories.

    Note that the old backup becomes your current backup and is renamed to your current machine. This may or may not be a problem for you. Repeat the whole rigmarole to start again with a new drive.

    Richard

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-10-08T07:08:47+00:00

    Sorry Glenn, but this did not help me. I am using Windows 10 (current Version) and I did not find any Option to "use a previous backup on this File History drive". Does it still exist, and if so, where Do I find it?

    After a Crash I simply Do NOT Need this hassle with trying to restore from my Backup. This is one of the Scenarios why I Do Backup in the First Place.

    Kind regards

         Jürgen

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-19T17:23:31+00:00

    I am having a similar problem and can't work around it.  Could someone help in a step by step (I know there are some here but they didn't work).  I appreciate all the input.

    I had Windows 10 installed and my hard drive died.  I installed a new hard drive and got my External Drive with my File History.  My computer was initially setup as a local account and now my computer is setup with a Microsoft account so one of my problems is that the usernames are different which is very annoying.  I tried changing the computer name which worked but in changing the username back I ran into all kinds of "temporary account" issues and I had to reinstall Windows 10 again to clean up the mess (most likely user error but too much wasted time).  So not sure if one of my issues is the different username for File History.

    I set up a new file history in the new computer to see if I can recover my old file history and I just can't make it work.  Can someone please list the steps again as if talking to a 5 year old (because I am losing my mind).  I really don't want to cut and paste and remove UTC later if I can avoid it.  My files are there, all 40,000 photos.  I tried file history to restore a copy of backup and the UTC was still there.

    I really appreciate your help and smarts as I am losing mine...

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-08-25T06:14:22+00:00

    Hi,

    We're glad to help. The reason why those deleted files were restored is because they were included on the back up image you have created. For more information about File History, Back up and Restore, please click on these links:

    Files History in Windows

    Back up and restore your PC

    Back up and restore your files

    Please feel free to contact us if you need further help.

    Kind regards.

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