How Do I Remove the UTC Timestamp from files backed up by FileHistory?

Anonymous

Since I was having so many problems with Windows 8.1 on my ASUS Vivobook x202e, I backed up my files with Windows File History onto an external hard drive and restored the machine to factory settings so I could start using Windows 8 again, with which I have had no issues.

I record a lot of audio with a freeware recording studio called Audacity, which saves thousands of sound files for each audio project. Because the File History renamed all the files with the UTC timestamp, Audacity does not recognize these thousands of files unless I rename them by deleting the timestamp. I have about 7 audio projects I need to access -- it would take many tedious days to rename all the files.

For example, the original file name was:

e0000d79.au

On my external hard drive, the file appears as:

e0000d79 (2013_11_24 01_59_07 UTC).au

Is there a way to somehow restore these files to their original file name without the timestamp? I looked in File History but was unable to find an option like that.

Thank you,

James

EDIT: I figured it might take some kind of software running a script to do this for me. I found this Powershell script for removing 8 digits that come after an underscore in any file name:

from http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16064268/powershell-remove-timestamp-from-filename

Get-ChildItem *.txt | Where {$.Name -match '\d{8}.txt' } | Rename-Item -NewName {$.Name -replace '\d{8}'}

I had to use Powershell to fix an issue with Windows 8.1 not too long ago, but I am not familiar with how it works. Is there some similar script I could run? For example, deleting anything that comes after a beginning parenthesis would work, as there are no parentheses in the names of the files I need cleaned up.

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Anonymous

As I had suspected, File History offers a feature to "restore" your files to your PC which will remove the timestamp, whereas copying and pasting your files from an external leaves the timestamp intact. There is absolutely no need for a complicated script or anything like that.

When I restored my computer to factory settings awhile back, I changed the name of my machine to something new, and I had since started a new File History for the restored machine's files -- in other words, I have two backups, which initially seemed to prevent me from using both, as the File History main screen only presented me with one option -- the current computer's File History.

However, this was not a problem when I found that you can visit File History to restore files from a previous backup as a feature.

Go to Control Panel
Under "System and Security," click "Save Backup Copies of your Files with File History"
Click "Select Drive" on the left
Choose the external drive. In my case, I had both backups on the same external.
When you click your drive, the "Select an existing backup" window appears.

I selected my old computer's file history, located the files on which I was sick of having timestamps, and restored to a new folder on my Desktop. Now Audacity recognizes my projects again! No harm done.

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41 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-12-22T16:21:54+00:00

I backed up everything on my hard drive to an external using file history, did a clean install of windows 10 and when I went back to restore files, file history would not let me select the folder where the old backups were located. It made me start a new backup location. and when I selected "select drive" it only showed me the new location. If there is a way to select a different folder I'm not seeing it.

MartinAmour's solution is the best option.

Once i renamed all my files (minus the time stamp) all i have to do is copy and paste.
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Anonymous

2016-01-13T14:29:42+00:00

Is there a clean version? Mcafee blocked the download because of malware and viruses which is the reason I had to do a clean install in the first place.
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Anonymous

2016-01-13T17:33:09+00:00

Is there a clean version? Mcafee blocked the download because of malware and viruses which is the reason I had to do a clean install in the first place.

Could you please be more specific and give more information by what you mean? A clean version of what? And what was the download? A clean install of what? Was it windows 10 and if so 32 bit or 64 bit?
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Anonymous

2016-01-13T18:53:27+00:00

Sorry I wasn't more specific.

The Bulk Rename Utility you used to remove the UTC Time Stamp was the download I was referring to. When I tried to download it McAfee blocked it because it detected malware.

My computer got a virus or malware called Bing.vc and I couldn't get rid of it so I backed up my computer and did a clean install of windows 10. After I did the install I deleted every freeware I had and did a restore of my files but everything had that UTC Time Stamp and I want to get rid of it, but with thousands of files it'll take me a week 24/7 to do it by hand.

I'm wondering if there's a clean version (virus and malware free) of the Bulk Rename Utility program that I could get even if I have to buy it to remove the UTC Time Stamp.

Thanks

Rob
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