File History: Element Not Found Error on Windows 10 May 2004

Anonymous
2020-06-22T19:28:01+00:00

Using Windows 10 May 2004 edition with a brand new install of File History on two different machines now, I have managed to run into the following issue.

Selecting Clean up versions, then "Clean up":

I get the following dialog:

Again, this is on two different machines, with a clean install.

Note that I am using a simple folder with a 4KB file within it, although I first saw this on a fully-configured install with about 1.5TB worth of data within it.  This led me to diagnosing the issue and ultimately trying it on these two separate machines with a clean install.

Is this a known issue for 2004?

Thank you for any assistance/context/insight you can provide!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-06-23T19:27:02+00:00

    Ah yeah I believe this problem might start after the 2nd time the action is invoked.  I recall being able to get the "correct" (non-error) message on the first attempt, but after that, I got the error.

    I can confirm that the original machine that I experienced this (having upgraded from 1909 btw -- perhaps that also has something to do with this?) -- is not Insider, so we can definitively rule that out.

    Finally, this is what I see on my insider machine so it doesn't look like the builds are downloading.

    I appreciate you taking the time to help debug/diagnose this issue.  Looking forward to hearing about your 2nd try.  It would be interesting to know if you are using a clean 2004 install or if you upgraded from 1909 as well.  Thanks again!

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  2. Virginia M 42,075 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-06-23T17:37:45+00:00

    I had no problem setting up File History on 2004 when I changed backup drives recently & I had to reset FH to do this.

    Yes I can run it twice but I will double check.

    To remove yourself from the Insider there should be an option under settings>Update & security>Windows insider program>stop insider builds completely.

    Insider builds are automatically downloaded I believe if you’re a member.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-06-23T14:21:49+00:00

    BTW @Time Lady, are you able to run that operation twice?  Sometimes I saw the "success" message, but on the 2nd attempt (and subsequent attempts) I got the error.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-06-23T14:19:35+00:00

    Wow, lucky. 😆  Might be due to creating the File History on 2004, then?

    As for insider, I inadvertently "joined" it not realizing that I could not unjoin it.  The machine I am trying this on is 2004.  That is, I do not believe I am running Insider, but only a member.  This is what I see:

    The other machine/account I tried this on with 2004 is not an insider account.

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