Windows 8 File History, file auto-backup feature

File History is a new feature of Windows 8 that Microsoft revealed yesterday in a new article on the Building Windows 8 blog. It is basically a file backup service that is monitoring select locations for file changes to automatically create a backup whenever files in monitored locations get changed. If you want, it is an undo option for files so that you can restore them to a previous state.
File History needs to be activated before it starts monitoring and backing up files on the system automatically. What you need to know in this regard is that it is only available if an external drive is connected to the computer or if a network location for backups is available, and that only files on local drives can be monitored by the feature.
File History
You can enable the new File History feature under System and Security in the desktop Control Panel, or by selecting the configure this drive for backup option in the drive's action menu when it is connected to the computer.
Backups are created once per hour by default, with options to change the frequency from 10 minutes to 24 hours. It also takes into account the PCs resource utilization while running. If resources are needed elsewhere, it will go into a low priority mode to avoid performance drops on the PC system.
You are probably asking yourself what is happening when you disconnect the external drive from the PC. File History has been designed to utilize a local cache for that time which is used until the external drive gets connected again. When that happens, the cached contents are transferred to the backup drive and removed from the local drive. Depending on the file changes in that time, you may need to increase the local cache storage to avoid running out of cache space. The offline cache is set to 5% of the drive's disk space by default.
File History's restore options are integrated into Windows Explorer. You find the option under the Home ribbon in the file manager. When you click on the item, you can access a folder's history. Here you then see a list of all files that are stored in the history, with options to select a specific file to see all versions of it. Depending on the file in question, you may see a preview of it right on the screen. A click on the restore button restores it on the system.
According to Microsoft, it will also be possible to use the built-in search to find files in various way.
File History supports BitLocker and the new Storage Spaces feature that allows Windows 8 users to "create a resilient storage pool using off-the-shelf USB drives".
If you have read the Microsoft article or played around with the feature in Windows 8, you have probably noticed that there is no way to add locations to the backup feature. Microsoft notices that File History will check libraries, desktop, favorites and contacts. There is an option to exclude folders from being included, but no option to add locations.
The only option that you have to include a location is to add it to one of the libraries, or a new library that you create. This is not the most comfortable solution but the only one right now.
Closing Words
File History looks a lot like the Volume Shadow Copy service. There are differences, like the storage location and the user friendly interface of File History. It is on the other hand not turned on by default, which makes it likely that it will be missed by the majority of users.
What's your take on the new File History feature? A step in the right direction or something that you prefer to handle using third party applications?
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What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help