How To Use the File History Feature in Windows 8 to Restore Files

 
Do you understand the depth of adversity that PC data loss can cause? If statistics are to be believed then in the US more than 31% of PC users have lost their files under disaster events beyond their control. Highly risky situations like Windows or hardware crash can happen any time and before you would realize the issue, all your important data and files will be lost forever. According to records, in the United States every week 140,000 hard drives crash, which sounds highly alarming. So it is important to have proper backup arrangement for the files saved in your PC.

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What is File History?
Microsoft has introduced a new backup service called File History in Windows 8 that would create safety copies of your important personal files to prepare a backup. This will keep you always prepared for the worst. File History is said to be more advanced than Windows Backup feature that was built into Windows 7. The process happens automatically and the backup files get saved on any network drive or external hard disk. By default the feature remains off, and has to be turned-on.
While the Windows Backup process in Windows 7 was limited to make copies of files only on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, the Windows 8 File History has much advanced features. By default, it makes continuous and automatic backups of the files after every hour. However, if you want your File History to make more frequent restores then you can easily change the default time interval through advance setting. Also, at any point of time if you want to manually run the service, then you can easily do that as well. File store appears in the task manager as fhsvc.
So, File History is an advance and useful feature in Windows 8 that allows you to restore your lost or corrupted files. Hence, you must turn on the File History in your system to avoid loss of data under risky situation like Windows or hard drive crash and others.
It is very easy to use this service and you must use it. Once you turn it on and perform the needful setting steps you can forget all about it. It will of its own perform its job of securing your important files continuously.
Read below to master the tips on how to configure File History on Windows 8 and how to restore files even after a disastrous loss of files.
How to Configure File History on Windows 8?

• To turn on the File history feature in your Windows, first go to the search of the start screen and type File History. In the search results, under "Settings" you will get the File history panel. If you are not comfortable working with the start screen, then you can directly go to the Control Panel, and there in the ‘System and Security' section you will find the folder for File History.
• Once you open the folder, it will automatically detect an external drive connected to your PC. However, if you want to save the backup files in some other location like the network drive, then you can manually chose the destination by clicking the "Select Drive" link that appears on the left side.
• After choosing the destination, click on "Turn On" button located at the right side of the Windows to activate the File History.
• Once you are done with this setting, File History will continue maintaining the backup for all your files like documents, music, photos and videos.

How to Restore Files Using File History on Windows 8?
At any time if you want to restore the old files, which have been saved as backup files, you need to perform the following steps:

• Go to Control Panel > System and Security > File History
• Open the File History in Control Panel and look for the ‘Restore personal files' link towards left side.
• This will open up the folders of the recently saved files. If you want to look for the folders of earlier date you can move to those folders by clicking on the back and forward navigation buttons located at the base of the window with a blue colored Refresh button at the center.
• After deciding the file you want to restore, right-click on it. Here you will get two options "Restore" and "Restore to." If you click on "Restore" then the backup file will get restored at the current location of that file and it will completely replace the current file. But if you click on "Restore to" then you will be allowed to choose a new location for the restored files. Thus both the files (current and restored one) will be intact.

File History works with files stored in Libraries, Contacts, Desktop, and Favorites folders in your system. It can make backup copies of all types of files such as documents, music, videos, music, etc. Its only limitation is that it can't backup those files or folders that you have synced with cloud storage services.