A bit of a strange question.

The problem... file history works well but if the C drive is restored to an earlier point (using disk imaging software), it is then out of step with the File History data located on an external drive or network.

Example.

File history has run for 20 days. The C drive is restored back via a disk image to day 15. File History resumes normally but now the File History user interface shows dates only up to day 15 and then commences a new history starting at the current date. The File History from days 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 although still present as readable files in the History location are not recognised by the File History user interface. What this means is that files from the dates the restore has 'skipped' must be browsed for manually and then copied conventionally to their original location.

If there is a single 'data' file or .xml file that Windows uses then I wondered whether it would be possible to modify/replace/restore that file from the last time history ran (by saving that file before restoring via a disk image and transplanting it back into the restored image). Hope that makes sense.

The question therefore is whether such a file exists and if so where ?

Hi

"File History. Where is the Windows File History log location on the C drive ?"

Do you mean the event log for file history? We can usually find the log under event viewer\Windows Logs or Applications and Services Logs\Microsof\Windows\FileHistory-associated items.

According to your test, I manually create file history in my test machine and try to find the time stamp file associated to the file history file but in vain, I placed the edb and xml file under "FileHistory"\"MyPcname"\"Configuration"folderwith another copy, but the change can not be recognized by the FileHistory user interface.

So I'm afraid that we need to manually copy the files to a destination.

Regards

Many thanks for looking and trying Yolanda, I appreciate it. It does seem that copying files over in such a situation is the only viable method. I couldn't find any way of putting the history time line back into place. 

One little discovery I made in all this is that files that are located in the History location become 'write protected' and so when simply copied back (by copy or drag and drop) they retain that status. Easily fixed of course but quite clever the way it all works.

Many thanks.