I have a question about FileHistory feature. Say you are using this feature on your computer. You're computer dies, and now you are left with this hard drive with the backed up files. What is the preferred method of restoring your files? Is it just browsing through the hard drive manually, or is there a way to run the restore software on another Windows 8.1 install?

Thanks

Mi  

If you want to be able to restore your files on another computer, you will need to use a manual recovery method. This is not too hard as File History creates a structure that you can easily browse and use to restore the old copies of your files. Be aware though that the latest versions of the files will not be in the file history folders.

If your computer dies and you are finally up and going, you will have to reactivate the OS. If the motherboard has been replaced. My preferred method is file history. I've created an image in those times the OS just is not what it use to be, however that has not happened with 8 series of operating systems. I was so eager to test image, file history and storage space.

I created a havoc in my windows purposely then used the image created, then used file history from windows storage space to restore my files that were saved after I created that image. I was fully restored in 10 mins. I also tested this with a fresh install.

How to restore file history selected files or you can use file history restore history in control panel.

1-goto explore.

2-Tool bar click on home

3- go to history

4-choose your file

5- click the green orb

If your computer dies and you are finally up and going, you will have to reactivate the OS. If the motherboard has been replaced. My preferred method is file history. I've created an image in those times the OS just is not what it use to be, however that has not happened with 8 series of operating systems. I was so eager to test image, file history and storage space.

I created a havoc in my windows purposely then used the image created, then used file history from windows storage space to restore my files that were saved after I created that image. I was fully restored in 10 mins. I also tested this with a fresh install.

How to restore file history selected files or you can use file history restore history in control panel.

1-goto explore.

2-Tool bar click on home

3- go to history

4-choose your file

5- click the green orb

• Proposed as answer by colakid 18 hours 28 minutes ago

Yes but how to restore all files without having to manually? Also if you access manually all the files are renamed with a date at the end of the file name. I don't understand why they didn't make a process to import a file history library from another PC or a previous install.  

The way I told you is the manual way the automated way is through control panel>file history>restore. The orginal post is, if you used a windows 8.1 system. Manual way, you do not see the UTC (current time and date stamp) in the posted pic. You can choose which file and where to put it. This question is solved unless you can solve this other than the automatic process as I mentioned above, or without having a timestamp tagged to the file.

• Proposed as answer by colakid 18 hours 28 minutes ago
• Edited by colakid 18 hours 20 minutes ago

Colakid, you are right and that does make sense however I am asking about restoring on another machine.. not on a restored machine.  So essentially going to another windows 8.1 machine.. and plugging in the ext hd, and being able to open the File History control panel and access the data. 

Yes you can use with an different machine and use the file history on the new system. When you enable file history for the first time and pick a drive for the new history, the history search function will look for any previous history and ask you if you want to use the old history or create a new oneEdit: if you choose to use the old file history and you want it on a different drive the old file history will be copied to the new drive. I know this works I've done it with all my computers.

Edit: I wanted to add I use a 360GB hd sata for file history. I use this drive as an additional storage space created through windows 8.1 storage space. Windows recognized this as a storage space drive and automatically attached the drive as a storage space. Windows 8.1 with a new setup, was smart enough to recognize a storage space and created a pool. File history was not harmed and ready to use with the method I mentioned to initiate file history

I hope this helps you understand the power of the new backup. Thank you for asking this very important question. You will also enjoy the security of this new backup. I've tested file history with virus, yes I intentionally infected my own system and network,  file history was not harmed. I used several virus and backdoors to install into file history and the virus was not able to gain access to home directory to install its Trojan.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/how-use-file-history

• Edited by colakid 13 hours 20 minutes ago
• Marked as answer by MIssa11 8 hours 55 minutes ago