Using the Windows 8 File History feature

The Windows 8 File History feature is designed to automatically create a local backup of user data. Users can use file history to recover lost files or restore files to a previous version.

How to enable backup?

First of all, you must be aware that the Windows 8 file history feature is not a complete backup solution. Its purpose is to protect the data that users are most likely to lose, and to achieve continuous protection without user intervention. Therefore, file history cannot back up the user's entire PC. It backs up personal data such as users' libraries, contacts, favorites, and desktops. File history can also back up Microsoft SkyDrive cloud storage services. SkyDrive cloud storage services are available starting with Windows 8 and Office 2013, but Windows 8.1 will be more fully integrated with SkyDrive.

The File History feature does not provide configuration options for setting up other backup locations. For example, you can't set Windows to back up the D:\\YourData folder. However, if a user does have important data stored outside of a supported location, the data can still be backed up with a few tricks, such as creating a new library and pointing the location of the library to the data that needs to be backed up.

Figure A. You can exclude individual folders

From File history Although there is no additional data to the backup job position (except to add it to the library) mechanisms from a backup task It is ok to exclude a location. To exclude file locations, open the File History screen and click the link to exclude folders, as shown in Figure A. Once you've done this, you'll see a list of choices for excluding folders from backups.

Choosing a backup location

The File History feature writes backup data to a dedicated external hard drive. However, it is impractical to provide a dedicated external hard drive for each user. In addition to cost considerations, external drives that are continuously connected typically have higher failure rates due to falling, water ingress, and the like.

Figure B. You can save the file history data to a network location

As an alternative to using an external hard drive, Windows also provides the option to store files on network storage history data. This option may be more in line with actual needs. To complete the location selection, open the file history interface and click Select Drive (or change the drive if an external drive is already connected). Now click the Add Network Location button, as shown in Figure B, and then provide the network path you want to store historical data for the file.

Other Configuration Options

Clicking on the Advanced Settings option, as shown in Figure A, allows you to adjust the backup frequency. By default, historical data backups of files are performed every hour, but you can change the frequency of backups as needed. FIG

C. Advanced Setup screen allows you to adjust the frequency of backup

Advanced settings screen shown in FIG C, also allows you to set a user data backup versions for how long. The default setting is always reserved, but this setting can also be modified to suit your needs.

Security Measures

It is worth mentioning that Microsoft's way of handling file history functions is not the same as Windows 7's backup function. The backup feature of Windows 7 only allows users with the appropriate permissions to run backups. Instead, any user can use the file history feature to back up their data.

If you want to know more, file history is also compatible with BitLocker, so even if the user's PC has been BitLocker encrypted, users can still achieve data backup.

Group Policy

The File History feature is not always suitable for every organization. Specifically, organizations with strict document lifecycle policies should not use file history because it bypasses existing retention policies and allows users to restore older versions of files. These types of organizations need to use Group Policy to disable file history.

Group Policy can be used to disable file history, but it cannot control any other parameters. The number of file versions retained by file history is configurable. Windows does not let you specify the version value you want to keep. Instead, version retention can be controlled from one month to two years by file age. The default setting is to keep the previous version forever. When there is not enough disk space, there is an option to clear all old version backups.

To disable file history, you must be running a Windows Server 2012 domain controller (on Windows 8 computers, you can modify the local security policy). The settings for disabling file history are located at: Computer Configuration | Management template| Windows components| File history.

Conclusion

The Windows 8 File History feature helps users better protect their data, but it is not necessarily suitable for every organization. Because users are free to enable file history, administrators should evaluate whether their organization's file history feature is appropriate and use Group Policy to disable it if necessary.