Is file Hystory reliable?

I have the impression (not sure) that windows 10 file hystory is loosing some of the "to be monitored" folders; what is you experience?

is file history reliable or should i look for something else?

Thanks!

No - File History is temperamental. Consider using Macrium Reflect Free for full system backups and perhaps augment this with manual backups of your personal files to a removable drive.

I find it reliable and like the way you can easily flick back though different versions of files. I'm not aware of any other solution that lets you do that. Time Machine sort of does but then it deletes old files without warning when your disk gets full and it is only for Mac. It is also nice that it will save backup versions in %appdata% and automatically purge them to your backup drive when you remember to connect it. I've not had issues in the last ten years or so I've been using it.

I do occasionally make backups as well (file History isn't a replacement for that) but I like it.

Steve C said:

No - File History is temperamental. Consider using Macrium Reflect Free for full system backups and perhaps augment this with manual backups of your personal files to a removable drive.

Hi, did it happened to you that some folders stop being monitored? I'm putting this under observation.
I really need a "user files" backup and file History is just perfect for that (system restore is a different feature) but i'm tring to verify that onece I set it up it keeps going.

lx07 said:

I find it reliable and like the way you can easily flick back though different versions of files. I'm not aware of any other solution that lets you do that. Time Machine sort of does but then it deletes old files without warning when your disk gets full and it is only for Mac. It is also nice that it will save backup versions in %appdata% and automatically purge them to your backup drive when you remember to connect it. I've not had issues in the last ten years or so I've been using it.

I do occasionally make backups as well (file History isn't a replacement for that) but I like it.

Yes, file History features are right on point for what I need and i'm using it since Win 8 ( when ti was introduced i think), lately I have the impression tha some folders get skipped (sadly I did not write down the exact folder list when I did set it up so it can simple be my fault)

Bree said:

I've only had one issue. The upgrade from 1703 to 1709 stopped it working. I had to stop it using the history drive then reconnect it to the same drive to get it working again. None of my history was lost and it has worked reliably since then (just as it did before). It went through the upgrade to 1803 without missing a beat.

That would be an acceptable routine for major upgrades (check if it's still On).

roy111 said:

Hi, did it happened to you that some folders stop being monitored? I'm putting this under observation.
I really need a "user files" backup and file History is just perfect for that (system restore is a different feature) but i'm tring to verify that onece I set it up it keeps going.

FH sometimes just stopped making automatic backups requiring a reset. It does work but you need to check your last backup dates.

" did it happened to you that some folders stop being monitored? "

The default set of Folders has changed over the years, but Documents has always been one of them. However I went from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.
It is up to you to make sure what Folders are in there.

Only when files in a folder have changed will it do anything, so if you look at a Folder where things have not changed it may appear to have stopped.
That is the point it's a Time history of versions.

Your way of working maybe to move files at a rate quicker than the schedule fixed. In my case it's 12 hours and this does happen, apparently missing items.

A classic example on mine is the Default Downloads folder which seems to have been put in the defaults list when I upgraded to Windows 10. Usually I very quickly move files out of there to where I want them. That folder has a completely wrong File History.

I have not edited the list during Windows 10. Obviously it needs seeing to.

So bearing in mind the way File History works it is reliable, however I make Image backups and burn DVDs so have more than one copy of important folders. In fact 3-6 copies.