File History fails to work and fails to see external drive

Running Windows 8.1 and File History was working OK for my computer, actually on two different computers worked just fine. (I never could get File History to work with Windows 8). Then suddenly this feature just up an quit. Got a little "red" flag in the Action Center. Using the control panel an "setting" up File History my system says that file history is turned off. I never did turn it off, it seems it just up an turned itself off. But here is the thing, I select my external drive to use for file history and the system says the service can not be started because its disabled or no enabled devices are associated. It "sees" the drive but will not enabled this drive. I have used various windows programs, such as system services..to "turn" on file history. But there seems not to be anything that will fix file history. Been reading here on the forum for help...but it seems all the help is non specific to file history not working. AN also very technical, for a non technical user, on how to fix file history. I have yet to see a simple fix to "make" Windows 8.1 to again run file history.
Why is this SO DIFFICULT to use? It almost takes a computer expert with knowledge on programing to fix weird things like this. I would just like to point and click to backup the computer...but windows is now becoming NON-USER friendly to manage these types of things. Very frustrating.

Well it has been some time since I posted this issue. So I see NO responses STILL. AN I still have not been able to use File History EVER. It just does not work....period. Widows 8.1.1 install did not even come close of fixing "file History" working again. All I get is: file history and the system says the service can not be started because its disabled or no enabled devices are associated. There is NO user answer anywhere to fix this. I click enable file history. An the above answer pops up every time. File History is crap as far as I am concerned.

Well is now June and NO ONE...NOT one single response on "How to" fix file history no longer working as I described in my 1st post. Does no one else is have this exact issue, or on one is interested or is it just me and my 2 Win 8.1 computers in the whole world that as this problem. Hard to believe no one is not having an issue with file history. Jeeze.

One cause for this is that Indexing Options has been turned off. Look under the services tab in task manager if WSearch is stopped or running. You may have to turn it back to Automatic in services.msc, Windows search properties.

Nuccii said:

One cause for this is that Indexing Options has been turned off. Look under the services tab in task manager if WSearch is stopped or running. You may have to turn it back to Automatic in services.msc, Windows search properties.

Click to expand...

Wow...had NO idea this was turned off. Got it turned on a wouldn't you know File History magically began to work. Now how this was turned off in the first place I have no idea. But THANKS...you the first in months to offer a workable solution that a novice could find an fix. Could not even find this in MS support.

Glad to have been of service.

Please mark this thread as Solved if all OK