File History - Recommend Drive to Homegroup in Windows 8

How to Recommend your File History Drive to Homegroup in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
File History is a new feature introduced in Windows 8 that automatically backs up files that are in your libraries, contacts (C:\Users\(user-name)\Contacts), Internet Explorer favorites (C:\Users\(user-name)\Favorites), and your desktop (C:\Users\(user-name)\Desktop).

File History was also integrated with HomeGroup to make it easier for someone to set up File History backup for all members of a home network. Once a selected drive is recommended from a PC on the HomeGroup, each HomeGroup member can accept and select to use the recommended drive for their File History. If they do, their libraries, desktop, favorites, contacts, and SkyDrive are automatically backed up to a network share of the recommended drive on the PC that recommended it.


This tutorial will show you how to recommend the selected "local" (internal or external) or "network" drive for your file history on your Windows 8 PC to all joined members of your homegroup to save their file history on and share your saved file versions.

Note   Note
File History saves each user's and member of the homegroup files in the Data folder at the location below on the recommended drive.
(recommended drive)\File History\(user-name)\(computer-name)\Data\C\Users

warning   Warning
If the recommended drive is not online or connected, then it will be unavailable to the HomeGroup until it's back online or connected.


EXAMPLE: Recommended Drive in File History
NOTE: This is an example of a recommended drive from another PC in the homegroup as being available to select on your PC that is joined to the same homegroup.
Recommended_File_History_Drive-1.jpg
Recommended_File_History_Drive-2.jpg


Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the File History icon.

2. If you have not already, make sure that you have the correct drive selected that you want to recommend or unrecommend to the HomeGroup.
NOTE: For how, see step 3 in the tutorial below.

3. On the left side in File History, click/tap on Advanced settings. (see screenshot below)
HomeGroup_Share_File_History_Drive-1.jpg

4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what you want to do. (see screenshot below)
HomeGroup_Share_File_History_Drive-2.jpg

5. To Recommend this Drive to HomeGroup
A) Under HomeGroup, check the Recommend this drive box, click/tap on Save changes, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below step 4)​

6. To Unrecommend this Drive to HomeGroup
A) Under HomeGroup, uncheck the Recommend this drive box, click/tap on Save changes, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below step 4)​

7. Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)
Recommend_File_History_Drive_Homegroup-2.jpg
Note   Note
If you get a "Could no recommend target - Access is denied" error message instead, then it means that there is a permissions issue with the selected drive not allowing it to be shared with the HomeGroup. You will need to get this sorted before you will be able to recommend the drive. Double check to make sure the drive is set to Share with the homegroup.

Note   Note

File_History_Could_not_recommend_target.jpg



8. You can now close File History if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


 

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