windows 8.1 install and File History

[marcw]

Hi, I was just wondering, after doing a clean install of windows 8.1 on the c540 or any pc, if you setup File History using this method : My Personal Nerd: Windows 8 - enabling file history on a single internal drive...
and the OS suddenly becomes corrupt, is the VHD still accessible to retreive my files off so I can just do another install? Or if I created a partition on the same drive and then shared it for File History use, would that also stay intact and accessible after OS failure?

 

[Wynona]

Hi, I was just wondering, after doing a clean install of windows 8.1 on the c540 or any pc, if you setup File History using this method : My Personal Nerd: Windows 8 - enabling file history on a single internal drive...
and the OS suddenly becomes corrupt, is the VHD still accessible to retreive my files off so I can just do another install? Or if I created a partition on the same drive and then shared it for File History use, would that also stay intact and accessible after OS failure?

Welcome, Marc.

I would say that since a virtual hard drive is set up within Windows, that if your OS becomes corrupted (unusable) that you could no longer access the VHD.

I can't answer the second part of your question; however, I may have a solution for you.

Since you've mentioned partitioning your drive, I would do that, and save my files to the secondary partition (You could probably put File History there).

In my case, I have a 500 GB external drive that I save everything to; thus, if my OS crashes, I don't lose my files. In fact, How to Geek has a great tutorial for File History, but they do recommend an external drive. You can find the tutorial here: How to Use the New File History Feature in Windows 8

In attempting to help you, I'm learning too!

 

[marcw]

Hi, I was just wondering, after doing a clean install of windows 8.1 on the c540 or any pc, if you setup File History using this method : My Personal Nerd: Windows 8 - enabling file history on a single internal drive...
and the OS suddenly becomes corrupt, is the VHD still accessible to retreive my files off so I can just do another install? Or if I created a partition on the same drive and then shared it for File History use, would that also stay intact and accessible after OS failure?

Welcome, Marc.

I would say that since a virtual hard drive is set up within Windows, that if your OS becomes corrupted (unusable) that you could no longer access the VHD.

I can't answer the second part of your question; however, I may have a solution for you.

Since you've mentioned partitioning your drive, I would do that, and save my files to the secondary partition (You could probably put File History there).

In my case, I have a 500 GB external drive that I save everything to; thus, if my OS crashes, I don't lose my files. In fact, How to Geek has a great tutorial for File History, but they do recommend an external drive. You can find the tutorial here: How to Use the New File History Feature in Windows 8

In attempting to help you, I'm learning too!

Many thanks! I've also found a workaround for the Windows 8.1 Refresh PC problem : Create Custom Refresh Image to Fix Windows 8.1 PC Refresh Function | Optimize MS Windows
After clean installing 8.1 there's no Refresh or Reset available so this creates an image for Refresh if you don't have the Win 8.1 dvd, usb or iso to hand.