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How can i get my back up drive to connect back with MS HOME Windows and have my files recognizwd agian ? I see them through explorer, but i canniot get the drive to work with the utility since the back KB update MS put out in Sept. I am now on the the latest Home Edition 25H2 build 26200.9711 and have done all the latest updates and done an OS repair install.
fyi i have a lot of info here: https://superuser.com/questions/1940959/windows-11-backup-to-external-disk-error-how-can-i-resolve-issue-of-drive-back?noredirect=1#comment3038695_1940959
I think you can view w/o being a subscriber. I am also now going to try and get your requested info and reply
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Since the drive appears in File Explorer, it might be a compatibility issue with the backup utility after the update. Try updating or reinstalling the utility and checking if it needs any additional permissions.
@Arthur James Where do i go for app updates? I only know where windows update is….
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Hi W,
Since you’ve already gone through the update, repair install, and reconnection steps, as a next step, please check Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Application after reproducing the problem and share any FileHistory.exe or KERNELBASE.dll error details you find. These are specifically mentioned as useful diagnostic information in the existing guidance.
Please keep the backup drive intact while investigating so the existing versions remain available.
i added some info up top. also i did what you suggested if ive done it properly - file is attached. i also jave some screenshot of what happens when i try to select drive ( D ) and the latest update thats is showing. But im pretty sure i have later ones that dont show. Also will not let me back up to drive. Says its copying files, but it doesnt.
errors after trying to connect ext drive.txt
Hi W,
Thanks for the screenshots and additional information. Since the WD drive and your existing File History backup are visible, but a new backup does not appear to be written, the next useful step is to capture the File History error itself.
Please try:
This is the File History-specific event log recommended for diagnosing backup failures. Please keep the existing backup on the drive unchanged for now.
i think the attaches is what you want? I am not a power user, but get a lot of the basics I now mostly use Mac but come from pc background. I have to say I think this issue started after upgrading to windows11 which i waited as long as i could - maybe a few months ago. And i did notice when i switched that the backup procedure / process had changed form what i was used to and had a hrd time finding the application from where is used to have been. I also noticed that whe my external drive is now connected i often hear it running from timie to time like i did this am when i came in the office even though it was connected but i think compuetr was sleep. Tou can also see in the drive selection window when trying to select drive for backup, part of "searching for drive" is always visible.
i did muck around a bit last night with options - changing drive letter and other things to try and force recognition. But i think ive got everythigng back to the way it was. Anyway, the issue is the same - i cannot select current back up catalog on drive D or make a backup to it. Back up does run, but i dont see any new files only from June or July this year. Also, i never used to keep external drive always connected - but connect when i need to make a back up and then only with a few imortant folders, etc. Not the whole system.
Hi W,
Thanks for the detailed update. The screenshots are helpful. Windows can see the WD drive and recognizes that it has previously been used for File History, but it is not associating it with the backup set that File History currently expects.
A couple of points may help:
The next useful information is the Event ID and General message from any FileHistory-Engine Warning/Error generated when you run a backup.
@Hendrix-V where do i get event id & general message from? I also added more info here: see additional pics & my comments towards the bottom. https://superuser.com/questions/1940959/windows-11-backup-to-external-disk-error-how-can-i-resolve-issue-of-drive-back?noredirect=1#comment3038695_1940959
Hi W,
Thanks for the additional screenshots and information. You're on the right track, and there's no need to understand the Event Viewer entries yourself.
Please open Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > FileHistory-Engine > Operational
Then:
For now, I recommend leaving drive D: and the existing backup files unchanged. This should give us a more useful clue about why the backup runs without creating newer versions.
it continues to work now. The one error showing is that i had one of the files open during backup. requested screenshot attached.
Hi W,
Thank you for the screenshot. Yes, this is exactly the information I was looking for.
The latest entry shown is Event ID 105 from FileHistory-Engine, and the General message confirms that the file shown was successfully backed up. That matches what you're seeing now with File History continuing to work.
The earlier warning appears to be Event ID 104. Since you’ve identified that as occurring while one of the files was open, and backups are currently completing successfully, I wouldn’t make any further changes to the drive or File History configuration at this point.
Glad to hear you’ve got File History running again, and thank you for working through all of these checks and providing the screenshots.
If my response is helpful to you, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it.
Im not totally sure what fixed the issue - as i mucked around a lot with the system while @Hendrix-V was kind enough to help too & guide me also. So big tks to him. I did not see where chat would let me pick his individual reply as answer and also would not sort newest to oldest….. thank you @Hendrix-V
board said i could pick up to 3 answers - hope your help gets counted.
