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Can Not Turn on File History; Win 8.1 Pro

I have a brand new computer with a fresh install of Windows 8.1 Pro.  After installing a few programs I plugged in a 1T. external USB drive to use for back up.  The drive is freshly re-formatted.


When I try to set up the Back Up, it searches and finds the drive, bit when I try to turn the File History on I get a message "Could Not Enable File History.  either the device is disabled or no enabled device is associated with it."


I can dump a drive image file to the USB drive and read/write to it.  I'm not sure how to "associate" the drive with File History.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I have exactly the same issue. Have a 1TB external drive with 822GB Free. It can see the drive but it won't use it.  I did a system Image backup to the same external drive with no problems.  File History just refuses to turn ON !!!

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I have exactly the same problem.  Trying to use an internal secondary SATA drive.

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C'mon Microsoft, only been 8 months. 8,1 is one weird, goofy, buggie OS, charmed I'm sure.

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You have to turn on the Windows Search service (the indexing service). After that, no problem with File History.

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Hi

I have always backed up to an external hard drive with Vista and since upgrading to windows 8 then 8.1 I cannot seem to do this.  I plug my external hard drive in and it won't detect it to then allow me turn the file history setting on.  I have added the drive to the indexing list (I think) but still no joy.  Can anyone help as i would like to back up my files...?  Please keep help simple as I am still familiarising to windows 8.

Thanks in advance

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Hi

I have always backed up to an external hard drive with Vista and since upgrading to windows 8 then 8.1 I cannot seem to do this.  I plug my external hard drive in and it won't detect it to then allow me turn the file history setting on.  I have added the drive to the indexing list (I think) but still no joy.  Can anyone help as i would like to back up my files...?  Please keep help simple as I am still familiarising to windows 8.

Thanks in advance

You have to turn on the Windows Search service in the following manner:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2495-services-start-disable.html

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Hi

Thanks but that  link is for windows 7...all looks technical too and as I have 8.1 don't want to start something that is wrong..?  Any more help..?

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It's absolutely the same for Windows 8.1, and not so technical. See the link, Option 1, and on figure under point 4 you can see just the required service highlighted. To start it, you have to change "disabled" to "automatic". That's all.

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Last updated April 29, 2020 Views 1,501 Applies to: