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File History does not work error 80040507

Anonymous
2014-08-02T13:37:05+00:00

Hi There

I have a problem with file history that I cannot seem to solve.  It refuses to function at all.  

I did use it for some time but the disk I used died.  Recently I put another in with the intention of returning to an active working File history but it just doesn't work.  If I hit run now it says briefly that it is backing up for the first time and then returns to run now without anything happening.  If I go to advanced and try to clean up versions I get  "Failed to perform File History clean-up (error 80040507)".  If however I open as a new user then it does appear to work so I suspect that it is something in my profile causing this.

Anyone have any ideas how I can get this going again?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-08-03T09:07:47+00:00

    Hi,

    This issue might occur if the file history or user profile is corrupt. As you have mentioned that the issue doesn’t occur in a new profile, you can transfer the files to the new user account and then start using File History on that one.

    You may try resetting File History drive and check if it fixes the issue. Follow the methods listed below:

    Method 1:

    Refer to the link and follow the suggestions from pswasko posted on December 11^th^, 2012 to reset the drive for File History:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-hardware/windows-8-file-history-does-not-recognize-my/361a527b-d35b-4753-b4a6-3ccff738ff62

    Also, follow the steps from Rob NZ posted on December 17^th^, 2012 for further troubleshooting.

    Method 2:

    You can follow the steps to transfer the files to new account from the old one and then start using File History:

    • Press Windows +X keys and select File Explorer.
    • Click on View tab and click on Options at the top right corner.
    • Click the View tab, and then click Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
    • Uncheck the box which states Hide protected operating system files.
    • Click Yes to confirm, and then click OK.
    • Locate the C:\Users\Old_Username folder, where C is the drive that Windows is installed on, and Old Username is the name of the profile you want to copy files from.
    • Select all of the files and folders in this folder, except the following files:

    •Ntuser.dat

    •Ntuser.dat.log

    •Ntuser.ini

    • Right click and select Copy.
    • Locate the C:\Users\New_Username folder, where C is the drive that Windows is installed on, and New Username is the name of the new user profile you created.
    • Right click inside the folder and select Paste. Restart your PC and check if you are able to access the user files using the new account.

    For reference:

    You can also follow the steps from the article to troubleshoot issues while using File History:

    “What if something goes wrong in File History?”

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows-8/what-something-goes-wrong-file-history

    Please let us know the status of this issue.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-08-03T11:39:28+00:00

    Many thanks for the reply.  I managed to get it going again this morning.

    I turned off file history and went and then went to:

    C:\Users...Me...\AddData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\   and deleted the file history folder there.

    I then turned back on file history and it ran fine...  until the disk filled up.  But that is another question I posted ;-)

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-08-03T14:42:47+00:00

    Hi,

    Glad to know that the issue is fixed.

    Feel free to ask more queries on Windows.

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