After renaming the computer, the File History backup still showing the old name of the computer at its destination.

Question

Original Title: Falie History Worng Destination Path

I changed my computer name [setting my Computer name, Full computer name and Computer Description all equal to the same name]. But when File History backs up my files, it insists on putting the OLD computer name in the backup destination path, e.g.:

Backup_Drive\Backup_Folder_A\UserID\Old_Computer_Name\Data...

I have tried selecting a new backup drive and rebooting several times, but File History always reverts to the old computer name when creating the destination path.

How can I fix this?

Answer 1

Similar to Siva's reply here, you will want to navigate to

C:\Users<your username here>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory

Now, if FileHistory had been turned on before, using the old username, it will have a configuration folder, and the Config1.xml, and Config2.xml files will contain many tags using the old PC name. Instead of wiping these files out, open each file in Notepad and search for your old PC name and replace with your new name, remember to save.

Also, if you want to keep a backup that was already created with the old PC name, you will need to find it, rename the main folder ("old PC name"), and within that folder, rename the tags in those config files as well (as you did in the local config files).

When I tried deleting my local config files, it would recreate them using the backup's config files, which were also incorrect, so I just manually renamed and mine is running nicely now under the new PC name.

Answer 2

Hi Dave,

To fix this issue, you may have to reconfigure the File History settings and check if that helps. To reconfigure the File History on the computer, you may refer to these articles:

How to use File History

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http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/how-use-file-history

Set up a drive for File History

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http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/set-drive-file-history

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You may also have a look at the article given below, if something goes wrong in setting up the File History:

What if something goes wrong in File History?

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

Hope this information helps you. If you need any further assistance on this, please do get back to us with the troubleshooting results.

Answer 3

I have reconfigured the File History settings several times, and the problem remains. There are no specific settings for defining the full backup destination path. Perhaps it is buried somewhere in the Windows Registry?

I have tried every related suggestion in the other three articles, and none solves this problem.

Answer 4

Rajesh can you follow through on this please.  I'm having the same issue as DaveK. 

When I first turned on my new PC it ran me through the initial setup and I gave it a name.  Then weeks later I changed that name, but my backup destination folder is named after the original.  No matter how many times I redo the File History setup, it uses the old name.

Answer 5

This is how I worked around it.

I deleted everything under C:\Users<your username here>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory

Then, when I went to File History and restarted my history, everything went fine.