Windows 10 Backup Function - Select Subfolders not Backing up

Question

This is a new PC, with two hard drives, main one with windows and applications (let's call it C:) and second one only used for pictures (let's call it D:). D: contains two folders with thousands of pictures each. 

I selected two folders to be backed up with file history: 

C:\Users<USER>\

D:\

I performed the initial backup... Bizarre enough this is what was backed up:

Under C: >>> Only the hidden AppData folder, all other folders were NOT picked up by the backup application. I tried restarting the PC and triggering a manual backup with NO success. 

Under D: >>> Empty directory along with the recycle bin content! 

Honestly I don't want to pick and chose which subfolder to backup, selecting D:\ should be enough... Same with C:\Users<USER>\

Any hints into what could be going on? 

thx!

Note: If I manually select the two folders under D:\ and add to the backup list, they do get backed up! I just don't believe they need to be selected given that selecting the parent folder SHOULD be enough.

Answer 1

Answers inline: 

I was just wondering where you are saving the backups?

<BAM> NAS with a freshly formatted hard drive... Nothing on it to start with. The issue is 100% reproducible: all what I have to do is unlink the remote drive from windows (i.e: start fresh from windows perspective), format the NAS drive and relink for backup. <\BAM>

Could there be a situation where the missing files/folders were in a prior backup and had not changed?

<BAM> No, because I am starting fresh for both Windows and the NAS. What is bizarre is for both the C:\Users&lt;USER> and D:\ Windows 10 is backing up the hidden folders but not the other (visible) subfolders. <\BAM>

I don't have that much experience with the File Backup setup but I have a link to music on a NAS and it gets skipped.  Are the pictures on D: linked to your User Pictures folder and can you tell if they are being backed up that way?

<BAM> I am not aware of any shortcuts in my case, I did double check! The two folders on D:\ are NOT linked in any way to the Pictures folder under C:\Users&lt;USER>... These two folders are standalone folders with subfolders and pictures.

Note that if I specifically ask for the subdirectories to be backed up (i.e: C:\Users&lt;USER>\Documents, C:\Users&lt;USER>\Pictures, C:\Users&lt;USER>\Music, etc....) they DO get backed up as expected! But not when the parent directory (i.e: C:\Users&lt;USER>) is selected! 

Without understanding what is going on we CANNOT trust that the backup application is doing its job! What else could be missing!

Answer 2

I was just wondering where you are saving the backups?  Could there be a situation where the missing files/folders were in a prior backup and had not changed?

I don't have that much experience with the File Backup setup but I have a link to music on a NAS and it gets skipped.  Are the pictures on D: linked to your User Pictures folder and can you tell if they are being backed up that way?