Windows 8 File History backup creates duplicates

Question

I have run the Windows 8 file history since I installed W8 last October and each time I run it I get another duplicate set of documents, photos, video's, everything. After I accumulate 5-6 copies that amount to 45gb of space on my extended hard drive I delete the file history file and start over.

I'm using Windows 8 on a laptop and therefore do not have the HDD connected all the time. I run backups occasionally and whenever I run it all files are duplicated over and over again. By running it occasionally I mean sometimes daily, sometimes weekly. I've made all sorts of modifications but nothing works.

This is not a new problem and there are several complaints to Microsoft regarding people with this problem so I thought I'd ask the question on this forum.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w8itprogeneral/thread/14cedd95-b3b0-4830-be00-da793dda9e27/

My main question is, is there a different backup / restore application that will work besides the W8 File History? Does the old backup from Windows 7 still work?

Answer 1

Thanks for your reply but I'm well aware of how to open and run file history. I run it frequently and it copies everything that it's supposed to copy. However there is a flaw in it that keeps duplicating files that have not changed and each time I run File History I get a duplicate file created.

For example I have about 4000 photos on my laptop and File History has 20000 photos because I ran File History 5 times and now I have 5 copies of each photo. To me that suggests that there is some sort of error somewhere.

I included in my initial question a link where many, many people are having the same issue so I am not the only person with the problem.

Since File History doesn't work for me I'll have to locate a non-Microsoft backup application that works, if one exists.

Answer 2

Duplicate files are generated by the task File History (maintenance mode) which can be disabled in the Task Scheduler under FileHistory.  Unless this task is disabled, it is run by the Action Center task Automatic Maintenance and duplicates all files in the Music, Pictures, and Video folders to your File History drive.

For more details, see my Proposed Fix 2 (BlueDragon48) in thread

Windows 8 File History - Excessive backup - Excessively saving copies of files (photos, videos, documents, etc.)

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w8itprogeneral/thread/14cedd95-b3b0-4830-be00-da793dda9e27/

Answer 3

Hi,

Welcome to Microsoft Community and thank you for the post on it.

It looks that you have duplicate of files and documents as you have performed multiple number of File Transfer feature on your Windows 8 laptop. Therefore you would like to know another way to back up your file as it is in Window 7.

I am afraid to inform you that there is no other option in Windows 8 other than File Transfer. However you can remove the duplicate file and documents. Perform the following steps to Change the settings.

a) Press Windows Key and X Key.

b) Select Control Panel. Click on View All.

c) Click on File Transfer. Click on Advance settings.

d) Select the desired option from Keep saved Versions from the drop down menu.

You can clean up or delete the previous version as well. On the same page as mentioned above click on Clean up Versions. Select the appropriate option and delete the rest.

Refer the link given here for further assistance:

What if something goes wrong in File History?

http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/windows-8/what-something-goes-wrong-file-history

I hope this resolves your issue, please write to us if you have any other Microsoft issue related to Windows operating system.

Answer 4

I have the same issue.  My backup storage is now running about 5 times the size of the files to be backed up.  File history keeps creating multiple backups of files that have not changed.

Answer 5

Same problem with me, multiple copies of identical unchanged files and backup disk full.

I've read the other thread as well, it is a big problem that needs to be fixed soon!

Major Windows 8 Pro (with Media Center) bug!!!!