22H2 breaks Previous Versions by System Restore, how to re-enable it?

Spartan · Mar 19, 2023

Dru2 said:
Thanks, but I already know how to backup. And as I said in the post above yours....

And I use Acronis for my backups and recoveries. And thanks for the link to the Windows 10 post. Good now

Thanks.

Jamis said:
I started FH on my new W11 system and then discovered it wasn't copying the same folders it did under W10. Then I learned there was no longer any way to designate what to copy. I guess MS is already decontenting FH. I turned off FH and am now running Macrium Reflect to backup the file section of the C drive. It's not automatic like FH, but it works. Plus I can get multiple versions on the internal 1TB HDD drive. Also using MR to create full system images on other 1 TB USB drives after WU runs.

Guys, such programs like Macrium Reflect and Acronis are best used for full image backups like a system image to recover in case of a disaster, bad Windows update scewing up Windows, bad driver updates, etc.

Using an individual file backup such as SyncBack or the likes quickly copies or deletes only the changes from the source to the destination and is 100% accurate and reliable and happens within seconds to your external medial.

Offcourse, use what you think best works for you but IMO this is a much better and more efficient way for backing up personal files and whatnot.

Dru2 · Mar 20, 2023

@Spartan, please read and "follow" the thread before making assumptions. It's NOT about backups, it's about the OP having an issue they would like resolved concerning the ability to enable "Previous Versions". "My" suggestion was to enable File History, another opined its been depreciated.

I mentioned Acronis due to your quote of my post as you provided a video of what "you" use for "backups. That not the issue.

That's where we are. Additionally, I have no issues, and my posts are merely suggestions to help the OP.

Thank you.

chip222 · Mar 20, 2023

Jamis said:
I started FH on my new W11 system and then discovered it wasn't copying the same folders it did under W10. Then I learned there was no longer any way to designate what to copy. I guess MS is already decontenting FH. I turned off FH and am now running Macrium Reflect to backup the file section of the C drive. It's not automatic like FH, but it works. Plus I can get multiple versions on the internal 1TB HDD drive. Also using MR to create full system images on other 1 TB USB drives after WU runs.

I agree FH isn't the best but the workaround to add extra folders than the limits that Win 11 imposes is to add them to a custom or existing library as you can backup copies of any of your libraries.

chip222 · Mar 20, 2023

I appreciate all the discussion, I also put this on reddit and didn't get much interest.
It does seem strange that no one has found a simple registry fix to re-enable the Previous Versions as usually MS just hide stuff rather than take it out altogether

I have mounted a virtual disk on an internal drive and am using File History to that drive as a way to get some Previous Versions available!

I use Macrium for a reliable backup and also have SyncBack which is great for backing up various folders. Both of these are really useful and work very well.
Macrium has saved me from a messed up system and a probable reinstall of Windows so many times.

Dru2 · Mar 20, 2023

chip222 said:
I appreciate all the discussion, I also put this on reddit and didn't get much interest.
It does seem strange that no one has found a simple registry fix to re-enable the Previous Versions as usually MS just hide stuff rather than take it out altogether

I actually posted a suggestion on enabling File History, which in theory should solve the issue,

Dru2 said:
You will need to setup "File History" to recover previous versions of files. I know that box also mentions "Restore Points" but be aware System Restore (the system responsible for "Restore Points) does NOT copy or restore personal files and folders as stated in the link @Winuser posted.

If you want "Previous Versions" of files you need File History enabled - Enable or Disable File History in Windows 11 Tutorial

You said you used it as a "workaround"....

chip222 said:
Ah yes, Shadow Explorer is the software used in the video kindly posted by FreeBooter. I just enabled File History today as a workaround.

So does the mean the issue is solved or what???

chip222 · Mar 20, 2023

Dru2 said:
I actually posted a suggestion on enabling File History, which in theory should solve the issue,

You said you used it as a "workaround"....

So does the mean the issue is solved or what???

well... ideally someone will find a registry tweak or a way to re-enable the old pre 22H2 Previous Versions as they are a very neat and convenient way to just quickly get an old copy of a file or folder if you need to revert.
File History is not as good as it doesn't take a snapshot of your whole system drive as the System Restore\ Shadow Copy method does.
I have added some important folders to my Documents library so FH is now keeping old copies of those.
At least I have something in the Previous Version tab now when I click on it sometimes :)

cereberus · Mar 26, 2023

Dru2 said:
Wasn't aware of that one. Do you have a link?

I think this is a rumour - it is not listed as a deprecated feature like system image backup.

Dru2 · Mar 26, 2023

cereberus said:
I think this is a rumour - it is not listed as a deprecated feature like system image backup.

Yeah, I agree it's a rumor as I've not seen anything official from Microsoft, but I also don't doubt it based on the @Winuser post.

gmsj0001 · Apr 26, 2024

I digged a lot using IDA/WinDBG to found out the reason. This behavior is about Scoped Shadowcopy. From Windows 8, system restore only snapshot system files on drive C but exclude user files. So we cannot access them in previous version tab. If you do so or use ShadowExplorer, you will get corrupted files.
Set HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore ScopeSnapshots=0 could disable this and let system restore do a full snapshot like Win7 does.
Or manually run wmic shadowcopy call create volume=C:\ to make snapshot like Windows Server does.

SIW2 · Apr 26, 2024

Scoped Snapshots vmicvss Error 13 on Server 2012, Windows 8 | MCB Systems

I’m running Server 2012 Essentials running in a Hyper-V machine under Windows Server 2008 R2. The Hyper-V host does a daily Windows backup at 9pm. The backup is configured to capture Bare Metal Recovery, System State, System Reserved, and the C: drive. It does not back up the E: drive where the...

www.mcbsys.com

I am not sure that is the issue here, because an earlier post by chip222 implies shadow explorer finds the files he is looking for.