File History 'Forever' setting, really?

I like File History, it makes copies of your files every hour in one of the default settings, so the most you lose is 1 hour worth of work.

The default settings for 'Keep saved versions' is 'Forever'. Really? I don't quite trust that and while keeping the 'Forever' default setting, I toss the File History folder every month or every other month or so, and start anew.

How about you?

Haydon said:

'Forever'. Really? I don't quite trust that and while keeping the 'Forever' default setting, I toss the File History folder every month or every other month or so, and start anew.

Click to expand...

I don't. I keep using the same File History folder, but once in a while use 'Clean up versions' to keep its size in check.

My thinking was, for right or for wrong, that I'd prefer a) over b)

prefer a) new full backups in somewhat regular intervals (in 1 to 2 months intervals) with incremental backups therebetween

over b) the most recent 1 or 2 months worth of incremental backups consolidated on top of a full backup, which can be from a long, long time ago!

Of course, a) is more time consuming than b) because the full backups of a)

BTW, I have 3 File History folders on 3 different (external) media. The deletion of the File History folders happens 1 at a time on a rotational basis, so I am never without backups, in case someone wonders.

I am reading through the (very considerable) knowledge base of Macrium Reflect on how the software makes Full, Differential, and Incremental BackUps. Depending on how you make/delete your BackUps, the software makes Synthetic Full BackUps.

I am not aware of File History making Synthetic Full BackUps. As I described in the OP, I am in the habit of deleting File History folders every now and then to force 'File History is backing up your files for the first time' (which corresponds to a Full BackUp). If File History does make Synthetic Full BackUps, then periodically deleting File History folders may be superfluous.

Anyone knows more about Synthetic Full BackUps (or something similar) in File History? Does it perhaps happen if you 'delete BackUp versions older than 3 months' ?