Solved File History Problem.....No External Drives Found ( I Have Two )


rdburke

Well-known member
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Local time
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Posts
111
Location
Boiling Springs, South Carolina USA
OS
Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (Build 22631.3810)
Recently I noticed that my File History was not working and had not been working for quite some time. I went through all the troubleshooting that I know to do. Ran SFC/Scannow, did the Check Health\Repair Windows Image. I even turned off Sharing of the External Drives that I tried to use and made sure System Restore is turned off. Still won't find either of my two external drives. I have used both of the drives in the past. I used the smaller one ( 3TB ) until I got the bigger one ( 4TB ) then I switched to the bigger one. Any help would be appreciated.......
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (Build 22631.3807)

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (Build 22631.3810)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Case
    CPU
    AMD FX 8350 8 Core Processor, 4400 Mhz (Overclocked)
    Motherboard
    M5A78L-M/USB3
    Memory
    24.0 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7570 2GB
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 27" SA240Y LED
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 Resolution
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500GB ATA Device
    WD My Book 25EE 4TB USB
    Toshiba External 3.0 TB USB
    PSU
    Corsair RM750x
    Case
    Custom Spider 6000S
    Cooling
    Modded
    Keyboard
    Logitech K360
    Mouse
    Logitech M325
    Internet Speed
    AT&T 1GB Fiber
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS Windows Security
Press the Windows key +X and choose Disk Management.
In the lower pane, it should show all the drives on your computer, Are your external drives listed here? If so, what is there status?
Please attach a screen shot of this Window in your next post.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit 22H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte Z390 UD
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 77000 3.60
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z390 UD
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GEForce RTX 2060 Super
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two 27" Dell 4K monitors
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    M.2 NVME SSD, 500 GB; Two 2TB Mechanical HDD's
    PSU
    850w PSU
    Case
    Cyberpower PC
    Cooling
    Water cooled
    Keyboard
    Backlit Cyberpower gamiong keyboard
    Mouse
    Backlit Cyberpower gaming mouse
    Internet Speed
    1 GB mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
The drives are there and listed as D: and E:.......screenshot attached-

Screenshot 2024-06-20 174327.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (Build 22631.3810)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Case
    CPU
    AMD FX 8350 8 Core Processor, 4400 Mhz (Overclocked)
    Motherboard
    M5A78L-M/USB3
    Memory
    24.0 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7570 2GB
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 27" SA240Y LED
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 Resolution
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500GB ATA Device
    WD My Book 25EE 4TB USB
    Toshiba External 3.0 TB USB
    PSU
    Corsair RM750x
    Case
    Custom Spider 6000S
    Cooling
    Modded
    Keyboard
    Logitech K360
    Mouse
    Logitech M325
    Internet Speed
    AT&T 1GB Fiber
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS Windows Security
The only thing I have not tried is moving the few files I do have on them, Formatting and trying. What is the best, fastest most efficient format?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (Build 22631.3810)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Case
    CPU
    AMD FX 8350 8 Core Processor, 4400 Mhz (Overclocked)
    Motherboard
    M5A78L-M/USB3
    Memory
    24.0 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7570 2GB
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 27" SA240Y LED
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 Resolution
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500GB ATA Device
    WD My Book 25EE 4TB USB
    Toshiba External 3.0 TB USB
    PSU
    Corsair RM750x
    Case
    Custom Spider 6000S
    Cooling
    Modded
    Keyboard
    Logitech K360
    Mouse
    Logitech M325
    Internet Speed
    AT&T 1GB Fiber
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS Windows Security
First, manually drag and drop files to the either or both of the external drives. If that is successful, then there is nothing wrong the hardware.

You may need to add your external drives again, especially if they have changed drive letters from the last backup.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit 22H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte Z390 UD
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 77000 3.60
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z390 UD
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GEForce RTX 2060 Super
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two 27" Dell 4K monitors
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    M.2 NVME SSD, 500 GB; Two 2TB Mechanical HDD's
    PSU
    850w PSU
    Case
    Cyberpower PC
    Cooling
    Water cooled
    Keyboard
    Backlit Cyberpower gamiong keyboard
    Mouse
    Backlit Cyberpower gaming mouse
    Internet Speed
    1 GB mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
Tried changing the drive letters?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows Pro 23H2 Build 22631.4249
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4 x LG 23MP75 - 2 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    100/40Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
If it shows in Device Manager right-click it and Uninstall, reboot and check, should come back and may then work.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows Pro 23H2 Build 22631.4249
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4 x LG 23MP75 - 2 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    100/40Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
If the drives test good, maybe resetting file history to default would be appropriate.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 2600.1742
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External +512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Do you have bitlocker enabled for your primary system drive?
I do not use file history myself, so know little about it. But from reading about it, it is my understanding if the primary drive is bitlocked, external drives also have to be bitlocked
OR bitlocker has to be disabled on the primary drive before file history will work.Someone more in the know about file history, please feel free to correct me on that statement if I am wrong.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 2600.1742
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External +512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
I don't use BitLocker, but after trying the formatting of the larger drive and still no joy, I went to Disk Management and changed the Drive letter on the larger drive. Viola! Both drives show up in File History Manager and I was able to configure File History with no problems. And.....I have the System specs for both of my machines filled out in my profile. Thanks to all who helped.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (Build 22631.3810)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Case
    CPU
    AMD FX 8350 8 Core Processor, 4400 Mhz (Overclocked)
    Motherboard
    M5A78L-M/USB3
    Memory
    24.0 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7570 2GB
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 27" SA240Y LED
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 Resolution
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500GB ATA Device
    WD My Book 25EE 4TB USB
    Toshiba External 3.0 TB USB
    PSU
    Corsair RM750x
    Case
    Custom Spider 6000S
    Cooling
    Modded
    Keyboard
    Logitech K360
    Mouse
    Logitech M325
    Internet Speed
    AT&T 1GB Fiber
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS Windows Security
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