4. File History
This is Windows 8’s integrated tool for backing up and restoring your files (see Figure 2).
Windows 7 had an expanded and enhanced Backup and Restore application
from previous versions of Windows. Windows 8 introduces File History,
which gives you more functionality for backing up your files.
Figure 2. File History item
System recovery has been separated from this
item and is under its own Control Panel item called Recovery.
Before you can do anything with File History
you need to configure some space to copy your files to. You see the
recommendation of adding an external drive to your PC and using this
for your copied files. You also have the option to use a network
location. Copying files to an external drive or network location
certainly makes sense. If you were to make a copy of your files on your
local drive, you would really be up the creek without a paddle if your
drive crashed. Your original and historical files would be ruined.
Saving File History to a Network Location
If you operate on a home or corporate network
and want to save your File History to a network location, here’s how
you set that up:
1. From the Start screen right-click on the screen.
2. Click the All Apps button that appears on the lower-right corner of the screen.
3. Select Control Panel.
4. Click System and Security.
5. Click File History (notice that a quick search is done to see whether you have any external drives attached).
6. Click the Use Network Location link.
7. You are given the
opportunity to choose from available drives or use a network location.
If any external drives are attached, they show up in the list of
available drives.
8. Click Add Network Location and the Select Folder dialog box opens (see Figure 3).
Here you should be able to see other computers on your network. You can
double-click on any of the computers and, as long as you have access,
select a shared folder to copy your files to. (Interestingly you have
the ability to select your local computer and save the files there.)
Figure 3. Select a folder.
9. Click Select Folder, and you see your network location added to the list of available drives.
10. With your new available network location highlighted, click on OK.
11. You see your network location under the Copy Files To area and see how much free space you have (see Figure 4).
Figure 4. Network location added to available drives
12. Click the Turn On button, which is now enabled. You see that your files are being copied for the first time.
13. Once completed
you can see when the last file copy took place and have the ability to
run another backup at any time by clicking the Run Now link.
