in this short video we'll show you how to use window tens of file history to
help you recover a previous version of a file when you've deleted or saved over
with something else before you can use this useful feature you need to make
sure that it's been properly set up go to the search bar and type file history
then open up the settings tab if it's not been set up windows will ask you to
add a drive this is where Windows will store your files it can use a lot of
disk space so ideally you'll use an external drive add the drive when you've
added the drive windows will automatically turn on file history but
it will also give you a few more options you need to click more options
you get three basic choices one how often do you want Windows to save a
version of your files to how long do you want windows to keep those saved
versions and three which folders do you want Windows to backup let's deal first
with the how often remember we're using this as a short-term rescue rather than
a long-term backup the default is every hour but you have options from every 10
minutes to daily if you're anything like me you're Oh bother moment happens in
seconds rather than minutes or hours so I'm going to choose every 10 minutes
remember that's six versions an hour for every file you save so think carefully
about your own work practices before choosing the next option is how long
should windows keep the version the options range from one month to forever
or until space is needed as we're using this as a rescue rather than a long term
backup I'm going to choose the shortest time one month in order to save space if
I've not missed it after a month in frankly it's not worth missing
the next option is to choose which folders windows will save you can add
folders and you can exclude them I really don't want windows to save every
file from every folder every 10 minutes windows gives you the option to exclude
particular folders but there's an easier way just click the ones on the backup
lists that you don't want and press remove for example I don't want my
downloads folder backed up so I remove it okay so we're all set up and we've
been using the work folder to save a Word document
we've just saved a version that's full of mistakes and need to go back to a
previous version go to the search bar type file history and open restore your
files with file history the restore control panel will open open the folder
where you saved your documents in mine it's the work folder click the arrows at
the top left of the window to move to previous versions of the file here it
shows me I have three saved versions to choose from and gives me the date and
time they were saved I checked the previous version and yes
it's the correct one the one I need all I need to do now is click the green
button and windows gives me three choices I can either replace the file
skip this one we'll compare the two well I know it's the one I need so I'm going
to replace the file take your time to explore the other choices and there it
is job done I can now open the correct
previously saved version of the file eTop Technology here to help
you