Solved file history restore to same disk (without duplicating)

ptrss · Feb 13, 2021

Hi,

I'm running Windows 10 with an SSD + HDD setup. I am using File History to backup all files from the main SSD to the HDD.

My main SSD is running out of space, so I'd like to start using the bigger HDD as the main disk for files, keeping the SSD for windows only, and another external disk for backups.

Is there a way to use File History or another tool/script to Restore the files from the file history folder directly onto the disk, without duplicating everything ? All files being already there I would feel stupid copying them a second time from the ssd or from the backup (it’s quite a big folder...)

thanks for any help !

zbook · Feb 13, 2021

While you are working on a solution you can free up space on the Windows drive:

Free Up Drive Space in Windows 10

How to Free Up Drive Space in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Free up drive space in Windows 10

Find out how to free up space on your PC by deleting unnecessary files, uninstalling apps, and moving files to other drives.

support.microsoft.com

johngalt · Feb 13, 2021

Wrt your SSD + HDD setup:

How much free space is on the HDD? And where is your \Users folder located? Also, have you moved any of your special folders (like Documents, Pictures, Movies, and Videos)?

ptrss · Feb 14, 2021

johngalt said:
Wrt your SSD + HDD setup:

How much free space is on the HDD? And where is your \Users folder located? Also, have you moved any of your special folders (like Documents, Pictures, Movies, and Videos)?

thanks for your answer

my \users folder is on C: but all special sub folders are on a separate partition on the same SSD. I’d like to move those folders to the HDD to delete that partition, but without copying them again since they are technically already there, in the file History folder...

I have between 1 and 5 Gb left on C:

johngalt · Feb 14, 2021

Doesn't file history keep *older* versions, not the actual current version? (I've never actually used it, so I probably should take a look at it. So I'm actually asking the question versus telling you that you're wrong, please don't misunderstand me there.)

At any rate, I have enough different drives now that I could actually enable it for myself and try - but after a massive SNAFU last year (well, end of 2019) I started using my personal OneDrive for both Documents and Pictures, so I did not try it out at all. On my old system, I probably didn't have the space to begin with, anyway, so that was a critical factor in not using it. Now I do, but having everything in OneDrive kept me from even thinking about it.

But here is the kicker: When moving the special folders, it *specifically* asks if you want to copy the contents from the current location to the new location - you could simply say no, and they should still be in the physical location that they are locate now - just won't be readily accessible through the system shortcut for Documents / whichever folder you're moving. But the actual path, like, say, D:\Documents (or whatever you used for your second partition) should still be usable to access the files - just not going into Explorer and typing Documents, as that would point to the new location now.

What I *don't* know is how that would affect File History. It could be screwy enough that it all of a sudden detects that the files it had copies of are no longer in the location and start to purge the copies. it may be smart enough to realize that it was keeping file history from a location that actually exists and keep the histories.

TBH, even if it takes an overnight copy and paste from the SSD to the mechanical drive, I'd just do it and be done with it, if it were me. Better to be safe that your current versions actually make it to the mechanical HD intact than to find out that the above scenario where File History purges the old copies occurs - and then you're out of luck.

ptrss · Feb 14, 2021

johngalt said:
Doesn't file history keep *older* versions, not the actual current version? (I've never actually used it, so I probably should take a look at it. So I'm actually asking the question versus telling you that you're wrong, please don't misunderstand me there.)

At any rate, I have enough different drives now that I could actually enable it for myself and try - but after a massive SNAFU last year (well, end of 2019) I started using my personal OneDrive for both Documents and Pictures, so I did not try it out at all. On my old system, I probably didn't have the space to begin with, anyway, so that was a critical factor in not using it. Now I do, but having everything in OneDrive kept me from even thinking about it.

But here is the kicker: When moving the special folders, it *specifically* asks if you want to copy the contents from the current location to the new location - you could simply say no, and they should still be in the physical location that they are locate now - just won't be readily accessible through the system shortcut for Documents / whichever folder you're moving. But the actual path, like, say, D:\Documents (or whatever you used for your second partition) should still be usable to access the files - just not going into Explorer and typing Documents, as that would point to the new location now.

What I *don't* know is how that would affect File History. It could be screwy enough that it all of a sudden detects that the files it had copies of are no longer in the location and start to purge the copies. it may be smart enough to realize that it was keeping file history from a location that actually exists and keep the histories.

TBH, even if it takes an overnight copy and paste from the SSD to the mechanical drive, I'd just do it and be done with it, if it were me. Better to be safe that your current versions actually make it to the mechanical HD intact than to find out that the above scenario where File History purges the old copies occurs - and then you're out of luck.

Thanks for help.

File History keeps both actual and older copies of files. Therefore deleting source directories should not purge the file history docs.

I’ll try to figure out a way !

johngalt · Feb 15, 2021

Thanks for the reply - and now I completely understand why you don't want the duplicates.

Something to consider though - as soon as you modify files in the new location, they will also be duplicated. So, you'll also need to come up with a way to purge those, as well.

And, if you do come up with a viable solution (to your original problem and / or the secondary issue I just mentioned), please post back - I'm betting someone down the road will benefit from either / both of the solutions.

ptrss · Feb 16, 2021

Hi

Sorry, gave up and copied them all over again.

Thanks for your help

namitakrs2021 · Feb 18, 2021

Very Informative Instruction provided by johngalt.

Solved file history restore to same disk (without duplicating)

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