Trouble with File History

[matser]

I'm having some trouble with File History on Windows 8.1. If I add folder x (tried several others as well) from my DrivePool to the Documents Library, I get a message in File History saying "File History has found files that are encrypted with Encrypting File System, on a network location, or on a drive that doesn't use the NTFS file system. These files won't be backed up."

 

It's not the most specific error message and I can't understand why I get it. I've tried copying the exact same folder from DrivePool and placed it in the Documents folder instead. When I do, the files are backed up and no error messages are shown.

 

Somebody got an idea?

 

Best regards

Mats

[Christopher (Drashna)]

We don't support "EFS" on the pool. This is what it's complaining about.

 

Do you have any files that are locally encrypted on the disk? If so, that's what it's talking about.

 

Specifically, it may notice that we don't support EFS and is warning you.

[matser]

I don't have any encrypted files. Also made a test where I created a folder on the pool with one simple text document in it. File History wouldn't pick it up and referred to the same error message. If I move the folder outside the pool everything works as expected. So, File History and DrivePool is a no go then? Is this new to Windows 8.1 by the way?

[Christopher (Drashna)]

If that is the case, could you enable file system logging on the pool and run a "pass" again?

http://wiki.covecube.com/StableBit_DrivePool_2.x_Log_Collection

 

 

And File History Backup is new to Windows 8 (though, it's intended to be used with an external for ... backups)

[matser]

I've uploaded the zip as instructed and referred to this thread in the description. Thanks!

[Christopher (Drashna)]

I've flagged the logs for Alex (the develop), so he'll take a look at them soon.

 

 

Also, to make sure are you using encryption at all here? BitLocker, or per file (by using something like this http://www.howtogeek.com/178912/how-to-encrypt-files-and-folders-in-windows-8.1-using-efs/)?

Edited June 11, 2015 by Christopher (Drashna)
https://stablebit.com/Admin/IssueAnalysis/16693

[matser]

Thank you!

 

No, I'm not using any encryption. I've tried moving the same folder and files around a bit and it's only when it's placed within the pool that it doesn't work. If it's on the system drive or another drive out of the pool everything works as expected and both folder and files are backed up by File History with no error message.

[Christopher (Drashna)]

Thank you for confirming that.

 

We'll look into the cause of the issue, and see if we can resolve it.

[Christopher (Drashna)]

From what Alex has said, it looks like the feature uses USN Journaling (a low level file system feature), and that is why it's not working here.

 

A work around is to "move" the user folder(s) to a network share. This should prevent it from causing the issue (you could move it to "\\localhost\c$\users\{username}\{foldername}", and that should work).

[matser]

Thanks Christopher. I've tried getting my head around the workaround but I don't think I understand. As far as I understand things, File History works for folders included in a library. What I've done is to include folder x (which is within the pool) in the Documents library to enable File History for folder x (this doesn't work as we've already concluded). Which folder should I "move" to a network share? I can move the user folder called "Documents" but how will that help me?

[Christopher (Drashna)]

The workaround is to put the files on the share. This removes/disables the USN Journaling requirement (which is what is causing the error). 

 

the "\\localhost\c$\users" folder, is the local systems' C:\Users folder, actually (x$ are the drive letters in the system, where "x" is the actual letter). 

[matser]

I'm sorry but I'm not getting it... I have "F:\SomeFolder" where "F:" is my DrivePool and "SomeFolder" the folder I want to enable File History for. I have of course "c:\Users" but what have that folder to do with anything? Maybe I'm slow ;-) but could you try to walk me though exactly what I need to do?

 

"C:\Users\" - Local system users folder. Not sure how this comes into play.

"F:\SomeFolder" - DrivePool folder that I want to enable File History for. To do so I've included it in the default Windows "Documents" library but that doesn't work as we already concluded.

"G:\" - Shouldn't matter but this is the disk that I've pointed File History to. Where it saves the backup.

 

Thanks,

Mats

[Christopher (Drashna)]

Sorry, usually the File History Backup feature backs up Users folder. Especially as this is the default location for these folders.

 

In this case, using "\\localhost\f$\SomeFolder" is what you'd want to do.

[matser]

Ok, tried it but ran into problems with indexing... :-( "F:\SomeFolder\" is indexed but when I try to add it to the library using "\\localhost\f$\SomeFolder" I'm getting an error that the folder isn't indexed. Tried several hacks to get it indexed but without luck. I guess it's a no go then. To bad because I could really see it useful together with DrivePool. Any plans on adding support for it? If it's at all possible?

 

Thanks for all your help!

[Christopher (Drashna)]

For the shares, does it allow you to add it? If so, then you can ignore the "folder isn't indexed" error.

 

And as for the issue that's preventing it from working, the "USN Journaling" feature... we would like to add it, definitely. But the question is how complex will it be to do so.  So, I can't really give you an ETA on that. Sorry.

[matser]

Sorry about the delay. No, it doesn't allow me to add it.