Previous Versions not working-There are no previous versions available

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  1. Posts : 53
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #1

    Previous Versions not working-There are no previous versions available


    Hi,

    Whenever I try to restore a file (right click > "Restore previous versions") that I know has recently changed, I see:
    "There are no previous versions available" on the file's "Previous Versions" tab.

    I've been running Windows 7 x64 Business for a long time now, and I have never seen it available for any of my files.

    On "System Properties" > "System Protection", it says "On" under "Protection" for my only drive - C:. I have been able to manually create a system restore point.

    I have "Restore system settings and previous versions of files" checked upon clicking the "Configure" button. 10% (93.14GB) is dedicated to "Disk Space Usage" on that same dialogue box.

    Some threads have suggested that not having administrative shares enabled can prevent this service and suggest enabling it by adding a reg key, which I have done.:
    Administrative share - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    TCP/IP netbios helper service is automatically starting successfully.

    Any ideas how I can get this working?

    TIA,
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,578
    Vista 64 bit and 32 bit (SP2)
       #2

    You might want to take a look at this tutorial for restoring Previous Versions in Vista. The process might be the same (or very similar) in Windows 7. How to Restore Previous Versions of a File and Folder in Vista

    I can't help you with any other suggestions to get your Previous Versions working, but as a workaround in the mean time, if you need to repair or restore previous versions of any files, you can download the free app ShadowExplorer http://www.shadowexplorer.com/ which is an alternative program for Vista and Windows 7 for the Previous Versions feature that is not available for all editions.

    ShadowExplorer latest version - ShadowExplorer 0.8

    ShadowExplorer Manual (for Version 0.8) - http://www.shadowexplorer.com/news/11/55.html
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 53
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Imperfect1 said:
    You might want to take a look at this tutorial for restoring Previous Versions in Vista. The process might be the same (or very similar) in Windows 7. How to Restore Previous Versions of a File and Folder in Vista
    Thanks. Here is the equivalent article for Windows 7. I read read them both, but thanks anyway:
    How to Restore Files and Folders in Windows 7 with Previous Versions

    I meet all five requirements shown below from that article:

    Warning
    Previous Versions Requirements
    • Turn on System Protection for the drive(s) that you want to have previous versions of it's files and folders available.
    • Volume Shadow Copy - Service set as default of Manual.
    • Server - Service set as default of Started and Automatic.
    • TCP/IP NetBios Helper - Service set as default of Started and Automatic.
    • Workstation - Service set as default of Started and Automatic.

    Imperfect1 said:
    I can't help you with any other suggestions to get your Previous Versions working, but as a workaround in the mean time, if you need to repair or restore previous versions of any files, you can download the free app ShadowExplorer http://www.shadowexplorer.com/ which is an alternative program for Vista and Windows 7 for the Previous Versions feature that is not available for all editions.

    ShadowExplorer latest version - ShadowExplorer 0.8

    ShadowExplorer Manual (for Version 0.8) - http://www.shadowexplorer.com/news/11/55.html
    Thanks - if I don't receive any more information, I will give that a try.

    Can anyone else help?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 53
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Bump - can anyone help?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #5

    If you've never made a system backup or have not made a system restore point, you won't have anything in the previous versions tab.

    Previous versions of files: frequently asked questions
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 53
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    cluberti said:
    If you've never made a system backup or have not made a system restore point, you won't have anything in the previous versions tab.

    Previous versions of files: frequently asked questions
    Thanks for the reply, but as per my initial post:

    Rave79x said:
    I have "Restore system settings and previous versions of files" checked upon clicking the "Configure" button. 10% (93.14GB) is dedicated to "Disk Space Usage" on that same dialogue box.
    When I view the 5 restore points, I have: x2 manual, x1 critical update, x1 install and x1 system (automatic) restore points.

    I just did the following:

    1. Upped the "Disk Space Usage" to 30% (280GB)
    2. Created a manual restore point. Current usage showed as 139GB after taking the restore point.
    3. Edited a Word doc and saved it.
    4. Opened "Restore previous versions" of that file but it's still not showing any previous versions.

    Can anyone else help?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #7

    Do you have any defragmentation software running in the background, perhaps? Previous versions is based on VSS (the same thing restore points are), and anything that hits the disk in large chunks regularly can cause VSS to not work (unless your file system uses 16K clusters, which is not the default - you would have had to preformat manually at that size). I'm just trying to think of things that cause VSS to not do it's thing...
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 53
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    cluberti said:
    unless your file system uses 16K clusters, which is not the default - you would have had to preformat manually at that size.
    No, I didn't do that.

    cluberti said:
    Do you have any defragmentation software running in the background, perhaps? Previous versions is based on VSS (the same thing restore points are), and anything that hits the disk in large chunks regularly can cause VSS to not work
    Yes, I do! I run Diskeeper (which I'm sure you know is an auto defrag tool).

    As a test, here is what I did:

    1. I went into Diskeeper and shut down all background defrag options.
    2. I went into services.msc and stopped it from starting when Windows boots up, then I restarted.
    3. I deleted all previous restore points.
    4. I created a new, manual, restore point. Bizarrely, even though I have "Restore system settings and previous versions of files" checked, the usage went up to only 80MB. That just doesn't seem right.
    5. I edited a Word doc and saved it.
    6. I still do not see any previous versions.

    I have 46MB of .docx files and 293MB of .doc files (and obviously plenty of other files types beyond those).

    Any comments about the test I just did? I assume that takes Diskeeper out the equation temporarily?

    I am assuming the 80MB is significant?

    Can anyone offer any help?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #9

    If you make a Windows backup, as that's the only other thing I know that allows previous versions, that might do it. I can't really explain it otherwise, honestly.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #10

    I have the same exact problem on my system. I have been searching high and low, but cannot find a connection as to what may be wrong. All I can think of is that I have something installed that is causing the problem, but I cannot imagine what. I tried asking on ExpertsExchange on Sunday night, but of course that was a waste of time since that site is horrible. If I find anything I will let you know.
      My Computer


 
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