Fixed: "File History Element Not Found" Error on Windows 10

File History Cleanup Error- Element Not Found

How to Fix “File History Cleanup Element Not Found” Error

The error may be caused by system file corruption, hard drive problems, or other issues, and can be frustrating to resolve. Fortunately, there are several solutions that can help fix this error, including checking for system file corruption, running a disk check, updating drivers, reinstalling Windows, and using a system file checker tool. By trying out these solutions, you may be able to resolve the error and get your system up and running smoothly again.

Solution 1. Disconnect Your Peripherals

Unplug all USB drives and devices connected to the computer, as they may be preventing certain processes from starting, and then try to perform File History Cleanup again.

To resolve the issue, first turn off File History by going to Control Panel, then System and Security, and finally File History. Next, disconnect the external hard drive and restart your computer. After the restart, reconnect the external drive and check if you can delete the problematic file.

Solution 2. Scan Your System Files

If the error "File History element not found" persists after disconnecting peripherals, it's possible that system files are damaged. To fix this, run the System File Checker tool, which can be accessed by typing "sfc /scannow" in the Command Prompt. This will scan and replace any corrupted system files.

1. To open the Command Prompt, type "cmd" in the search box and click "Run as administrator" to open it.

2. Then run the SFC command. Type the below code in the Command Prompt window, and hit Enter. After the process is complete, restart the computer to see if you can perform File History Cleanup.

☞ sfc /scannow

3. If the error persists, run the following commands in Command Prompt:

• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

After completing the process of disabling the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and then restarting the computer, restart the computer again to see if the error is fixed.

Solution 3. Cleanup and Repair Your Drive

Some users solved the error by repairing their drives.

1. Go to This PC, right-click on your drive, and select Properties.
2. Click on the General tab and select Disk Cleanup.

3. Select the files you want to remove, including temporary files, and click OK.

4. Check your drive for file system errors by clicking on "Tools" and following the on-screen instructions.

5. After the process is complete, restart your computer and check if you can now delete the File History file.

Solution 4. Undo Recent Updates

If File History issues arise after updating the operating system, try uninstalling the most recent update and restarting the computer to resolve the problem.

1. Go to the Control Panel and click on "Uninstall a program" under the "Programs" section.

2. Click on View installed updates to uninstall an update.

3. Then find the newest update and delete it.

Solution 5. Reset File History

To resolve the issue of File History not working in Windows 10, you can try resetting File History and then set up a new backup for specific folders. This will help you regain access to your backed-up files and ensure that your important files are safely stored.

1. To turn off File History, go to the Control Panel, click on System and Security, then File History, and finally click Turn off.

2. To access the File History folder, navigate to the folder %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory in File Explorer, either by typing the path into the address bar or by searching for it.
3. Delete all files and folders you see.
4. Go to File History in the Control Panel, click on it, and then select the option to Turn on.
5. To adjust the backup settings, click on "Advanced settings" in the left menu, set the backup frequency to daily and the retention to 1 month, and then click "Save changes".

File History can be helpful for saving a copy of a file, but it may experience errors like "File History element not found" and potential failures such as inaccessible service, disconnected drive, or no usable drives found, making it an unreliable file backup software.

Looking for an easy way to backup files or other important items? Try the best File History alternative for a hassle-free experience.

Best File History Alternative with Auto Cleanup Function

Qiling Disk Master Professional is a full-featured backup and restore software that supports various backup types, including file, system, disk, and partition backups, making it a suitable alternative to File History for Windows users.

The software has an automatic backup cleanup feature that can help delete backup image files in a scheduled task, which is very helpful for saving disk space and keeping all the latest backups.

The software minimizes backup disk usage with features like incremental or differential backup, which only saves changed files, and compression options for normal or high compression levels, further reducing storage needs.

To set up a backup with automatic backup cleanup function, you can use the following command: `rsnapshot config` followed by `rsnapshot sync` and `rsnapshot prune`. The `rsnapshot config` command sets up the configuration files for the backup, the `rsnapshot sync` command syncs the backup with the current state of the system, and the `rsnapshot prune` command removes any unnecessary backups.

Step 1. Download and install the software, which offers a 30-day free trial, allowing you to test it without initial financial commitment.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, 100% Secure

Step 2. To backup in Open Qiling Disk Master, click Backup, then select File Backup from the options provided, or choose one of the other three backup methods based on your specific needs.

Step 3. Select the files or folders you want to backup by clicking on either the "Files" or "Folders" option. Next, choose a destination for the backup by clicking on the box below the arrow.

Step 4. To set up automatic backups, click Schedule Backup, then choose a frequency such as daily, weekly, or monthly, or trigger a backup when an event occurs or when a USB device is plugged in. Next, click Backup Scheme to configure the backup method and auto-cleanup settings.

▶ For This software offers three common backup methods: full backup, incremental and differential backup, with incremental backup being the default option.

▶ For Automatic Backup Cleanup: The program offers 3 cleanup rules: By quantity, By time, and By day/week/month. When enabled, Automatic Backup Cleanup automatically removes image files, freeing up disk space.

Other Special Settings: ✦ Options: You can add a note to your backup to make it easily identifiable, and also encrypt it to keep your data private.

Step 5. Confirm the backup task and click Proceed. This will initiate the first backup, and subsequently, automatically delete backup files when the set backup number or time is reached.

To Sum Up

After reading this article, you should be able to fix the "File History element not found" error using the solutions provided. However, the built-in Windows backup tool often falls short of meeting our backup needs, leading to frequent problems. To avoid these issues, it's recommended to use a professional software like Qiling Disk Master to protect your system and files from the start.

You can use the software's Sync feature to perform continuous file sync on Windows, saving time and increasing productivity, while keeping the original file structure intact, allowing for direct use or modification at any time.

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