I am posting a chat session below that I just had with MS support regarding this issue and welcome feedback as to whether or not I am being unreasonable in pursuit of a solution. Thank you.
Chat session is as follows:
Contact Answer Desk
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Jam M
Microsoft Answer Tech
Jam M Hi, thanks for visiting Answer Desk! I'm Jam M.
3:32 pm
Me Hi
3:33 pm
Jam M Hi there! May I have your name please?
3:33 pm
Me Greg
3:33 pm
Jam M How are you, Greg? I hope that you are feeling great today!
3:33 pm
Me I am using file history in Win 10 and it is making multiple copies of music and pictures even though they have not been changed\
3:34 pm
Jam M Thank you for sharing your concern with us, Greg. I understand how important this is for you. Let us work together in finding the best resolution to this issue.
3:34 pm
Jam M I will be asking a few questions to know exactly what's going on. Once I have a good grasp of the issue, I will provide you your support options which may include our paid support.
3:35 pm
Jam M May I know if you are seeing any error message?
3:35 pm
Me no error messages
3:35 pm
Jam M I see. May I know how did you install Windows 10?
3:36 pm
Me I downloaded the upgrade and installed it as per the instructions
3:37 pm
Jam M May I know when did this start happening?
3:39 pm
Me as soon as I started using file history
3:39 pm
Jam M May I know the reason why using it?
3:40 pm
Me are you asking me why I'm using file history?
3:40 pm
Jam M Yes, are you trying to restore your files, Greg?
3:41 pm
Jam M Or saving it?
3:41 pm
Me no, luckily I haven't had to restore anything I am using it to back up my files in case I need to restore them.
3:41 pm
Jam M I see. And the files that you have backed up has a multiple copy?
3:42 pm
Me yes, only media files such as pictures and music files. They have been altered and yet file history is making multiple copies each time it backs up.
3:43 pm
Me as can imagine it takes up quite a bit of un needed space on my backup drive
3:43 pm
Jam M Is it more two copies?
3:44 pm
Me yes. a new copy each day as I am backing up daily
3:44 pm
Me hello?
3:48 pm
Jam M I see. Thanks for letting me know that, Greg. As I checked on my resources, it is basically normal to have a two copies of your backed up files in File history. And you wouldn't need to worry about your storage, since the second copy will not consume any of it.
3:50 pm
Me thank you for that information, however it is not relevant to the problem I am having.
3:50 pm
Me do you fully understand the issue I am trying to describe?
3:51 pm
Jam M As I understand, you're getting a multiple copies of your files, pictures and music, every time you back up your files using File History.
3:52 pm
Jam M Did I get it right?
3:52 pm
Me yes. if it were only two it would not concern me
3:53 pm
Me it continues to make copies until my backup drive is full
3:53 pm
Jam M Okay, since you are backing up your files daily, what you need to do is to delete first the one that you have backed up yesterday. Because if it still there, it will really try to copy all of the files.
3:55 pm
Jam M For example, you backed up your files today. The next day, you should delete first the one that you have backed up today before backing up again. If not, the copy of yesterday's backed is there, and you will get another copy since you will backed again for today.
3:58 pm
Me That is not a practical solution. I would have to delete my backed up files every day? The problem is that file history is thinking that that media files have been altered when they have not. It is not happening with other files
4:00 pm
Me this is clearly a flaw in file history and needs to be fixed wouldn't you agree?
4:01 pm
Me I have searched the forums and find that many people are experiencing this same issue with file history since it was included in Windows 8
4:05 pm
Jam M I understand, Greg. However, it has it's own date that the file history was recognized. Since whenever you want to Restore your files, you just have to choose the date where you want to go back.
4:06 pm
Me with all due respect, then you don't understand the issue. Is there any way to escalate this issue to someone who understands it as a problem. I fail to see how you don't see a problem with a windows backup making new copies of the same files every day until it runs out of space even though the file has not changed.
4:09 pm
Jam M Surely, we can, Greg. You would might want to consider our Assure Support Plan for $149 for us to proceed with the escalation.
4:12 pm
Me LOL. So Microsoft offers me an upgrade to Windows 10 which I didn't ask for and then wants to charge me $149 to fix a fundamental flaw in the built in backup?
4:13 pm
Jam M Please be advised that you have reached paid support. I have provided you the resolution and explain to you the issue. For us to escalate this concern, you will be needing a subscription from us. If you want, you can take advantage of this limited offer called Work and Play bundle.
4:16 pm
Jam M You will get 1 year Subscription to the following: Professional Technical Support 24/7 for all Microsoft Products (via chat or phone), Office 365 Home Edition, Wifi Access + Skype Unlimited World, Xbox Live Gold, plus a $60 Promotional Gift Card all for only $149 (total savings of $360 vs purchasing separately).
4:16 pm
Me I must have missed the solution you provided. Was it to manually delete the backed up copies every day?
4:17 pm
Jam M Yes.
4:17 pm
Me Wow. Ok, I will be posting this chat session online for people to form their own opinion. Thank you for your time.
4:19 pm
Jam M Thank you for your time as well, Greg.
4:19 pm
Jam M Is there anything else I can assist with today?
4:20 pm
Me no thank you
4:20 pm
Chat session is as follows:
Contact Answer Desk
Microsoft Answer Tech
Jam M Hi, thanks for visiting Answer Desk! I'm Jam M.
3:32 pm
Me Hi
3:33 pm
Jam M Hi there! May I have your name please?
3:33 pm
Me Greg
3:33 pm
Jam M How are you, Greg? I hope that you are feeling great today!
3:33 pm
Me I am using file history in Win 10 and it is making multiple copies of music and pictures even though they have not been changed\
3:34 pm
Jam M Thank you for sharing your concern with us, Greg. I understand how important this is for you. Let us work together in finding the best resolution to this issue.
3:34 pm
Jam M I will be asking a few questions to know exactly what's going on. Once I have a good grasp of the issue, I will provide you your support options which may include our paid support.
3:35 pm
Jam M May I know if you are seeing any error message?
3:35 pm
Me no error messages
3:35 pm
Jam M I see. May I know how did you install Windows 10?
3:36 pm
Me I downloaded the upgrade and installed it as per the instructions
3:37 pm
Jam M May I know when did this start happening?
3:39 pm
Me as soon as I started using file history
3:39 pm
Jam M May I know the reason why using it?
3:40 pm
Me are you asking me why I'm using file history?
3:40 pm
Jam M Yes, are you trying to restore your files, Greg?
3:41 pm
Jam M Or saving it?
3:41 pm
Me no, luckily I haven't had to restore anything I am using it to back up my files in case I need to restore them.
3:41 pm
Jam M I see. And the files that you have backed up has a multiple copy?
3:42 pm
Me yes, only media files such as pictures and music files. They have been altered and yet file history is making multiple copies each time it backs up.
3:43 pm
Me as can imagine it takes up quite a bit of un needed space on my backup drive
3:43 pm
Jam M Is it more two copies?
3:44 pm
Me yes. a new copy each day as I am backing up daily
3:44 pm
Me hello?
3:48 pm
Jam M I see. Thanks for letting me know that, Greg. As I checked on my resources, it is basically normal to have a two copies of your backed up files in File history. And you wouldn't need to worry about your storage, since the second copy will not consume any of it.
3:50 pm
Me thank you for that information, however it is not relevant to the problem I am having.
3:50 pm
Me do you fully understand the issue I am trying to describe?
3:51 pm
Jam M As I understand, you're getting a multiple copies of your files, pictures and music, every time you back up your files using File History.
3:52 pm
Jam M Did I get it right?
3:52 pm
Me yes. if it were only two it would not concern me
3:53 pm
Me it continues to make copies until my backup drive is full
3:53 pm
Jam M Okay, since you are backing up your files daily, what you need to do is to delete first the one that you have backed up yesterday. Because if it still there, it will really try to copy all of the files.
3:55 pm
Jam M For example, you backed up your files today. The next day, you should delete first the one that you have backed up today before backing up again. If not, the copy of yesterday's backed is there, and you will get another copy since you will backed again for today.
3:58 pm
Me That is not a practical solution. I would have to delete my backed up files every day? The problem is that file history is thinking that that media files have been altered when they have not. It is not happening with other files
4:00 pm
Me this is clearly a flaw in file history and needs to be fixed wouldn't you agree?
4:01 pm
Me I have searched the forums and find that many people are experiencing this same issue with file history since it was included in Windows 8
4:05 pm
Jam M I understand, Greg. However, it has it's own date that the file history was recognized. Since whenever you want to Restore your files, you just have to choose the date where you want to go back.
4:06 pm
Me with all due respect, then you don't understand the issue. Is there any way to escalate this issue to someone who understands it as a problem. I fail to see how you don't see a problem with a windows backup making new copies of the same files every day until it runs out of space even though the file has not changed.
4:09 pm
Jam M Surely, we can, Greg. You would might want to consider our Assure Support Plan for $149 for us to proceed with the escalation.
4:12 pm
Me LOL. So Microsoft offers me an upgrade to Windows 10 which I didn't ask for and then wants to charge me $149 to fix a fundamental flaw in the built in backup?
4:13 pm
Jam M Please be advised that you have reached paid support. I have provided you the resolution and explain to you the issue. For us to escalate this concern, you will be needing a subscription from us. If you want, you can take advantage of this limited offer called Work and Play bundle.
4:16 pm
Jam M You will get 1 year Subscription to the following: Professional Technical Support 24/7 for all Microsoft Products (via chat or phone), Office 365 Home Edition, Wifi Access + Skype Unlimited World, Xbox Live Gold, plus a $60 Promotional Gift Card all for only $149 (total savings of $360 vs purchasing separately).
4:16 pm
Me I must have missed the solution you provided. Was it to manually delete the backed up copies every day?
4:17 pm
Jam M Yes.
4:17 pm
Me Wow. Ok, I will be posting this chat session online for people to form their own opinion. Thank you for your time.
4:19 pm
Jam M Thank you for your time as well, Greg.
4:19 pm
Jam M Is there anything else I can assist with today?
4:20 pm
Me no thank you
4:20 pm
