Windows 8 introduced the incremental backup

Windows 8 introduces a new feature: backup and keeps the history of files on hard disk user.

With "File History", Microsoft has worked on a backup program automated for the protection of the personal files of the user in the new version of Windows. Well known Linux and Mac, this function will make his appearance in Windows 8, which will therefore also its own system of data protection with a complete history of changes made to the files. Improved management "versions", sort of.

To enable it, simply connect an external hard drive or an internal drive that is not the main disk and select the control panel "system and security". It will be possible to select the records to automatically save and to exclude some folders for not burdening the backup.

    

Once this step is completed and the backup of files is complete, it will be possible to control the change history directly from the window of exploration of the files via the "History" button which takes the same icon in the application of system restore.

Unlike Time Machine on Mac, Windows backup system will only target users personal folders. He is not here to do a full backup of the system, applications, and other user settings. On the Microsoft blog, explained that "File History" may be used on any machine of the most powerful - that in would have doubted-, to the smallest with little resources. Thus, as soon as the processor is requested or the hard drive is, the backup process is in break time that the main activity of the user ends.

Activity CPU % and space memory occupied by File History

Microsoft engineers also indicate that the process memory footprint has been especially studied to take that 5 MB memory RAM when it is paused and 10 MB in a backup active.

For portable computers, Windows 8 and File History have worked to better take into account the lives of users. When the laptop is put to sleep by closing the screen, backup system is in pause, which is normal, as soon as the screen is again open, File History does not immediately active and expected that the rest of the system and the user applications have completed to wake up.

In the case of a disconnection from the backup disk, File History will temporarily create a record cache of changes and synchronize them later when the disc will be presented again. This cache can of course be controlled by the same control panel. On the other hand, encryption is required for this program with the support of BitLocker for the external drive. Finally, SkyDrive is also supported if it is configured on the machine and will back up all the data of the account on the disk.

A new feature that will allow good number of users no longer lose important documents. Will however, third-party backup software market to take a shot? With a backup only focused on the user files, there is not too much risk for the moment...