{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T22:02:09+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-26T22:02:09+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:10:51+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Computers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33513"},"slug":"computers","categoryId":33513},{"name":"Operating Systems","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33524"},"slug":"operating-systems","categoryId":33524},{"name":"Windows","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33532"},"slug":"windows","categoryId":33532},{"name":"Windows 10","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33535"},"slug":"windows-10","categoryId":33535}],"title":"How to Tell Windows 7 Which Drives to Scan for Previous Versions of Files","strippedTitle":"how to tell windows 7 which drives to scan for previous versions of files","slug":"how-to-tell-windows-7-which-drives-to-scan-for-previous-versions-of-files","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Windows 7 includes a nifty new feature that allows you to restore previous versions of a file that you’ve modified or even deleted. However, unless you tell Win","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<p>Windows 7 includes a nifty new feature that allows you to restore previous versions of a file that you’ve modified or even deleted. However, unless you tell Windows 7 which drives to scan for previous versions of files, it will only look in the Windows system drive for modified files.</p>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Choose Start, right-click Computer, and choose Properties.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">You see the Control Panel’s System pane.</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">On the left, click the link to System Protection.</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/140063.image0.jpg\" width=\"359\" height=\"400\" alt=\"image0.jpg\"/>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Windows opens the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab.</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Click any drives you want to include in automatic restore points and then click Configure.</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/140064.image1.jpg\" width=\"355\" height=\"400\" alt=\"image1.jpg\"/>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Windows opens the System Protection dialog box for the selected drive.</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Click the button marked Only Restore Previous Versions of Files.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Consider setting aside more space for restore points by moving the slider.</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Click OK twice.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Starting tonight, Windows will start tracking versions of all the files on the chosen drive.</p>\n </li>\n</ol>","description":"<p>Windows 7 includes a nifty new feature that allows you to restore previous versions of a file that you’ve modified or even deleted. However, unless you tell Windows 7 which drives to scan for previous versions of files, it will only look in the Windows system drive for modified files.</p>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Choose Start, right-click Computer, and choose Properties.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">You see the Control Panel’s System pane.</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">On the left, click the link to System Protection.</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/140063.image0.jpg\" width=\"359\" height=\"400\" alt=\"image0.jpg\"/>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Windows opens the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab.</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Click any drives you want to include in automatic restore points and then click Configure.</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/140064.image1.jpg\" width=\"355\" height=\"400\" alt=\"image1.jpg\"/>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Windows opens the System Protection dialog box for the selected drive.</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Click the button marked Only Restore Previous Versions of Files.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Consider setting aside more space for restore points by moving the slider.</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Click OK twice.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Starting tonight, Windows will start tracking versions of all the files on the chosen drive.</p>\n </li>\n</ol>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9068,"name":"Woody Leonhard","slug":"woody-leonhard","description":" <b>Woody Leonhard</b> is a bestselling author and has been a Microsoft beta tester since Word for Windows 1.1. 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How to Tell Windows 7 Which Drives to Scan for Previous Versions of Files

By: Woody Leonhard and

Updated: 03-26-2016

From The Book: Windows 7 All-in-One For Dummies

Windows 7 All-in-One For Dummies

Explore Book Buy On Amazon

Windows 7 includes a nifty new feature that allows you to restore previous versions of a file that you’ve modified or even deleted. However, unless you tell Windows 7 which drives to scan for previous versions of files, it will only look in the Windows system drive for modified files.

Choose Start, right-click Computer, and choose Properties.

You see the Control Panel’s System pane.
On the left, click the link to System Protection.

Windows opens the System Properties dialog box, on the System Protection tab.
Click any drives you want to include in automatic restore points and then click Configure.

Windows opens the System Protection dialog box for the selected drive.
Click the button marked Only Restore Previous Versions of Files.

Consider setting aside more space for restore points by moving the slider.
Click OK twice.

Starting tonight, Windows will start tracking versions of all the files on the chosen drive.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Windows 7 All-in-One For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Woody Leonhard describes himself as a "Windows victim." Since 1992, he's been sharing the solutions to his own tech problems with millions of readers. In addition to writing several books in the For Dummies series, Woody is a Contributing Editor for Windows Secrets newsletter. He also runs his own blog at AskWoody.com.

This article can be found in the category:

Windows 10 ,

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