I'm trying to clean up my File History items on Window 8.1, but when I click on the "Clean up versions" I get the following error:

Could not clean up File History data

Failed to perform File History cleanup (error 800405ff)

This happens every time I click the button. The Event Log shows nothing, so I'm not sure where to go from here. What can I do to reset my File History, or at least clean up some of the old versions?

Hi

Try to click the "User file history" option under Disk Cleanup (right click the drive\Properties\Disk Cleanup)and check if it can help you regain some disk space.

Or you can manually look for the location which stores the file history data (usually should be (selected drive)\File History\(user-name)\(computer-name)\Data\C\Users, try to delete the file history and check what happens.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/25820-file-history-cleanup-delete-older-versions-windows-8-a.html

NOTE This response contains a reference to a third party World Wide Web site. Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. Microsoft does not control these sites and has not tested any software or information found on these sites.

Regards

I think we need to check details logs

go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools\event viewer

go to subkey: application services and log\Microsoft\windows\file history engine\file history backup log, to see the log details

• Edited by britishdhez 3 hours 57 minutes ago

I think we need to check details logs

go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools\event viewer

go to subkey: application services and log\Microsoft\windows\file history engine\file history backup log, to see the log details

• Edited by britishdhez Tuesday, May 19, 2015 3:24 AM

I think we need to check details logs

go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools\event viewer

go to subkey: application services and log\Microsoft\windows\file history engine\file history backup log, to see the log details

• Edited by britishdhez Tuesday, May 19, 2015 3:24 AM

This was the last item in that Event Viewer log:

Unusual condition was encountered during finalization of a backup cycle for configuration C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory\Configuration\Config

That is the only unusual thing in the log. Almost every other event says the follow:

Directory was not backed up because it is a reparse point:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\My Music

If you want it to be protected, remove the reparse point.

Are any of those suspicious?

I suspected there is some limitation regarding file name character in sub folder can be handled by file history.

try to avoid long character for folder name and sub folder. You can try to backup manually your music folder and clear all the file there and try again to backup. Or exclude that folder manually to test

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/what-something-goes-wrong-file-history

But personal opinion, rather than use file history, I would prefer manual backup to external drive or use any other 3rd party backup software

• Edited by britishdhez 3 hours 25 minutes ago

I suspected there is some limitation regarding file name character in sub folder can be handled by file history.

try to avoid long character for folder name and sub folder. You can try to backup manually your music folder and clear all the file there and try again to backup. Or exclude that folder manually to test

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/what-something-goes-wrong-file-history

But personal opinion, rather than use file history, I would prefer manual backup to external drive or use any other 3rd party backup software

• Edited by britishdhez Thursday, May 21, 2015 4:00 AM