OneNote2013 not being backed-up by File History

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Problem: File History stopped backing up OneNote changes, while properly backing up everything else.
Fortunately, I was making manual backups to a 32GB USB stick.
After trying everything else, I deleted my old OneNote Notebook and started fresh, merging files from the backups into the new book.

Win8.1 Default installation locations for my new OneNote2013 are listed as follows:
The DEFAULT (primary) location is listed as C:UsersPaulDocumentsOneNote NoteBooksNEWbook
The Default BACKUP and CACHE location is C:UsersPaulAppDataLocalMicrosoftOneNote15.0

My Question: In order for FILE HISTORY to correctly backup OneNote changes, which folder location should be listed under LIBRARIES

Background: I think I have read every Langa, Microsoft and Website article re: Win8.1, Libraries, FileHistory and OneNote and so far have not discovered the “correct” LIBRARIES location for the OneNote files.

System Details:
Dell XPS 8700, 1T hard disk, 8GB DDR3, one year old.
Toshiba USB 1T backup drive always installed in the same USB port after re-format NTSF. 2% of USB drive is now used.
File History is on AUTO and Defaults are set.
Win 8.1, with all updates installed (auto)
OneDrive is NOT being used and I don’t want to use it.
No outstanding unreconcilable events in the Event Viewer. No system problems noted.
Kaspersky Virus 2015 and Malwarebytes Premium are both “on” with no problems.

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You should always include C:UsersPaulDocuments in the File History backup list, it is your primary storage location. This should then backup all your data, including OneNote.

cheers, Paul

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Reply to post #2.
I just checked my Library folders. C:UsersPaulDocuments was added to the LIBRARY structure and OneNote FAILED to backup in File History.

After it FAILED, I added C:UsersPaulDocumentsOneNote Notebook to the Library folders using the Rt-clk “include in Library” command

File History then backed up the OneNote Notebook. But, is this correct? The OneNote design is for “incrementally” backing up file changes. The incremental backup files are not in THAT location, the incremental files are located in the Backup folder at: C:UsersPaulAppDataLocalMicrosoftOneNote15.0

That’s really the thrust of my question since there are two file storage locations maintained by OneNote. Which one should be in the Library?

Thanks,
Paul

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You want to backup the backup? Why not move the OneNote backup to the same location as the File History backup?

cheers, Paul

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Reply to #4:

Thank you for your logic and insights.

I still don’t know if I should select the Primary or Backup for the Library “pointer”.

The files in OneNote’s backup folder are incremental compared with the files in the Primary folder. Logic tells me that the Library pointer should be to the backup folder because only it contains the incremental files.

What’s the risk? The risk is that after several more months of using OneNote/File History extensively, that the system begins to fail because the file pointer is in the wrong place.

Here’s what I do know:
OneNote works just peachy with OneDrive. After one year of OneDrive, I’ve driving away from it, but the divorce came with a price.

My NON-OneNote files were backed-up by File History to the USB drive, incrementally and 100% while also backing up to OneDrive.

The trouble began after separating from OneDrive. The re-installation did not provide file location guidance for the OneNote “pointer” in the Library.

If you have been using OneNote/File History extensively with an external USB drive without a problem, which choice did you make for the Library pointer?

Paul

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I don’t know enough about the Onenote backup system to advise. Hopefully someone else will have a suggestion.

cheers, Paul

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Solved! Use the DEFAULT location.

This has been working consistently: C:UsersPaulDocumentsOneNote Notebook to the Libraries folders using the Rt-clk “include in Library” command.

I just picked the DEFAULT and it has been working. I’ve tried several measures to try to make it fail. I’ve made a one-word change to a page. I’ve deleted pages. I’ve added and or deleted sections. I should also report that the One-Drive (aka SkyDrive) “cloud” system has been “OFF”. The cloud “Sync” Icon (looks more like an acorn than a cloud) in the lower right corner continues to report that I’m “sync’d”. Go figure?

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