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04-11-2025 05:45 PM
I have an old Hp simplesave external hard drive. I have backed up the same computer on it several times. How do I find the FIRST backup on the external hard drive. Does it save each back up or just update files that have been changed? Any help is appreciated. I fear I lost sentimental photos/videos due to not being knowledgeable.
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04-13-2025 07:40 AM - edited 04-13-2025 07:40 AM
@MTA11283, Welcome to HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.
Let's go through how HP SimpleSave works and the steps you can take to locate your first backup.
💾 How HP SimpleSave Works (Default Behavior)
- Incremental Backups: HP SimpleSave performs incremental backups, meaning it backs up only new or changed files after the initial backup.
- No Versioning: It does not keep multiple versions of the same file. If a file changes, the older version is replaced.
- File Structure: It typically stores files in a folder named something like HPSF_Data or SimpleSave Backup.
🔍 How to Locate the First Backup
- Plug in the Drive: Connect the HP SimpleSave drive to your computer.
- Browse the Files: Open the drive and look for folders like:
- HPSF_Data
- SimpleSave Backup
- A folder named after your PC's name or user account.
- Check Timestamps: Inside, you’ll find a folder structure organized by file type or original folder names. Use these tips:
- Right-click any file > Properties > check the "Created" date. This will help you identify which files came from your first backup.
- Sort by Date: Use File Explorer’s "Details" view and sort files by:
- Date created
- Date modified
The oldest files are most likely from your first backup.
- Look for a Log File: Sometimes the backup software leaves a log or manifest file (like .xml, .txt, or .ini). Look for files like:
- backup.xml
- manifest.xml
- SimpleSave.log
Open it with Notepad to see if it shows a backup history.
⚠️ Important Notes
- There is no actual "first backup folder"; it simply copies files to the folder structure.
- If a file was overwritten and you didn’t manually duplicate the backup or use file versioning software, older versions may not be recoverable.
- If you did not delete or format the drive, your photos/videos might still be on there unless they were overwritten.
If you suspect files were lost:
- Use recovery tools like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery, or PhotoRec on the HP drive. These tools may help retrieve older deleted files if they haven’t been overwritten.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!
Max3Aj
HP Support
04-13-2025 07:40 AM - edited 04-13-2025 07:40 AM
@MTA11283, Welcome to HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.
Let's go through how HP SimpleSave works and the steps you can take to locate your first backup.
💾 How HP SimpleSave Works (Default Behavior)
- Incremental Backups: HP SimpleSave performs incremental backups, meaning it backs up only new or changed files after the initial backup.
- No Versioning: It does not keep multiple versions of the same file. If a file changes, the older version is replaced.
- File Structure: It typically stores files in a folder named something like HPSF_Data or SimpleSave Backup.
🔍 How to Locate the First Backup
- Plug in the Drive: Connect the HP SimpleSave drive to your computer.
- Browse the Files: Open the drive and look for folders like:
- HPSF_Data
- SimpleSave Backup
- A folder named after your PC's name or user account.
- Check Timestamps: Inside, you’ll find a folder structure organized by file type or original folder names. Use these tips:
- Right-click any file > Properties > check the "Created" date. This will help you identify which files came from your first backup.
- Sort by Date: Use File Explorer’s "Details" view and sort files by:
- Date created
- Date modified
The oldest files are most likely from your first backup.
- Look for a Log File: Sometimes the backup software leaves a log or manifest file (like .xml, .txt, or .ini). Look for files like:
- backup.xml
- manifest.xml
- SimpleSave.log
Open it with Notepad to see if it shows a backup history.
⚠️ Important Notes
- There is no actual "first backup folder"; it simply copies files to the folder structure.
- If a file was overwritten and you didn’t manually duplicate the backup or use file versioning software, older versions may not be recoverable.
- If you did not delete or format the drive, your photos/videos might still be on there unless they were overwritten.
If you suspect files were lost:
- Use recovery tools like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery, or PhotoRec on the HP drive. These tools may help retrieve older deleted files if they haven’t been overwritten.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!
Max3Aj
HP Support