Versions of a file, and previewing before you restore
Every backup that holds a file is a version of it. See them, open one to check it, then restore the one you want.
On this page
A file that changes every day has a copy in every daily backup. "The one from before I broke it" is a version you can find, open and restore.
See the versions of a file#
- Open Restore, click the job and Browse any point in time.
- Open the file's folder and click the file's name.
Versions of this file appears on the right: one line per backup that holds a copy, newest first, with how long ago it was made, its size and Preview. The point you opened is highlighted; every other line also has Restore this one, which opens that backup with the file ticked.
For an incremental or differential job, that is each backup that stored a change to the file. For a full job, every backup holds a copy.
Other places to see versions#
| Where | What you get |
|---|---|
| Find | click the Backed up chip on the file's row: every version with its date and size. Clicking one opens that backup with the file ticked |
| All versions on the Restore page | a search over every backup of every job; each result shows its job and date |
| A job's Files tab | every copy the job holds, each with its date and Restore… |
Preview#
Preview restores that one version into GBM AI's preview folder, %APPDATA%\GBM AI\preview, and opens it with the program Windows uses for that kind of file. Nothing is written to the original location.
- For an encrypted backup, type the Password under Restore to first. Otherwise the app says Type the password first: the set is encrypted.
- A file over 500 MB says Too large to preview. Restore it to another folder instead.
- A preview that is not ready within two minutes says The preview took too long to prepare.
Note
The preview folder is emptied when you close the GBM AI window. A preview from an encrypted backup is a decrypted copy until then. A file its program still holds open goes the next time GBM AI starts.
Restore the version you want#
- On the Restore page, click the file's name, then Restore this one on the version you want. Or open Find, search for the file, click the Backed up chip on its row and pick the version.
- That backup opens with the file ticked.
- Under Restore to, choose where it goes. To keep the current file and the old one side by side, pick Another folder, keeping the tree or One flat folder.
- Click Start restore.
Deleted files have versions too#
A file you deleted from your PC is still in every backup that holds it, until retention removes those backups. In Find, tick Deleted from source only to list them. See Availability states and deleted files.