Is OneDrive actually of any use?

I've already several backups of my files, both local and online, but on the basis of 'you can't have too many backups' and despite previously checking out OneDrive without being very encouraged to use it, I thought I'd take another look at it. What I'm finding is that despite my local OneDrive folder always being up-to-date, the online files are not. There doesn't appear to be any way of reliably assessing how far behind they are but it's usually several hours, which isn't of much use to me I'm afraid. Is this the norm, or is there something I can do about it?

Q: Is OneDrive actually of any use?

A: No. Use backup software.








Merry Christmas.

Hi Ghot Yes, I'm a long time user of Macrium Home, which is great for system images, and several file backup systems too. I just wanted OneDrive to provide even greater file security, but not really encouraged atm.

fixer said:

Hi Ghot Yes, I'm a long time user of Macrium Home, which is great for system images, and several file backup systems too. I just wanted OneDrive to provide even greater file security, but not really encouraged atm.

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IMO... it far more trouble than it's worth. Not to mention, these Cloud storage entities, keep getting hacked.
They are fairly tasty targets.

So you don't want to be putting any thing like this, on One Drive...

I don't find it any trouble at all to use - it's just the disappointing performance.

Ghot said:

IMO... it far more trouble than it's worth. Not to mention, these Cloud storage entities, keep getting hacked.
They are fairly tasty targets.

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I always use OneDrive to save my documents, photos and music. Always kept up to date and accessible anywhere. I also use Macrium but find OneDrive really convenient.

@fixer
The only problem with OneDrive is a ton of negative comments you can find about it online.

I find OneDrive very useful and no amount of additional backup hard drives is enough to render OneDrive useless.
You only need not forget about privacy, any files you care about in terms of privacy, before you put them into OneDrive should be encrypted to ensure nobody except you can read them.

OneDrive gives you 5GB's for free, that's a lot of storage if you use it wisely.

Imagine you have 10 backup hard drives in your house, ex. if one dies you have another one and you might think that this way there is no way lose your data.
Now image your house catches fire and render all your 10 hard drives useless!
The point is that the fire won't catch Microsoft servers lol, you just enter password and get your data back.

My question was not about its usefulness but whether there is any way to speed up OneDrive sync.

fixer said:

My question was not about its usefulness but whether there is any way to speed up OneDrive sync.

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Ah sorry, yeah there must be a way to troubleshoot it, but I'm not sure how, didn't have any sync problems so far.

Note that if you place a file with same checksum into OneDrive as one online the sync might not trigger, timestamp of the online version might be older than timestamp on local drive and so it would be wrong to assume files are out of date because they aren't.

My OneDrive sync has everything to do with my Internet speed. I have a reasonably brisk Internet connection and my OneDrive sync is about one or two seconds. I've used OneDrive as one of my backup methods for over 15 years with no problems. I have a Microsoft 365 subscription which includes 1TB of cloud OneDrive.

fixer said:

What I'm finding is that despite my local OneDrive folder always being up-to-date, the online files are not

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Can you please explain how you determine that online files are not up to date?
Maybe taking a screenshot of the file online and same file in local onedrive?

edit:
Here is example of 2 screenshots of same file, one online another local:


Local:

Online:


They both show same time and date and same size, can you reproduce similar with your case to show 2 files are different?

zebal said:

Can you please explain how you determine that online files are not up to date?

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One of the files I maintain twice a day for my doctor is my BP. The local file is typically updated about 9AM each day. I keep a watch on the online file, i.e. I download it, and today was typical - the online file got updated about five hours later. Don't have a live example atm but that example typifies what I am saying.

@TraderGary My internet connection is good, downloads about 150mbs and uploads about 30 mbps and virtually never drops out. I'm using the free 5gb of OneDrive storage and, apart from the delay, seems completely reliable. Thanks for jumping in

fixer said:

My question was not about its usefulness but whether there is any way to speed up OneDrive sync.

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The sync is instantaneous, maybe you have setup metered connection or something? You can try to re-sync or re-install it.

When you put a new version of the file into OneDrive you should see this sync icon within OneDrive folder for the file that was copied over old file:

Once the icon changes to green checkmark it has been uploaded online

If it takes 5 hours for the file to be uploaded then you should be seeing the first icon for 5 hours.

You can test it with any file right now, create a blank text file on your desktop with random contents, put in into onedrive and let it upload,
then modify file on your desktop, save it and replace local file in onedrive (copy\paste) with new one from desktop, copying new file over old file in ondrive should trigger blue sync icon, see how long it takes for the icon to change to green checkmark.

It should take max. 2 minutes.
Does it take longer?

Ghot said:

Q: Is OneDrive actually of any use?

A: No. Use backup software.

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You had a 50:50 chance of getting answer right. Pity you got it wrong.

Onedrive is much more than backup software.

It enables access to data when away from home.

It enables backup of critical data away from home environment in case of fire etc.

So it might not be useful to you, but it is to lots of people.

cereberus said:

So it might not be useful to you, but it is to lots of people.

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Then they can feel free to use it.

I wouldn't be without one drive; it's one of the most useful features of modern windows.

@zebal I just ran your test. The local file was updated instantaneously, as was the changed version when I saved it over the top. However the online version has not shown at all yet.

@fixer
That's strange because I've run the test now and the file appeared online as soon as icon changed to green checkmark.
I also copied over modified version and the contents were synced to online version, both file show same text.

Please double check you're checking same file location, ex. if local file is within folder then online file should be withing same folder name.