Solved Local drive vs OneDrive

glasskuter · Sep 20, 2026

JimCricket said:
This is all getting too crazy too fast.

Sir, it's crazy because it's going around in circles. When it comes to Onedrive most folks have an opinion but do not truly understand it completely. It is very easy for Onedrive threads to go off the rails because of this.
Your original post said

JimCricket said:
a Pictures folder I thought was local (and wasn't) disappeared. Other things too,

You were give instructions on how to deal with onedrive and preserve data. If one wants to preserve data, despite what anyone thinks, that proceure has been proven to do that and to do it safely.

Then you came back and said

JimCricket said:
THe good news is that my drive is still essentially empty. I did transfer over 3500 image files from my camera's SD card, but the SD card still has them so I don't care if they end up disappearing

Since you could still recover your photos, you were then given 2 other options, reset and remove everything or create a new local user account, both which lets you start over and both which are far simpler than dealing with Onedrive with the existing MS account. Both made more sense when you stated the new information.

Try3 · Sep 20, 2026

I always agree with glasskuter but, on this occasion, I think it is essential to first understand the state of the user account(s) involved.
There is absolutely no point in trying to do anything else until that understanding is achieved.

Denis

JimCricket · Sep 20, 2026

Try: I did the instructions for Net User and I posted the result. I didn't until just now see your subsequent instruction for net user Andy.
As I have said before the user "googl" was not created by me. I am only guessing but I presume it is either created by One Drive or whatever handles the Microsoft account (which I started during set up because it looked like I was suppose to. the five letters of "googl" are from the email address that I used to start the microsoft account

Here is that result from - net user Andy

C:\Users\googl>cd c:\

c:\>net user Andy
User name Andy
Full Name
Comment
User's comment
Country/region code 000 (System Default)
Account active Yes
Account expires Never

Password last set 9/19/2026 2:34:51 PM
Password expires Never
Password changeable 9/19/2026 2:34:51 PM
Password required Yes
User may change password Yes

Workstations allowed All
Logon script
User profile
Home directory
Last logon 9/20/2026 8:26:52 AM

Logon hours allowed All

Local Group Memberships *Administrators *Users
Global Group memberships *None
The command completed successfully.

Try3 · Sep 20, 2026

JimCricket said:
net user Andy

Those responses look fine.

And the checks from post #39 will further progress matters.

Denis

glasskuter · Sep 20, 2026

Try3 said:
I think it is essential to first understand the state of the user account(s) involved.

If he can get into that account and create a new user, it doesn't matter. The account will be rmoved anyway.
If he chooses to do a reset and remove everything, the subject of that account is moot.

JimCricket · Sep 20, 2026

glasskuter said:
Sir, it's crazy because it's going around in circles. When it comes to Onedrive most folks have an opinion but do not truly understand it completely. It is very easy for Onedrive threads to go off the rails because of this.
Your original post said

You were give instructions on how to deal with onedrive and preserve data. If one wants to preserve data, despite what anyone thinks, that proceure has been proven to do that and to do it safely.

Then you came back and said

Since you could still recover your photos, you were then given 2 other options, reset and remove everything or create a new local user account, both which lets you start over and both which are far simpler than dealing with Onedrive with the existing MS account. Both made made more sense when you stated the new information.

I guess I had best be very careful with my words because now you are the second person in a row to misconstrue them. I was not referring to this thread as being crazy. I was referring to my FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS that were given on post #3.

I'm not trying to fight anyone. I'm just trying to deal with something that I DO NOT DO EVERYDAY. Or month. Or year. I'm just a humble little artist who wants to use a computer with an amazingly detailed color correct full gamut screen. Okay? If that is too much for everyone to deal with, fine. I accept that. But I'm not trying to argue or fight. Unless I'm being unnecessarily portrayed in an unfair way.

The concensus seems to be that I should do a full reset again. But then no one has yet to tell me whether I can do that shift+f10 procedure that I have learned (elsewhere) is necessary to prevent One Drive from installing. Someone posted here a screenshot of a choice to backup or not backup, as being where you make that choice, but unless I blew past that TWICE, I sure don't remember seeing it.

As for understaning the account, I'm trying to get there. I think I already have that set, but still I'm unclear why any of that will matter if I do a full reset again. The one problematic account "googl" was NOT created by me.

JimCricket · Sep 20, 2026

c:\>whoami
aura\andy

As I suspected. But "Andy" is administrator and "Andy" does not show up as a user. But this does confirm that I'm logged in as "Andy" and not as "googl". I was beginning to suspect the latter only because so much has ended up there. But I guess that just shows the power that OneDrive has.

And again, "googl" came out of starting a Microsoft account during setup. Microsoft or OneDrive set that up. Not me. But OneDrive USES "googl" to place everything in. There are already 4.33gb there BECAUSE: OneDrive is a subfolder under that User's folder. And when I installed Affinity, that went under "googl" folder too. And when I transfered my sd card images (nearly a gb worth) that went under "googl".

KevTech · Sep 20, 2026

Might help to see all the accounts on this PC.

Type this in command prompt

control userpasswords2

JimCricket · Sep 20, 2026

control userpasswords2

I guess I should explain how Andy is both in Administrators and Users. In frustration yesterday I just added a "New folder" under "Users" and created "Andy" to see what would happen. Probably stupid. And easily removed. I'm actually surprised that it is showing up here.

glasskuter · Sep 20, 2026

JimCricket said:
no one has yet to tell me whether I can do that shift+f10

Yes, you can. Steps 14 and 15 of the clean install tutorial also work in creating a local account after a reset and remove everything.

Clean Install Windows 11

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 is a client operating system and includes features that users and organizations should know...

www.elevenforum.com

JimCricket · Sep 20, 2026

Okay thank you for that.

So I think what I'm going to do (maybe!) is to first see what will happen if I go through the steps to just remove OneDrive in the state that Windows is in right now. THEN if that doesn't appear to work, do a fresh install.

Maybe this next question just shows how confused I am, but I think things got sidetracked after I posted those screenshots of my trying to change to the default location of the folder.

Can someone please say, in simple English and without telling me what I don't understand, just say why that happened and what I should actually do to change to the default location.

Sorry in advance if one of you answered that. Forgive my skipping over it to answer other points brought up.

KevTech · Sep 20, 2026

JimCricket said:
So I think what I'm going to do (maybe!) is to first see what will happen if I go through the steps to just remove OneDrive in the state that Windows is in right now. THEN if that doesn't appear to work, do a fresh install.

You should also get that account back to Administrator only.

glasskuter · Sep 20, 2026

JimCricket said:
what I should actually do to change to the default location.

In simple English, when setting up a new device, after a reset and remove everything, or during a clean install, set up a local account from the get-go which is not tied to Onedrive.
Once you login using a MS account, all bets are off..

JimCricket · Sep 20, 2026

KevTech said:
You should also get that account back to Administrator only.

Okay but how? I just deleted the "Andy" folder I created in "users" and then did control passwords2 again. And same result:

And if I go to Properties/Group Membership the only thing it is listed under is Administrator.
So I can't now explain why Users still shows up. Why does it matter though?

Do you meant change the "Local Acount" aspect? I had changed it to that in hopes of getting rid of One Drive and I had read that was a first step. No?

glasskuter · Sep 20, 2026

This is being made so much more complicated than it actually is. Best of luck in straightening this out in whatever direction you choose to take.

JimCricket · Sep 20, 2026

You couldn't just answer the question? I think I've explained my lack of experience and confusion enough. And apologized enough for any repetitions.

This would be a lot shorter if people were not so busy trying to editorialize.

I'm just trying to be careful here before I do anything. I am not trying to ignore your suggestion on your Post 53. But I said wanted to first try to remove one drive first. Others have suggested as much. And I've been following their instructions as much as yours.

JimCricket · Sep 20, 2026

glasskkuter" I"m reading through the instructions you posted for a clean install. Talk about making things complicated! I really can't do that. It's too much for me. The commands I"m supposed to remember, the product key i have to find, the USB drive I must boot from. Too much.

I started following your steps on Post 3. And got immediately stuck and asked for help on making the default paths. I don't see an answer to that so I asked again.

But to make it al l much simpler: If you want to assure me that I can use the factory reset without saving files and choose a local account that way, then please do.

Or maybe I'll just wait until B&H Photo opens on Tuesday. The one video chat I had with Pablo there was terrific and he was very patient with me.

JimCricket · Sep 20, 2026

And this proves that I am NOT the only one encountering this problem

Change Your Windows Folder Locations Back to Their Defaults from Microsoft OneDrive

If you use the OneDrive app, you probably noticed how it changes the locations for folders such as Documents etc. Here is a way to fix it.

onlinecomputertips.com

Glasskuter: you're absolutely right. This thread could have been my original post and one answer. I followed the steps: restarted OneDrive, stopped backing up and changing it to local, then unlinking the PC.

All my user folders are now local. Easy peasy. I could have been done with this yesterday.

Thanks for nothing.

Try3 · Sep 20, 2026

I've only just got back. I'll read all the new posts shortly.
I cannot agree on any 'consensus' yet because I have not yet seen the response to post #37.

Try3 said:
Where did any reference to anything called googl come from in the first place?
Have you renamed any user accounts?

I saw you apologising for something or other. There is no need as far as I am concerned.

I am keen to get the necessary info before reaching any conclusion.
The solution might be really quick & simple.

Talk tomorrow,
Denis

glasskuter · Sep 20, 2026

JimCricket said:
Thanks for nothing.

I do not understand why you are resentful toward me. , It's exactly as was stated in post #3

Only If the folders don’t automatically return to their default local location under C:\Users\YourUserName in step 1:

Use the tutorials below (Option Three) to manually restore the default location of each folder and move your files from Onedrive into it.
Move or Restore Default Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 11
Move or Restore Default Location of Documents Folder in Windows 11
Move or Restore Default Location of Pictures Folder in Windows 11
Move or Restore Default Location of Videos Folder in Windows 11 |

Solved Local drive vs OneDrive

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