One drive files after format of system drive

perfection · Apr 28, 2024

I have one drive folder on my windows system drive. I understand that one drive has a two way synchronization. So when i format my system drive, how come windows does understand this as a deletion of all files and empty my onedrive online folder?

zbook · Apr 28, 2024

Not a specific answer but one of these links may have some useful information:

Find lost or missing files in OneDrive - Microsoft Support

Get tips to help you find and restore lost or missing files, photos, or folders in OneDrive.

support.microsoft.com

Troubleshoot issues with OneDrive - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

Fix OneDrive sync problems - Microsoft Support

Learn how to fix common OneDrive personal or OneDrive for Business sync problems.

support.microsoft.com

Fix OneDrive sync problems - Microsoft Support

Learn how to fix sync issues with the latest version of OneDrive

support.microsoft.com

Unlink and re-link OneDrive - Microsoft Support

Learn how to reset or move OneDrive by unlinking and re-linking your PC.

support.microsoft.com

idgat · Apr 28, 2024

Because when you format your drive there is no Windows to tell OneDrive that there are no files.

BUT BUT BUT many a user has suffered the tears and slings of outrageous misfortune when the new installation is complete and connects to OneDrive without the files ..... "Wah! Wah! OneDrive deleted all my files .... " :scream:

glasskuter · Apr 28, 2024

If you sign in using a Microsoft account, desktop, documents, pictures, and videos folder location by default is onedrive. Only files/folders in a local account default to folders located on your system drive. When using a MS account, any files/folders you had prior to your clean install had syncronized to the corresponding folders in Onedrive. Therefore, in turn , those files/folders will also sync in your new installation where you used that same MS account to signin. Files/folders will be deleted in Onedrive only when they are deleted either directly in onedrive on the web or deleted from your user account from any computer where your files are syncing.

antspants · Apr 28, 2024

idgat said:
there is no Windows to tell OneDrive that there are no files

But there is when you reload Windows and you have no files in your OneDrive folder. I understand what glasskuter said but no way I’fd format without saving these files locally, to be sure to be sure. Leave nothing to chance.

idgat · Apr 28, 2024

antspants said:
But there is when you reload Windows and you have no files in your OneDrive folder.

...which is why I added ....

idgat said:
BUT BUT BUT many a user has suffered the tears and slings of outrageous misfortune when the new installation is complete and connects to OneDrive without the files ..... "Wah! Wah! OneDrive deleted all my files .... "

glasskuter · Apr 28, 2024

I know some users have lost files when dealing with onedrive, and when I've read about the complaints I've wondered if it was Onedrive's fault or something the user did. But in this particular OP's case, it's Onedrive functioning exactly as it's designed to function when using a MS account.

SlicEnDicE · Apr 28, 2024

How the heck is this even possible? You can't format your system drive on a running OS. It's impossible. But if the OneDrive folder and/or user folder is moved to another drive or partition, then there's a small chance this could happen.

Either way, disable all sync. and then uninstall OneDrive, before any major disk drive changes, so that OneDrive can't sync.

antspants · Apr 28, 2024

SlicEnDicE said:
How the heck is this even possible? You can't format your system drive on a running OS. It's impossible. But if the OneDrive folder and/or user folder is moved to another drive or partition, then there's a small chance this could happen.

Either way, disable all sync. and then uninstall OneDrive, before any major disk drive changes, so that OneDrive can't sync.

I Diskpart my OS via a Windows install USB. Kill it as apposed to format it.

When I get to this Window

I hit Shift key + F10
Type; diskpart
Type; list disk
Type; select disk x (x being the drive position/number. Be careful that you are cleaning the right drive/disk)
Type; clean
Type; exit

Turn off the PC/Laptop

Killed it dead.

BrianInEngland · Apr 28, 2024

First thing I always do when doing a clean install - move Docs, Pics etc folders off the system drive to a separate partition. In my case they're in F:\Brian\OneDrive. The files can't be touched when Windows goes south.

When I set OneDrive up again I just point it to this folder, everything is still intact and it re-syncs with no loss of files.
All my files have been through at least 10 Windows installs in the last 15 years or so - and I've never lost one

antspants · Apr 28, 2024

BrianInEngland said:
First thing I always do when doing a clean install - move Docs, Pics etc folders off the system drive to a separate partition. In my case they're in F:\Brian\OneDrive. The files can't be touched when Windows goes south.

When I set OneDrive up again I just point it to this folder, everything is still intact and it re-syncs with no loss of files.
All my files have been through at least 10 Windows installs in the last 15 years or so - and I've never lost one

This is also my method. (Not OneDrive) But on a separate internal drive which in turn is backed up to a 3rd internal drive.
I have backups for backups and I find it a lot more convenient to point user folders to a new location than restoreing files.

TairikuOkami · Apr 28, 2024

perfection said:
I understand that one drive has a two way synchronization.

Exactly, onedrive is not a backup, it is a sync, so you need to have a real backup in case something gets messed up.

perfection said:
So when i format my system drive, how come windows does understand this as a deletion of all files and empty my onedrive online folder?

I believe once you boot, there is a tiny popup asking you to merge files or to sync local files only, if skipped, it is :ffs:

BrianInEngland · Apr 28, 2024

antspants said:
This is also my method. (Not OneDrive) But on a separate internal drive which in turn is backed up to a 3rd internal drive.
I have backups for backups and I find it a lot more convenient to point user folders to a new location than restoreing files.

I also make a weekly offline backup of the OneDrive folder using an external SSD. One can never have too many backups

One drive files after format of system drive

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