OneDrive and other Microsoft Nightmares - hope someone might be able to help

Let me start off by saying, I am not a very knowledgeable computer operator, and some of my statements in this regard may be wrong. The fact that Windows was installed pre-infested with at least the OneDrive and Edge is unacceptable. In this case, I ask for your forgiveness please, in advance...

Purchased my HP desktop last year. It has Windows 11. I had some issues with the OneDrive and some missing files therein. I.E. they were missing from my machine, as well as missing from the OneDrive cloud files. I somehow got a hold of someone from Microsoft Customer Service around that time to address that - OMG, that was 20 minutes of my life I can never retrieve. When it was time to actually pay for the service - I decided Not. A number of things irritated me with this program, so I disabled the OneDrive from the MS web site, and I removed some of the files from OneDrive on my machine by hand. I have also purchased a subscription to a new cloud scenario.

Now, upon performing some work, I happened to notice that one of my software programs was trying to save files into a OneDrive folder, (without my request or acceptance) - which resides inside of a Users folder. All of this resides on a drive where I only store software and the majority of the Windows files. The Documents and Pictures folders are also in there. I.E. it appears like this:
This PC > Windows (C:)> Users > rdhce > OneDrive >

Upon re-visiting the MS OneDrive site recently - it says that my account is "frozen" what ever that may mean. There are no options on that site that I can find to terminate or remove any of the OneDrive infestation from my machine. The instructions from Microsoft on the internet, to remedy this are completely useless. On top of that - I cannot locate OneDrive running in the Task Manager - which I think means it runs in the background, using system resources, without my approval or acceptance.

Getting to the bottom of it - I'm considering copying everything in those folders on the C drive, that Windows saved there - onto my D hard drive - if I can. I am mostly concerned that it will continue to try saving files in that OneDrive folder if I leave it alone.

Another development has come to light. This system has placed many of the folders that I created, and saved files inside, onto the D drive - it has placed them into the Documents folder on my C drive (which is exactly where I do NOT want them). It's funny too, in all the years of saving thousands of files on my machines - I don't believe that I have ever saved any file in a folder called Documents. How and Why would Windows make a decision as to where to move and store my information? So many of my files (not all) are doubled - now I know why my system seemed so constipated. I'm not sure how to even begin to deal with this particular problem or if it can be fixed. I don't recall having these issues with the older Windows versions ever.

For your consideration - I thank you.

Move your files from OneDrive back to your appropriate folders (ie) C:\Users\rdhc\ Documents, Desktop, Downloads, Pictures etc.
Then uninstall OneDrive

Thank you for the quick reply. I have already uninstalled the OneDrive, as well as I deleted some of the OneDrive files that were associated. Somehow, some remnants of it still reside someplace in my C drive. There are Gigs of data associated with that - but I cannot locate it as I did last night. After I send this - I will give your suggestion a try, and let you know the results.

Welcome to the forum.
When using a MS account the default location for Documents, Desktop, Pictures, and Videos is Onedrive.
If one does not want to use Onedrive, there is a certain sequence of steps that are necessary. If not followed, you can get yourself in a mess.
It has been mentioned many times on this forum so all the regulars should be aware of it.

Since you have already uninstalled Onedrive I suggest you re-install it from the MS store and make sure you are signed into it. If it is you aim to get all your files back on your system drive and not deal with onedrive at all, here is how to do it once you get Onedrive reinstalled.

Proper sequence of events to get rid of ONEDRIVE

1. You first have to turn off backup folder syncing. This tutorial tells you how and also how to get your files onto your local drive.
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-onedrive-folder-backup-syncing-across-windows-11-devices.4321/

NOTE: ONLY IF FOLDERS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY MOVE TO DEFAULT LOCATION IN STEP 1 ABOVE DO THIS

If this happens, then you could try option three in the tutorials below to restore the default folder location and move your files manually from Onedrive into the folders..

• Move or Restore Default Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 11
• Move or Restore Default Location of Documents Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial
• Move or Restore Default Location of Pictures Folder in Windows 11
• Move or Restore Default Location of Videos Folder in Windows 11

2. Then you have to unlink account & PC from onedrive.
Unlink Account and PC from OneDrive in Windows 11

Once you do this the files you have in onedrive will remain there until you login to Onedrive on the Web and delete them.
Microsoft OneDrive

3. You can then either uninstall Onedrive or disable it. I prefer to disable it as doing so survives any upgrades to the OS.
Open Task Manager>Startup Apps
Find Onedrive in the list and, right click on it, select disable. This prevents Onedrive from auto-starting and nagging you to sign in.

4. If you want to uninstall it instead, the best way is to use Revo Uninstaller Freeware Portable. You’ll find Onedrive under the Windows Apps section in the left pane of Revo. After uninstall is complete, be sure to scan for and delete any leftover files and registry entries Revo finds. Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download

5. You can also use option 1 in this tutorial to uninstall it. It will leave a few registry entries behind though. Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive in Windows 11

Are you serious? Thanks anyway.

Leo Batfish said:

Are you serious? Thanks anyway.

Click to expand...

Yes, @glasskuter was being serious. If you don't want to follow the suggestions then don't ask for others to help you.

Leo Batfish said:

Are you serious?

Click to expand...

Completely. You got yourself into this mess by not unlinking onedrive before you uninstalled it. When a user account is linked to onedrive, and the user does not want to use onedrive, one cannot just arbitrarily uninstall it like he does other apps. There is a process and you did not follow it.
I put it all together for you. Follow it...or not.

I think the point Glaskutter is making is that you can't unlink it while it's uninstalled, hence install it again, then unlink it, then you can uninstall it (after the various steps). One Drive has a habit of reappearing if it's still "linked" with your account. Whether it's via office or Windows updates.

To be fair, a lot of people don't know it needs unlinking. I didn't until recently.

glasskuter said:

Welcome to the forum.
When using a MS account the default location for Documents, Desktop, Pictures, and Videos is Onedrive.
If one does not want to use Onedrive, there is a certain sequence of steps that are necessary. If not followed, you can get yourself in a mess.
It has been mentioned many times on this forum so all the regulars should be aware of it.

Since you have already uninstalled Onedrive I suggest you re-install it from the MS store and make sure you are signed into it. If it is you aim to get all your files back on your system drive and not deal with onedrive at all, here is how to do it once you get Onedrive reinstalled.

Proper sequence of events to get rid of ONEDRIVE

1. You first have to turn off backup folder syncing. This tutorial tells you how and also how to get your files onto your local drive.
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-onedrive-folder-backup-syncing-across-windows-11-devices.4321/

NOTE: ONLY IF FOLDERS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY MOVE TO DEFAULT LOCATION IN STEP 1 ABOVE DO THIS

If this happens, then you could try option three in the tutorials below to restore the default folder location and move your files manually from Onedrive into the folders..

• Move or Restore Default Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 11
• Move or Restore Default Location of Documents Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial
• Move or Restore Default Location of Pictures Folder in Windows 11
• Move or Restore Default Location of Videos Folder in Windows 11

2. Then you have to unlink account & PC from onedrive.
Unlink Account and PC from OneDrive in Windows 11

Once you do this the files you have in onedrive will remain there until you login to Onedrive on the Web and delete them.
Microsoft OneDrive

3. You can then either uninstall Onedrive or disable it. I prefer to disable it as doing so survives any upgrades to the OS.
Open Task Manager>Startup Apps
Find Onedrive in the list and, right click on it, select disable. This prevents Onedrive from auto-starting and nagging you to sign in.

4. If you want to uninstall it instead, the best way is to use Revo Uninstaller Freeware Portable. You’ll find Onedrive under the Windows Apps section in the left pane of Revo. After uninstall is complete, be sure to scan for and delete any leftover files and registry entries Revo finds. Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download

5. You can also use option 1 in this tutorial to uninstall it. It will leave a few registry entries behind though. Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive in Windows 11

Click to expand...

Thank you for this information. I'm setting up a new laptop tomorrow and I know it will have Onedrive as the default location for files. Before I put any files onto that laptop, I want to disable the Onedrive. I hope this works and that Microsoft hasn't done some other crap to prevent me from removing Onedrive. -Barbara

Barbloki said:

I'm setting up a new laptop tomorrow

Click to expand...

It will work, but in your case with a new computer, why not set up with a local account from the get-go.
In setting up your new computer, when you reach the keyboard layout screen DO NOT SELECT SKIP.
Hit Shift+F10 keyboard combination to open a Windows command prompt.

At this prompt, type
start ms-cxh:localonly
and press Enter on your keyboard to open a create user account window where you can create a new local user
After filling in the information and clicking the Next button, the Windows 11 setup will continue with local account

If you want this in more detail see this tutorial steps 14 and 15

glasskuter said:

It will work, but in your case with a new computer, why not set up with a local account from the get-go.
In setting up your new computer, when you reach the keyboard layout screen DO NOT SELECT SKIP.
Hit Shift+F10 keyboard combination to open a Windows command prompt.

At this prompt, type
start ms-cxh:localonly
and press Enter on your keyboard to open a create user account window where you can create a new local user
After filling in the information and clicking the Next button, the Windows 11 setup will continue with local account

If you want this in more detail see this tutorial steps 14 and 15

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 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

Well... it's funny you mention that. I was originally going to do that but I read somewhere on another post that Microsoft has disabled this function/command. I guess I can try it and see what happens. That would be the best solution. I set up my current laptop with a local account first and have never had any problems. I'll try this on the new laptop and see what happens. I have been a HP user forever but I'm getting a Dell this time.

glasskuter said:

It will work, but in your case with a new computer, why not set up with a local account from the get-go.
In setting up your new computer, when you reach the keyboard layout screen DO NOT SELECT SKIP.
Hit Shift+F10 keyboard combination to open a Windows command prompt.

At this prompt, type
start ms-cxh:localonly
and press Enter on your keyboard to open a create user account window where you can create a new local user
After filling in the information and clicking the Next button, the Windows 11 setup will continue with local account

If you want this in more detail see this tutorial steps 14 and 15

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 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

Hey, I just want to thank you for telling me about this. My new laptop came today and I was able to create a local account and uninstall the OneDrive crap before it got a chance to mess everything up. Thank you!

Leo Batfish said:

Let me start off by saying, I am not a very knowledgeable computer operator

Click to expand...

Leo Batfish said:

Are you serious? Thanks anyway.

Click to expand...

Yes, and you are not alone, by far (solutions to your predicament could have been referenced to multiple posts in multiple forums across the 'net)

Unfortunately it's almost like Microsoft preys on the inexperienced or unsuspecting user to "trap" them into the world of OneDrive. It's all part of the marketing ploy that such users unsuspectingly continue to use OneDrive until the free space allowance runs out and they then have to consider a paying subscription for extra space (unless using a Office/365 product the includes that extra space)

An extremely all too common occurrence for many new users, that borders on sharp practice and/or attempted market monopoly

A favoured method for removing OneDrive is the 3rd party software RevoUninstaller (freeware version is adequate). This has the Advanced option, after uninstallation, to scan for leftover files, folders and registry entries. Some users have experienced (although others claim not to have), when just using the default Windows uninstall process, the return of OneDrive after an update to either Windows or Office. Just something to watch out for.

Barbloki said:

I was able to create a local account

Click to expand...

You are welcome. Glad it worked out well for you.

idgat said:

Yes, and you are not alone, by far (solutions to your predicament could have been referenced to multiple posts in multiple forums across the 'net)

Unfortunately it's almost like Microsoft preys on the inexperienced or unsuspecting user to "trap" them into the world of OneDrive. It's all part of the marketing ploy that such users unsuspectingly continue to use OneDrive until the free space allowance runs out and they then have to consider a paying subscription for extra space (unless using a Office/365 product the includes that extra space)

An extremely all too common occurrence for many new users, that borders on sharp practice and/or attempted market monopoly

A favoured method for removing OneDrive is the 3rd party software RevoUninstaller (freeware version is adequate). This has the Advanced option, after uninstallation, to scan for leftover files, folders and registry entries. Some users have experienced (although others claim not to have), when just using the default Windows uninstall process, the return of OneDrive after an update to either Windows or Office. Just something to watch out for.

Click to expand...

I concur. I have removed onedrive and now after an update its back again --- and what is maddening to me is I have my own file server that we use to share files. So I'm going to try RevoUninstaller to permanently kill this beast.

Wylbur7 said:

I'm going to try RevoUninstaller to permanently kill this beast.

Click to expand...

It'll still come back!
I'll confirm that in a few minutes!

Edwin said:

I'll confirm that in a few minutes...

Click to expand...

Wylbur7 said:

I have removed onedrive and now after an update its back again

Click to expand...

Removing any software with the default Windows uninstaller is fraught with perils. It's perfunctory at best, and frequently just "hides' the program. Some software, Microsoft included, is designed to leave "hooks" behind that allow for resurrection at a later stage. That's why Revo reigns.

It is funny, how MS keep hiding/shifting Quit with each version.