Onedrive has taken over my new computer!!

Ghot · Nov 7, 2022

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,
For an App of powerful trouble,
Let the hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Grace it with a baboon's eyes,
Then you have the vile OneDrive.

~apologies to Shakespeare

Winuser · Nov 7, 2022

TraderGary said:
I could very well be the only forum member that loves OneDrive. I keep all my data and pictures in local OneDrive. My local 1TB SSD is mirrored in real-time on my 1TB of cloud OneDrive. When I got this new computer a few months ago, all I had to do was log in to Windows and BAM, all my data and pictures were instantly there and totally up to date! I love it.

The thing is, OneDrive has a limited amount of storage space. A lot of users don't want to pay for more OneDrive space or even need it. IMHO, MS is trying force everyone to pay for OneDrive storage.To be nice, I'll just say that this is wrong in so many ways.

Winuser · Nov 7, 2022

TraderGary said:
How big is your OneDrive folder and how fast is your Internet connection?

Taking days to sync, I'd say that it's very slow.

Dru2 · Nov 7, 2022

Fabler2 said:
I certainly agree with that. What I disagree with is that Microsoft pre sets it to their liking and not allowing the user to determine the settings in a new install. See @TairikuOkami 's post.

You can prevent OneDrive from backing up your files during the setup process as shown in step 20, section L as shown in the Clean Install tutorial - Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial. Clicking "Only save files to this PC" Will prevent OneDrive from syncing files right off the bat.

As explained by Microsoft....

Files save to OneDrive by default in Windows - Microsoft Support

Learn how to choose the location where your files are saved by default.

support.microsoft.com

After that, Turn off, disable, or uninstall...

Turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive - Microsoft Support

Learn how to turn off or uninstall OneDrive.

support.microsoft.com

TairikuOkami · Nov 7, 2022

Dru2 said:
Clicking "Only save files to this PC" Will prevent OneDrive from syncing files right off the bat.

It will still mess up everything and create duplicate files, because Windows will setup onedrive folder in the default location.

golfergrrl · Nov 7, 2022

Thank you everyone for your advice. I'm not crazy about taking it out and starting over...although that would be my first choice. Everything is set up to my liking. The computer is only for casual use. I've been watching the bandwidth and it seems to be holding around 3 unless we're streaming on the TV. I'm going to see what settings I can tweak and live with it for now. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge .

TraderGary · Nov 7, 2022

Winuser said:
The thing is, OneDrive has a limited amount of storage space. A lot of users don't want to pay for more OneDrive space or even need it. IMHO, MS is trying force everyone to pay for OneDrive storage.To be nice, I'll just say that this is wrong in so many ways.

Yes, you're right. I pay $69.99 for an annual subscription to Microsoft 365. This gives me all of Microsoft Office, always up to date, and one terabyte of cloud OneDrive. I consider that an incredible bargain. I put it on autopay and forget about it. What, for me, is a pittance and less than I paid for tips and parking last weekend, could very well make a significant difference for some. Too often I forget that there are many who are less fortunate than I am.

TraderGary · Nov 7, 2022

TairikuOkami said:
It will still mess up everything and create duplicate files, because Windows will setup onedrive folder in the default location.

There are no duplicate files created unless you're considering the files in cloud OneDrive as duplicates. I speak from experience as I use OneDrive, and nothing is messed up.

TairikuOkami · Nov 7, 2022

TraderGary said:
I speak from experience as I use OneDrive, and nothing is messed up.

Just recently I ran onedrive and it even displayed the message that many files will be duplicated, for whatever reason. The duplicate file names contain computer name, so at least it does not remove them, but I still have to remove the original file and rename the duplicate to get the recent version, multiplied by dozens. I am really fed up with this behaviour, one more time and I will backup manually.

Winuser · Nov 7, 2022

TraderGary said:
Yes, you're right. I pay $69.99 for an annual subscription to Microsoft 365. This gives me all of Microsoft Office, always up to date, and one terabyte of cloud OneDrive. I consider that an incredible bargain. I put it on autopay and forget about it. What, for me, is a pittance and less than I paid for tips and parking last weekend, could very well make a significant difference for some. Too often I forget that there are many who are less fortunate than I am.

I do the yearly subscription and share office with my son. I have high-speed internet, like being able to keep my files on line for safety and the ability to access my files from just about anywhere. To me it's worth it. When setting up Windows the user should be explained about some of the pros and cons of OneDrive and then given a choice to use it or not.

Dru2 · Nov 7, 2022

TairikuOkami said:
It will still mess up everything and create duplicate files, because Windows will setup onedrive folder in the default location.

Not for me. That said, if OneDrive does ends up syncing say your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders, you can right-click the OneDrive icon, click Settings, click the "Backup" tab, and click Manage Backup. Simply untick the boxes and the files will be moved back to the PC and removed from OneDrive. The folders will remain, but the files inside those folders will be moved. Been there done that

BTW, be aware OneDrive does not backup .pst files as stated above. If a folder has a .pst file it won't be backed up. You'll need to remove the file before backup can occur. Ask Microsoft, not me

Also note, if your files are moved, inside the folder will be a shortcut called "Where are my Files". Clicking that shortcut will take you directly to the OneDrive folder those files in.

Dru2 · Nov 7, 2022

TairikuOkami said:
Just recently I ran onedrive and it even displayed the message that many files will be duplicated, for whatever reason. The duplicate file names contain computer name, so at least it does not remove them, but I still have to remove the original file and rename the duplicate to get the recent version, multiplied by dozens. I am really fed up with this behaviour, one more time and I will backup manually.

Not sure what that's about, but I agree with TraderGary as I too have not seen that. And I also use OneDrive.

TraderGary · Nov 7, 2022

TairikuOkami said:
Just recently I ran onedrive and it even displayed the message that many files will be duplicated, for whatever reason. The duplicate file names contain computer name, so at least it does not remove them, but I still have to remove the original file and rename the duplicate to get the recent version, multiplied by dozens. I am really fed up with this behaviour, one more time and I will backup manually.

I don't doubt your experience, but I've used OneDrive since 2007, have never seen that message, and have never seen that behavior.

Ghot · Nov 7, 2022

Dear Microsoft,

This is how OneDrive "should" work.

1. It shouldn't ever to anything automatically unless specifically told to do so.
2. Clicking the OneDrive icon should bring up a GUI.
3. The GUI should have a tree menu with check boxes, anything check marked will get backed up.
4. It should have a button called scheduling so the user can "schedule" the backups, if desired.
5. The GUI itself should have a "Backup" button, to manually start a one time, differential backup, when desired.
6. Any device that has OneDrive should have a "Sync" section in the GUI with a list of other devices, with check boxes.
7. Sync is manual only. You check mark two, three or whichever devices you want to sync, and press the Sync Now button.
8. Lastly, there should be a Restore button. Clicking it will move everything back to the local device(s).

That's it. Pretty simple, would have been doable in the XP days.

What do we have instead? We have the very definition of... FUBAR. Typical.

Winuser · Nov 7, 2022

T

Dru2 said:
Not sure what that's about, but I agree with TraderGary as I too have not seen that. And I also use OneDrive.

The only thind that I know OneDrive does is when a file is stored on OneDrive and I access it, it gets downloaded for local access.

BrianInEngland · Nov 7, 2022

Dru2 said:
Not for me. That said, if OneDrive does ends up syncing say your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders, you can right-click the OneDrive icon, click Settings, click the "Backup" tab, and click Manage Backup. Simply untick the boxes and the files will be moved back to the PC and removed from OneDrive. The folders will remain, but the files inside those folders will be moved. Been there done that

View attachment 44472

BTW, be aware OneDrive does not backup .pst files as stated above. If a folder has a .pst file it won't be backed up. You'll need to remove the file before backup can occur. Ask Microsoft, not me

Also note, if your files are moved, inside the folder will be a shortcut called "Where are my Files". Clicking that shortcut will take you directly to the OneDrive folder those files in.

View attachment 44473

I avoid duplicates by moving my Documents, Pictures and Music folders to OneDrive, these then become the default save location and there's only one of each file. Everything gets backed up

TraderGary · Nov 7, 2022

Winuser said:
T

The only thind that I know OneDrive does is when a file is stored on OneDrive and I access it, it gets downloaded for local access.

That's called "Files On Demand" and is the default behavior of OneDrive. I turn OFF "Files On Demand". Everything in cloud OneDrive is then always exactly the same as in my local OneDrive folder. All files are simply mirrored in real-time.

One of the reasons I do that is that one of my backups is Microsoft File History and File History requires that anything it backs up be located on a local drive. The size of my OneDrive folder is less than 300GB. (I cull ruthlessly.)

idgat · Nov 7, 2022

strollin said:
OneDrive is highly configurable as to what gets synced and what doesn't. I use it to be able to access files from my various computers, cell phones, tablets, etc...

If you take the time to actually learn how to use it, you can make it do YOUR bidding!

Synching and accessing are 2 totally different functions of OD and can be very confusing to the inexperienced. Synching between multiple devices can often lead to loss of files.

Taking time to learn how to use it is a great idea, it's just a shame the OD doesn't give the user that opportunity - if a new user is unaware, OD can jump right in at the deep end from the get-go before the user knows what's happening.

One of the first things I do on a new installation is disable OD (from past experience). Then I discuss with the user the pros and cons and find out whether they want to use it. Then, either uninstall it or help them set it up the way THEY want

No matter what, before I let OD anywhere near files on a device, I ALWAYS have an external backup of everything

Dru2 · Nov 7, 2022

idgat said:
Synching and accessing are 2 totally different functions of OD and can be very confusing to the inexperienced. Synching between multiple devices can often lead to loss of files.

Taking time to learn how to use it is a great idea, it's just a shame the OD doesn't give the user that opportunity - if a new user is unaware, OD can jump right in at the deep end from the get-go before the user knows what's happening.

Not buying that, and I've been using OneDrive since it formally known as SkyDrive and never ever lost files. And yes, I sync (still do) and how I access files from my Android and other devices supporting OneDrive.

Outside of that, I do agree people should at least make an attempt to learn what it is before dismissing it. We've seen countless posts of users trying to remove an app they've never tried but cause some cloud hater said it was cloud and that's bad. That it needed to be removed otherwise the devil's horde would come rushing in

That said, I also feel Microsoft could do a better job of pointing the user to an easily understandable button of instantly disabling OneDrive right off the bat during the setup process after a clean install.

Ghot · Nov 7, 2022

I wish you guys could step outside yourselves, and read all the "all you need to do is thises" you've typed in this topic.

NOTHING should be that difficult. When building anything, function should be first... then form.
Microsoft has lost their way. What something looks like doesn't matter if it doesn't work or is a pain to use.

You can have all the car parts chrome plated, but if you don't add the oil.... oops.

I know you guys like OneDrive. That's fine. But if you had hired someone to build something like OneDrive, would you honestly be happy with the result?