Onedrive has taken over my new computer!!

TraderGary · 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.

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

In 15 years of using OneDrive, I've never lost a file or had a file corrupted. Of course, there's always a first time and that's why I have 3 different backup technologies running concurrently. Yes, I'm paranoid about ever losing my photos or my data.
1. Microsoft OneDrive
2. Microsoft File History
3. Macrium Reflect images

Dru2 · Nov 7, 2022

Ghot said:
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?

I've said this many times, I'll repeat again... owning a PC is an active endeavor, not a passive one.

If you own a PC, you owe it to yourself to get the basics down. There's plenty of useful info throughout the internet for user to take an active interest in learning something they chose to buy.

Yes, Microsoft could do a better job of organizing info to be easily found, but at the end of the day, you (generally speaking) chose to buy a PC, Microsoft didn't force it on you. That means, it's your responsibility to learn. Many of us here have done exactly that, and why most continue to be here.

Lastly, I'm never going to claim to know everything about Windows, PCs, or anything else because I don't! However, I know there's a plethora of info out there should I seek it. I'm weak on Networking so when dealing with an issue, I come here or elsewhere to find the help or info I need. What I don't do is blame Microsoft all day for their lack of documentation.

Apologies for the rant, and don't mean to offend anyone.

Edwin · Nov 7, 2022

TraderGary said:
I'm paranoid about ever losing my photos...

My aunt has all the original historic family photographs, some over 120 years old!
They still reside in an old shoebox under her bed!

Ghot · Nov 7, 2022

Dru2 said:
Yes, Microsoft could do a better job of organizing info to be easily found

I'm glad we agree.
It's not a competition.
Yes... owning a PC is an active endeavor.
But it shouldn't be a "preparing Crème Brûlée on the wing of a 747 at 37,000 feet, going 600mph", endeavor.

TraderGary · Nov 7, 2022

Edwin said:
My aunt has all the original historic family photographs, some over 120 years old!
They still reside in an old shoebox under her bed!

Have you thought about scanning and digitizing them so they will never be lost?

TraderGary · Nov 7, 2022

Microsoft documentation is readily available:

Technical documentation

learn.microsoft.com

Edwin · Nov 7, 2022

TraderGary said:
Have you thought about scanning and digitizing them so they will never be lost?

I, and a few other family members, have done so!

TraderGary · Nov 7, 2022

Edwin said:
My aunt has all the original historic family photographs, some over 120 years old!
They still reside in an old shoebox under her bed!

My great grandmother, photo taken in 1880.

idgat · Nov 7, 2022

Dru2 said:
... but at the end of the day, you (generally speaking) chose to buy a PC, Microsoft didn't force it on you.

Ah yes, but they do "force" their bloatware - including OneDrive - on the user. There is no option not to include it on initial installation (and in some subsequent major updates).

Edwin · Nov 7, 2022

TraderGary said:
My great grandmother, photo taken in 1880.

Pristine!

golfergrrl · Nov 7, 2022

idgat said:
Ah yes, but they do "force" their bloatware - including OneDrive - on the user. There is no option not to include it on initial installation (and in some subsequent major updates).

OP here. This is what irks me the most because I had no choice. I had a flash drive with my files which I could have just c/p into the new computer in no time without all this syncing. I am just savvy enough to understand how I could remove OD, but not inclined to do it at this point. I don't think the average casual home user would ever consider this path. Live and learn.

TairikuOkami · Nov 10, 2022

idgat said:
Ah yes, but they do "force" their bloatware - including OneDrive - on the user.

I have just clean installed 11, I chose to save files locally and to my suprise onedrive was not logged in.
After restart, onedrive enabled itself and started downloading all my files and suggested to use Premium.
I was like fine, I will log out and select the proper folder. And here we go again, I got "only" 140 duplicates.

Fabler2 · Nov 10, 2022

TairikuOkami said:
I have just clean installed 11, I chose to save files locally and to my suprise onedrive was not logged in.
After restart, onedrive enabled itself and started downloading all my files and suggested to use Premium.
I was like fine, I will log out and select the proper folder. And here we go again, I got "only" 140 duplicates.

If I ever do a clean install, and selecting to save locally, then once booted to desktop is to disable OneDrive sync or remove it before anything else. Nice tip.

markw51 · Nov 10, 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.

Totally agree, I couldn't work without OneDrive. Everything I have is backed up on it and I can access it everywhere. Best thing is it's free with Office 365 or Office is free with OneDrive, either way myself and my wife both get 1TB of storage all for £79.99 a year!

TairikuOkami · Nov 10, 2022

markw51 said:
either way myself and my wife both get 1TB of storage all for £79.99 a year!

For the same price I got 1TB lifetime on icedrive during black Friday, it can be nicely integrated into Windows as another drive.

strollin · Nov 10, 2022

I use and like OneDrive as a way of syncing files across various devices of mine. I have 40GB of storage space at zero cost to me of which I currently use about 10GB. If I had to pay for it, I might look around for alternatives.

Haydon · Nov 10, 2022

I use OneDrive very little, basically like a USB stick that I can plug in or out. I think that's the way the OP wants it to function.

I have long forgotten how I did it, but it was not via a reinstall of the OS nor a reinstall of OneDrive itself, it was much simpler. Perhaps others here can help the OP with simple step-by-step instructions on how to do it (and help me too, in case I need to set up a new computer)

TairikuOkami · Nov 10, 2022

Haydon said:
I use OneDrive very little, basically like a USB stick that I can plug in or out. I think that's the way the OP wants it to function.

Yeah, I use it like that, I only run once a week or so, but sometimes onedrive gets scared and instead of backing up local files to the cloud, it downloads old versions as well. The problem is that it renames local files and it is hard to tell, what is the old version.

TraderGary · Nov 10, 2022

TairikuOkami said:
Yeah, I use it like that, I only run once a week or so, but sometimes onedrive gets scared and instead of backing up local files to the cloud, it downloads old versions as well. The problem is that it renames local files and it is hard to tell, what is the old version.

I've used OneDrive to do a real-time mirror backup of all my data and photos in my local OneDrive folder since 2007. Never once has OneDrive failed me. Never once has OneDrive renamed any files. For me OneDrive has been totally reliable.

I've always kept more than one computer. I love that OneDrive keeps all my data in sync between all computers (and even my smart phone). I use Lightroom/Photoshop subscription and all my photos and Lightroom Catalog are always in sync between all computers. I can transparently move between computers.

I love it that whenever I get a new computer all I have to do is log in to Windows and all my data and photos are instantly there.

Dru2 · Nov 10, 2022

@TraderGary opined he must be the only member to like OneDrive, but he forgot he repped me a few times for also being a fan

That said, for me OneDrive is one of my top 5 must have apps, and one I couldn't live without. And especially since you get 1TB of free storage with an Office 365 subscription (which is also another of my can't live without software packages). Also, that I can drops files in it from one PC and access those files from another, including my Android phone, with ease. Also, that those files are backed up online.