System restore?

Hello, real new to using Windows 11. Tried to unlink the OneDrive because I don't want anything stored to the cloud. Now one of my software is not working properly. I was not aware that I should create a restore point early on, so I didn't do it. I have now created one, but its no use since I need to go back further by a day or two. Is there a way to do that -- or maybe I just don't know how to click the right spots. If I can just get it working properly again, I can spend time to learn how to unlink and get it working properly. Thank you.

@Richard58 as far as i know that the last link you clicked for a restore point is as far back as you can go !

Welcome to the forum, enjoy your stay !

You can't restore earlier than your earliest restore point unfortunately, therefore it would be helpful if you could specify what kind of problem you have which made you consider using system restore?

Is there any reason not to simply uninstall and reinstall the problem program?

Since I unlinked OneDrive (assuming I did it correctly), I have a software program that set the path to read the data from an SD card that I input daily. Now, a lot of that information is gone. One person said "I have changed the path" -- and I believe it true. He says to "import your old data from One Drive to that location and It should be available." I don't know how to do that, and the more I do, the more harm I'm causing. A number of my files now have red circles with an X in the middle of it.
Edit -- the problem with reinstalling it is I will lose a lot of graphs and notes that I have taken for a couple of years.
Edit -- apparently it was storing the data in Onedrive -- and the data is not in "Stored Locally" documents.
Edit -- my free 5GB OneDrive storage says it's full. Apparently, I have to pay money to store more? But I don't want to store more.

Those files weren't local to your drive and so should be on OneDrive itself. If you go to your OneDrive and then download the files into the missing locations then the issue should resolve itself.

Richard58 said:

I was not aware that I should create a restore point early on, so I didn't do it.

Click to expand...

It's better that you take a system image before changing your system - try Macrium Reflect or Aomei.

System Restore is something from the past for me! For years the first thing I do after a new windows install is to disable System restore and install a good backup software. I use Aomei, but there are other good options too. In your case maybe easiest way is to re-install OneDrive and then get all you existing data back on the local disks and then remove OneDrive again!

xBlue Robot -- download?? Sounds good, but I can't figure out how to download off the cloud. I did try Copy and Paste, but that doesn't seem to have worked properly.

Rezpower -- I did reinstall it, but some of the XML files have red circles with an X in the center of it. When I put the cursor on the X, it shows "Availability status: error". And the software is not acting properly. Maybe I should "Reinstall OneDrive" again.?

Richard58 said:

xBlue Robot -- download?? Sounds good, but I can't figure out how to download off the cloud. I did try Copy and Paste, but that doesn't seem to have worked properly.

Click to expand...

There should be a download option on each file/folder, it will either be a right-click option or if you click all the files individually, a download button should appear in upper corner of the page.

If you are able to open OneDrive and see your files then right clicking any file will give you several options, including Download. Any files you do download will go to whichever folder you have set as the default, usually Downloads. You then need to move them to wherever you want.

I went to OneDrive.Live.Com and downloaded one of the files I suspect is the problem. Well, that was a nice thought . The problem continues. It looks like the software people are going to help me and see if we can get the issues solved. I may just delete the problem software and reload -- and live without the graphs and notes I need, but can live without. It's health issues related. If I "unlink" OneDrive, will that prevent any more files from going on it, or is there something else I need to do?

If you unlink from OneDrive then no further files should be synced to it. I thought this was already the case or did you turn sync back on?

If you aren't 100% sure about how to unlink OneDrive here's what you need -

I turned OneDrive back on so I could try and get the files. If I just give up and delete the problem software, I will then unlink and end OneDrive. The data file that is the problem is over 5 GB, which was my minimum "free" allotment. I don't use my laptop for banking, or creating a lot of files, photos, and other stuff. Although I am legally downloading a fair amount of music these days (Buckethead Pikes).

No personal experience of exceeding the 5Gb free OneDrive allowance but would guess you will not be able to download the relevant files. If you didn't also save them locally then they are probably lost.

You can see which of your files are saved in Onedrive by going to onedrive on the web. Sign in - Microsoft OneDrive
When one goes over their onedrive storage limit, one has a limited amount of time to either delete files to get below the storage limit or buy additional storage.
After that time your files are frozen and become read only.

To offer advice for straightening this out, I think it would be of great benefit if you would tell us what method your tried to use to disable Onedrive.
This is the procedure you should have used to unlink your account and get all your files back on a drive in your computer, whether that be a system drive or storage drive. https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-onedrive-folder-backup-syncing-across-windows-11-devices.4321/

For clarity's sake...

rezpower said:

System Restore is something from the past for me! For years the first thing I do after a new windows install is to disable System restore and install a good backup software. I use Aomei, but there are other good options too.

Click to expand...

System Restore is NOT a backup program, nor was it designed to be. Its purpose is to create Restore Points that can be used to restore the registry and other system files to return a PC to a previous state. Point? If you're looking to backup personal files and folders DO NOT use System Restore cause you'll be sorely disappointed when you find your personal files and folders were never backed up!!!

Also Restore Points are temporary, and they are also wiped with major Windows updates as previous Restore Points become invalid on the new OS build.

OneDrive.... Just because you unlinked OneDrive from the PC doesn't mean you have to relink to access your files. You can simply log into OneDrive online to access them. You can log into OneDrive with your Microsoft account credentials.

Additionally, unlinking does not delete them from the server. The files are still there, unless you deleted them from the OneDrive folder on the PC.

If you only have 5gig of OneDrive storage, that is all you'll be able to store. If you have a file over 5gig, OneDrive won't allow it.

Peace

If you are going to disable one drive or (IMO totally uninstall it if you don't want or need it) the first thing surely would be to copy any files stored on it to local storage first. Then simply uninstall the wretched thing via programs and features -->uninstall.

(That's probably like saying I should have backed horse xxxx at 14.00 race at xxx last saturday though !!!).

cheers
jimbo

I am beyond frustrated. This is absolutely ridiculous. I have WASTED so much time trying to fix this. I don't have the patience to read screen after screen after screen after screen. I would uninstall OneDrive, but there is no option to uninstall it the programs file. I have deleted everything related to the software. THAT will end part of it.
So how do prevent EVERYTHING OneDrive from existing before I reinstall the program that will no longer have my graphs or notes??