Why my files are stored in one drive instead of hard disk folders.

jraju · Mar 5, 2023

HI, I am using windows 11 pro. I find the documents and desktop and other folders inside my one drive, which I do not know how it came about.
I never opted for one drive for use . But of late, there is alert that the storage is full and I have to upgrade.
I am having enough storage in my pc in my hard drive and how do I copy all the one drive files to my hdd to my prefered folders and totally disable one drive storage.
Is it a default set up to save files to one drive?
Please give solution

FreeBooter · Mar 5, 2023

Let me show you how to stop OneDrive sync in the Windows operating system.

bob3d · Mar 5, 2023

As far as I can tell, just copy those files and folders from One Drive to where you want them on your hard disk.
Regarding One Drive, I hate it and uninstalled it from my system. So there is no way One Drive can interfere with me again.

- bob

PS the best part of Freebooter's video (above) is at 6 min 25 seconds into the video where he shows you how to uninstall One Drive.

jraju · Mar 5, 2023

Hi, bob, The tutorial is lengthy and as you say, uninstall option at the specified minutes really helpful.
But, I have not opted the one drive at all. How did it came to my storage. Is it by default
Can I just copy and then uninstall one drive.
Will it not affect any other system files behaviour.
Because, the author of the video , showing gpedit.msc menu and explain something.
Is that necessary.

bob3d · Mar 5, 2023

Personally I don't think the messing about in gpedit.msc is necessary since you'll be deleting the One Drive anyway. Just make sure that you get ALL your files off of it prior to uninstalling One Drive. I can't stress that enough because I don't want you to lose your files, even one.

Regarding how did it start using One Drive in the first place, I have no idea. Mine did not behave as yours is. Mine was just copying files that I already had I my hard drive locally.

BTW, as a side point, you may want to uninstall Microsoft Teams too while you are at it. I doubt that you are using it. I wasn't using it. I use Zoom to video conference and it does its job well and anybody can get Zoom for free, but not everybody has a PC, some have Macs and therefore don't have MS teams, although I guess they could get it. Anyway, all that said just unistall it too while you are getting rid of One Drive.

- bob

Haydon · Mar 5, 2023

jraju said:
But, I have not opted the one drive at all. How did it came to my storage. Is it by default

Several years ago, the surprise question was:
Why do I all of a sudden have Windows 10?

Nowadays, the surprise question is:
Why do I all of a sudden have OneDrive?

In any case, you have received good advice to correct the situation, I myself like the following:

> make sure you have all your user data in files and folders locally in the correct places

> stop sync to OneDrive

> delete the OneDrive app, but leave the OneDrive files and folders for now

> install a backup app, like Macrium Reflect, and make sure that you can make backups on an external storage medium and can do restores

> you can delete the OneDrive files and folders, if you like

There are good tutorials for just about anything on this site.

Good luck!

sgage · Mar 5, 2023

You need to reassign the special 'shell folders' to your local drive instead of OneDrive. I believe there is a tutorial here on how to do that with a registry setting. In my experience the OneDrive app settings option doesn't always work. MS really REALLY wants you to use OneDrive. Just like they really REALLY want you to use Edge. I'm getting pretty darn tired of this behavior - it is moving from very annoying to downright abusive.

Winuser · Mar 6, 2023

sgage said:
MS really REALLY wants you to use OneDrive.

IMHO, MS is trying to force users into buying extra OneDrive storage space. I wonder if someone was to call Windows support about getting a not enough storage space error if the tech would explain to them how to move the folders to a local drive or just try to sell them extra storage space.

Futurdreamz · Mar 6, 2023

Honestly it's much easier to move the folders you don't want synced to the root of your user folder.

Move or Restore Default Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to move or restore the default location of the Desktop folder for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Desktop folder (shell:Desktop) is a component of the user profile that is used as a unified location for storing personal data. By default, the...

www.elevenforum.com

Follow this guide for your desktop folder, documents folder, and any other folder that has a lot of files.
Just move them to C:/users/(your account)/

Winuser · Mar 7, 2023

Futurdreamz said:
Honestly it's much easier to move the folders you don't want synced to the root of your user folder.

Move or Restore Default Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to move or restore the default location of the Desktop folder for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Desktop folder (shell:Desktop) is a component of the user profile that is used as a unified location for storing personal data. By default, the...

www.elevenforum.com

Follow this guide for your desktop folder, documents folder, and any other folder that has a lot of files.
Just move them to C:/users/(your account)/

IMHO, MS is trying to take advantage of users that know little to nothing about computers.

Futurdreamz · Mar 7, 2023

Winuser said:
IMHO, MS is trying to take advantage of users that know little to nothing about computers.

Considering the depths of computer illiteracy that I've even witnessed firsthand, I can see a very strong argument that Microsoft is trying to protect it's users that aren't familiar with filesystems or backups.

Winuser · Mar 7, 2023

Futurdreamz said:
Considering the depths of computer illiteracy that I've even witnessed firsthand, I can see a very strong argument that Microsoft is trying to protect it's users that aren't familiar with filesystems or backups.

How, by forcing users into buying online storage space they may not really need and/or making them pay extra for going over their data limit? Not to mention that not everyone has fast internet. Online data storage only benefits those that need it and those that supply it.

Futurdreamz · Mar 7, 2023

Winuser said:
How, by forcing users into buying online storage space they may not really need and/or making them pay extra for going over their data limit? Not to mention that not everyone has fast internet. Online data storage only benefits those that need it and those that supply it.

I'd speculate that Microsoft considers that a financially better solution then being sued by, or having tech support staff tied up with dealing with, people who lost important data because they don't understand how file storage works.

Winuser · Mar 7, 2023

Futurdreamz said:
I'd speculate that Microsoft considers that a financially better solution then being sued by, or having tech support staff tied up with dealing with, people who lost important data because they don't understand how file storage works.

I don't think MS could be sued. As for tech support I doubt anyone with lost data would get passed the auto response support system and get to talk to an actual person.

Why my files are stored in one drive instead of hard disk folders.

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