OneDrive infiltration

Haydon · Dec 3, 2022

sidr said:
So to confirm, is it sufficient to:
-uninstall One Drive, then
-reformat completely?
I ask this because after all that I still have a OneDrive folder in Windows Explorer, as per above photo.

Either way, how do I now get Photos folder in Windows Explorer to point to c:\users\<name>\pictures?

You posted a few seconds before I did. You need to uninstall OneDrive after doing the reformat, then your new OS will be free of OneDrive.

I suggest you follow the complete sequence in post #15.

sidr · Dec 3, 2022

Hi Haydon,
Thanks for your help.
I definitely tried to uninstall One Drive, whether it was successful or not is another matter.
I also definitely said No to One Drive when re-formatting, I was very conscience of that particular screen as it caused my so much grief by answering Yes the first time.
There is evidence that I did this, because the Pictures icon in Explorer previously pointed to One Drive (after 1st install), but now it is just empty (but not what I need because I need it to point to c:\users\<name>\pictures... like it does on my old PC).

In view of both of these developments, it seems impossible to completely uninstall One Drive.

Re "Home icon (which is located above your screenshot)" - I can only see "New" "Sort" and "View" above my photo... not any Home icon.

I am only part way through my reformatting and 2nd re-installing, and I don't feel like aborting and starting a 3rd time unless I know for sure that One Drive will be uninstalled, and that Pictures icon will point to c:\users\<name>\pictures, like it does on my old PC. It would be frustrating to try to uninstall One Drive again, fully reformat, and still have same problem a 3rd time... although after I re-format I could look at Windows Explorer screen before doing any installing.

sidr · Dec 3, 2022

ok... I missed your last post. So if I fully re-format again, say No to One Drive, and then uninstall One Drive, it should disappear fully... and more importantly Pictures icon in Explorer will point to c:\users\<name>\pictures... like it does on my old PC)?

sidr · Dec 3, 2022

.... I should also "stop OneDrive sync". I googled and found:
On the Account tab, click Choose folders. In the Sync your OneDrive files to this PC box, check and uncheck the box at Sync all files and folders in my OneDrive. (The first check selects all the boxes, then the uncheck clears them all.)
Which app is the Accounts tab in?

Haydon · Dec 3, 2022

You need a proper OS installation without OneDrive, then everything will be like your old PC.

I suggest that you follow the sequence in post #15, post screenshots little step by little step and describe the screenshots with your own words.

sidr · Dec 3, 2022

Because I don't want to re-format/reinstall a 4th time...
Can you please indicate the most reliable way to "stop OneDrive sync", and uninstall the OneDrive app?
I ask this because I believe I already previously uninstalled One Drive, and it didn't fully uninstall.

sidr · Dec 3, 2022

Also I concerned because after my 1st reformat , there were some residual icons left over.
-I thought reformat got rid of everything
-a couple of these icons manged to sneak through having OneDrive in their properties, though most had no OneDrive in properties
-these icons meant reinstalling was quicker, but maybe flawed if things there that should not have been... I mean if they weren't wiped, maybe One drive kept bits behind too.
I am concerned this will happen after my 2nd reformat.

idgat · Dec 3, 2022

sidr said:
So to confirm, is it sufficient to:
-uninstall One Drive, then
-reformat completely?
I ask this because after all that I still have a OneDrive folder in Windows Explorer, as per above photo.

Either way, how do I now get Photos folder in Windows Explorer to point to c:\users\<name>\pictures?

Uninstalling ODrive *AND* reformatting is pointless, reformatting will get rid of it but it will only be re-installed with Windows anyway.

Why do you want to reformat ?

Do (Did) you use an MS account to install ?

Fabler2 · Dec 3, 2022

This is from memory (iffy ay best

) but I bought a new laptop July 2021 and forgot to tick the no to OneDrive during OOBE.. I noticed once on the Desktop that OD was syncing.
I did everything from the sys tray icon. First I right clicked it and selected to stop OD synching (and not to start with Windows). Once stopped selected to exit OneDrive so the icon disappeared from Sys Tray. Went to the old programs & features in Control Panel and uninstalled it there and rebooted. That was it.
Now it's left a folder in C:\Users\xxxxx\OneDrive that leaves an option to reinstall it if required and a OneDrive temp folder ( here ).
I could remove them if needed. OD no longer listed in All Apps and to all intent and purposes it's gone.
Unless there's been a change in the installation process since then this is what worked for me.

This image shows what OneDrive had already synched,

I find that uninstalling Microsoft programs are best uninstalled via programs and features (or the new Settings app) rather than uninstallers. Uninstalled Office 2010 a few times and reinstalled on other PCs over the years and had no issues with activations. Anyway just thought I'd mention how I got rid of OneDrive.

s

cereberus · Dec 3, 2022

I really do not understand all the fuss is here. Most of the issues are a consequence of not understanding how onedrive works, particularly of its Files on Demand feature.

When installing Windows, you have to click the link to store user files on local drive. People often miss this and get in a tangle.

If you do that, you can either delete one drive, or just stop it syncing. If you delete it, you can delete all folders in onedrive folder.

If you choose to keep it, you can set it up to use Files on Demand, and all you will see is effectively a symbolic link shorcut to files in cloud. This is the default from a new install. These links are miniscule.

Learn how to use onedrive and it is your friend. Fail to learn and it becomes your foe.

Haydon · Dec 3, 2022

The issue that came to surface just now is that the OP created a mess with his failed attempts (things left over after 'reformatting', etc.)

I think he should now do a clean install first and then follow whatever advice he wants to follow.

I thought he wanted his new PC to work like his old PC without OneDrive.

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sidr · Dec 3, 2022

Hi Idgat
All I want is Pictures icon in Windows 11 Explorer to point to c:\users\<name>\pictures, like my old computer.
It is currently empty despite c:\users\<name>\pictures actually having many files in it.
If this can be done easily by a novice my me, without again reformating and reinstalling all my software (taking days), even better.
Thanks, Sid

sidr · Dec 3, 2022

... and same with Documents, Videos, Downloads icons in Explorer... but let's start with Pictures.

Haydon · Dec 3, 2022

cereberus said:
When installing Windows, you have to click the link to store user files on local drive. People often miss this and get in a tangle.

I recently did a factory reset, and setting up with an existing MS account (which I need for other reasons) there was NO option to store user files on a local drive, the default has to be OneDrive. The set up screen said that explicitly.

So, if you don't want to use OneDrive, you need to take 'after the fact' measures.

MS has become VERY pushy when it comes to OneDrive these days.

sidr · Dec 3, 2022

Hi Haydon
I thought the principle was to do your work on your own PC, then back up to external drive eg One Drive.
Do MS want us to work on One Drive, and back up to our PC? If not where do you put your backups?

cereberus · Dec 3, 2022

Haydon said:
I recently did a factory reset, and setting up with an existing MS account (which I need for other reasons) there was NO option to store user files on a local drive, the default has to be OneDrive. The set up screen said that explicitly.

So, if you don't want to use OneDrive, you need to take 'after the fact' measures.

MS has become VERY pushy when it comes to OneDrive these days.

Sorry you are 100% wrong - the link is there. In fact, it is more obvious that Windows 10 where it was in an obscure link in bottom left of oobe screen.

This is from install Windows 11 Home using an MS account, and is one of the OOBE screens.

They could have made it clearer in text that if you click like, user files would be on local drive.
Of course, they rely in fact users do not read the screens properly!

You do not need to take after the fact measures to store user files on C drive!

You can choose what to with Onedrive afterward, but you can just ignore it if you wish at the simplest.

cereberus · Dec 3, 2022

sidr said:
Hi Haydon
I thought the principle was to do your work on your own PC, then back up to external drive eg One Drive.
Do MS want us to work on One Drive, and back up to our PC? If not where do you put your backups?

See my reply above.

You can choose whether to use it or not.

sidr · Dec 3, 2022

Moving on...
All I want is Pictures icon in Windows 11 Explorer to point to c:\users\<name>\pictures, like my old computer.
It is currently empty despite c:\users\<name>\pictures actually having many files in it.
... and similar are Download, Documents, Video icons in Explorer.
If this can be done easily by a novice my me, without again reformating and reinstalling all my software (taking days), even better.

If not, and I do re-format, apart from saying No to One Drive question, what else can I do completely avoid pesky One Drive?
eg Which screen has "When installing Windows, you have to click the link to store user files on local drive"?

Thanks, Sid

cereberus · Dec 3, 2022

sidr said:
Moving on...
All I want is Pictures icon in Windows 11 Explorer to point to c:\users\<name>\pictures, like my old computer.
It is currently empty despite c:\users\<name>\pictures actually having many files in it.
... and similar are Download, Documents, Video icons in Explorer.
If this can be done easily by a novice my me, without again reformating and reinstalling all my software (taking days), even better.

If not, and I do re-format, apart from saying No to One Drive question, what else can I do completely avoid pesky One Drive?
eg Which screen has "When installing Windows, you have to click the link to store user files on local drive"?

Thanks, Sid

look in tutorial section how to move user folders.

As for the screen - I pasted it - it comes up near end of oobe.

LeLibran · Dec 3, 2022

How about also working through OneDrive settings and switching off those features you don't want to use? - How to access OneDrive settings - Microsoft Support You will, of course, probably have to download all of the files that have already been directed to OneDrive.

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