OneDrive infiltration

Also... Settings, Accounts, “unlink this PC”

sidr said:

-Clean local reformat (Settings/System/Recovery/Reset-PC). I have doubts about this being truly clean, because I had lingering icons/short-cuts the last time as well as One Drive problems. If I get them again, I will take a photo to prove it.

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NO, this is not a clean local reformat, it's effectively just a re-installation of Windows over the top of what's already there. No (re)formatting involved. Consequently OneDrive (et al) bugs and foibles may still there.

(Personally, I've found any of the 3 Rs - Restore, Repair and/or Recovery - a waste of time. Regular images to restore, or worst-case scenario, a clean install, far more beneficial/successful)

If you're looking for a clean install ...
- backup your personal date separately
- create an image of the existing system. For insurance, use both Macrium Reflect and AOMEI Backupper to have 2 types of image in case one fails
- create a boot USB of Windows 11 using the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft (assuming your device is Win 11 compliant)

- disconnect the internet
- boot from the USB
- delete *ALL* partitions from the drive
- install Win 11 (unselect every option/slide switch/etc you avoid installing Windows/Microsoft bells and whistles. Don't think about whether you want them , just unselect them. Once the installation is complete and you decide you really want to use the bloatware, you can always download and re-installit)
- close OneDrive
- stop it from running at Startup (Ctrl+Alt+Del > Task manager > Startup apps icon on LH side > select OneDrive > Disable)
- connect internet
- download Revouninstaller (freeware)
- use Revo to uninstall OneDrive. Don't reboot even if prompted. Then use the Advanced cleanup option in Revo to remove all leftover files/folders/registry entries (don't worry about creating a Restore Point, waste of time)
- reboot
- install Macrium/AOMEI (either/both) and create image(s) of the new fresh system
- complete your installation(s)

Winuser said:

Look in C:\Users\Your user name\OneDrive.

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Yes I know my Documents and Picture are in the OneDrive location. Just wondering the purpose of Documents and Pictures under C:user. Mine are empty.

CharmaineK said:

Yes I know my Documents and Picture are in thale OneDrive location. Just wondering the purpose of Documents and Pictures under C:user. Mine are empty.

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You should find that these are just "dummy" folders. They should not have the "official" user system folder icons, just standard folder icon symbols.

If the latter is the case, then you can delete them, they serve no purpose. However, I gave up trying to be that 4n4l about those folders, as fast as I deleted them, next time I looked they were back. I just stopped looking.

I have just re-formatted and Pictures is there in Explorer, and reads same as c:\users\name\pictures. At last.

CharmaineK said:

Yes I know my Documents and Picture are in the OneDrive location. Just wondering the purpose of Documents and Pictures under C:user. Mine are empty.

Click to expand...

My guess is that MS just never got around to deleting them from the install.

Hi all
2nd reformat went well, except 1 aspect...
Now font and cursor have changed in DOS prompt and some apps, which is inferior and harder to read... and cursor is different.
Oddly, if you select Run as Administrator, the font is old normal.
Any suggestions to make font/cursor always like old Win 10/11?
Thanks, Sid

also new DOS cursor is now odd vertical, not old usual horizontal

DOS cursor now looks like vertical at Change Cursor Shape in Console in Windows 10

I will start a new post as this is deviating away away from pesky One Drive which seems resolved. Thanks all for that help.

sidr said:

also new DOS cursor is now odd vertical, not old usual horizontal

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Sure this is not one of the mouse cursors ? (aka "stick" cursor, I think)

I'm sure - it sticks rigidly next to path, until I type