OneDrive: Still the elephant in the room.

TraderGary · Aug 31, 2023

Winuser said:
A true test would be from someone who setup a new computer and let MS place their User Folders to OneDrive and see if any files they added are still available if the first attempt was done without internet access. We have been there and done that so unless we do a completely clean install can't say for sure. You may be correct but that's the only way that I see we can know for sure is with a new setup and one disconnecting from the internet after uploading their files and before trying to access them the first time. There is no way in heck without actual proof that you're going to convince me that the motive of what MS is doing is not about either selling more OneDrive Space or a Microsoft 365 subscription.

I've used OneDrive continuously since it was introduced in 2007. I'm more than satisfied with it. You should certainly test it if you're unsure.

Microsoft is not a charity. Microsoft is in business to make money. Of course they sell OneDrive space and Microsoft 365 to make a profit. Obviously people buy OneDrive space and Microsoft 365 because they want what it offers. That's how the marketplace works. I think Microsoft 365 with all of Microsoft Office and a terabyte of cloud OneDrive for $69 a year is an incredible buy. That's why I subscribe.

Nobody forces TraderGary to do anything he doesn't want to do! :wink:

cereberus · Aug 31, 2023

TraderGary said:
@Winuser You can make this experiment.

Make two windows. Make one local OneDrive. Make the other cloud OneDrive.

Create a text file in cloud OneDrive. Within seconds an exact copy of that file appears in your local OneDrive folder.

Now delete that file in your local OneDrive folder. Within seconds the file in cloud OneDrive disappears.

Your local OneDrive folder and cloud OneDrive are kept identical in real-time.

Actually, this is how it used to work years ago before Files On Demand (default now).

Now the file is normally online one OneDrive cloud storage, and NOT on pc unless you mark file to be available locally on pc as well.

You still see the file listed in local directory even though the actual file is NOT physically on local pc.

When you click on directory listed, the file is downloaded on demand.

The plus is storage is much reduced. The minus is you have to be online to access file.

If you travel a lot, Files on Demand may be less convenient, so you may need to mark some or all files to be simultaneously on local and online drive at same time.

pparks1 · Aug 31, 2023

Winuser said:
Do we really need Momma Microsoft holding our hands and telling us what we want and need? I and many others don't.

They make an OS. They know some people have multiple computers. They attempt to make it easy to see their files on multiple devices. It's an added benefit to have the files in two places at a time for those who don't bother with backup.

You and many others can adjust the system and get rid of it. You can also go with another OS vendor as well. There are choices. We aren't the average Joe's being catered to here.

TraderGary · Aug 31, 2023

cereberus said:
Actually, this is how it used to work years ago before Files On Demand (default now).

Now the file is normally online one OneDrive cloud storage, and NOT on pc unless you mark file to be available locally on pc as well.

You still see the file listed in local directory even though the actual file is NOT physically on local pc.

When you click on directory listed, the file is downloaded on demand.

The plus is storage is much reduced. The minus is you have to be online to access file.

If you travel a lot, Files on Demand may be less convenient, so you may need to mark some or all files to be simultaneously on local and online drive at same time.

True. I've been there since the beginning!

Files On Demand is a settings option that can be turned ON/OFF.

My System One has Files On Demand set to OFF. I want everything always available locally for speed and for backups.
My System Two has Files On Demand set to ON. It has a much smaller SSD and it works well to only download files as needed.

Dru2 · Aug 31, 2023

Dru2 said:
I'm simply going to say the biggest issue with OneDrive is the end user's fear and lack of understanding.

And yes, I use OneDrive and find it extremely convenient to the point I couldn't live without. It's even on my Android phone.

Winuser said:
I totally agree. I also think that MS needs to realize that not everyone needs or wants it. IMHO they want OneDrive to not only be installed but to takeover the User Folders so they can either sell more OneDrive storage or Microsoft 365 subsciptions.

The only thing I'll relent on is agreeing that Microsoft should turn off OneDrive's auto folder sync feature out the box. I'll give that it does lead to lots of confusion and thus another reason for lots of vitriol.

That said, I find it odd lots of "PC experts" struggle to figure out how to turn it off. And have all this fear of it. Also that many who criticize it haven't even used it..... "oh, no.... I don't trust the cloud thing"

wabbit · Aug 31, 2023

I've been using OneDrive on my personal machines since 2015. Got the Office 365 with 6 users and 1 TB storage for each user, but only my SO and myself are currently on the family plan. Worst part of setting it up was uploading about 40 GB of various files to the cloud with 5 Mbs upload speeds. We upload docs, music, pictures, and videos. That took a few days. Never ever upload system images. Each of us has about 150 GB of files on OneDrive.

On the main system, I have the OneDrive folder set to always save files on that device, where on the other systems, I use Files on Demand. I also use it on my iPhone and upload files from the iPhone to OneDrive.

trevo · Sep 1, 2023

pparks1 said:
Also, Google and Apple (Same 5GB) both only supply a small amount of storage space for free.

A correction, Google's free storage is actually 15GB...

Winuser · Sep 1, 2023

TraderGary said:
I've used OneDrive continuously since it was introduced in 2007. I'm more than satisfied with it. You should certainly test it if you're unsure.

Microsoft is not a charity. Microsoft is in business to make money. Of course they sell OneDrive space and Microsoft 365 to make a profit. Obviously people buy OneDrive space and Microsoft 365 because they want what it offers. That's how the marketplace works. I think Microsoft 365 with all of Microsoft Office and a terabyte of cloud OneDrive for $69 a year is an incredible buy. That's why I subscribe.

Nobody forces TraderGary to do anything he doesn't want to do!

Of course Microsoft s a company that is out to make money. IMO it is wrong for Microsoft to put the User Folders on OneDrive by default. How would you like it if you were using a GPS in an area where you were unfamiliar with and because the GPS maker was in cahoots with big oil it always sent you the longest distance to get somewhere. The more miles you drive the more fuel you're going to use. Would that be OK with you? After all they are a company out to make money. I'm a OneDrive user and I subscribe to Microsoft 365. I even share it with my son. I did it by choice and not because I thought I had too.

Winuser · Sep 1, 2023

pparks1 said:
They make an OS. They know some people have multiple computers. They attempt to make it easy to see their files on multiple devices. It's an added benefit to have the files in two places at a time for those who don't bother with backup.

So because of that they have the right to make the choice for us and not let us decide? And those who only have one computer and don't need OneDrive, is it still OK? MS owns the software and just license it us to use but only in a way that meets the EULA. I didn't know that that also have the right to do what they feel is right with our personal data.

TraderGary · Sep 1, 2023

Winuser said:
Of course Microsoft s a company that is out to make money. IMO it is wrong for Microsoft to put the User Folders on OneDrive by default. How would you like it if you were using a GPS in an area where you were unfamiliar with and because the GPS maker was in cahoots with big oil it always sent you the longest distance to get somewhere. The more miles you drive the more fuel you're going to use. Would that be OK with you? After all they are a company out to make money. I'm a OneDrive user and I subscribe to Microsoft 365. I even share it with my son. I did it by choice and not because I thought I had too.

I agree that what Microsoft is doing now is not right. I too think it is wrong to turn OneDrive ON by default and then just move a users Documents and Pictures data into OneDrive. As expected, users are totally confused by what has happened. This has caused a lot of vitriol and bad feelings. Microsoft needs to recognize that this was a bad idea and fix it going forward. Microsoft instead simply needs to explain how OneDrive works and leave it totally up to the user if they want to implement it. This is the way OneDrive was formerly handled and Microsoft needs to go back to doing it right.

pparks1 · Sep 1, 2023

Winuser said:
So because of that they have the right to make the choice for us and not let us decide? And those who only have one computer and don't need OneDrive, is it still OK? MS owns the software and just license it us to use but only in a way that meets the EULA. I didn't know that that also have the right to do what they feel is right with our personal data.

I don't know what to say. They have the default set the way you don't like it. that's fine, you can change it. If they forced you to save the files there with no ability to redirect them, that would be a different story.

Even with one computer, there is a benefit. For somebody who isn't computer savvy, they may buy a desktop computer, use it for 3 years or so and the hard drive may die. They don't know anybody to fix it, they don't really want to put money into it and would now just rather have a laptop. So, they buy a new laptop, logon and low and behold all of their stuff shows up. It's magic to them.

pparks1 · Sep 1, 2023

TraderGary said:
I agree that what Microsoft is doing now is not right. I too think it is wrong to turn OneDrive ON by default and then just move a users Documents and Pictures data into OneDrive. As expected, users are totally confused by what has happened. This has caused a lot of vitriol and bad feelings. Microsoft needs to recognize that this was a bad idea and fix it going forward. Microsoft instead simply needs to explain how OneDrive works and leave it totally up to the user if they want to implement it. This is the way OneDrive was formerly handled and Microsoft needs to go back to doing it right.

Yeah, I'm not certain they did the right thing. I can really only speculate on why I think they may do it this way. I just know that it is the way it is, and it seems quite easy to get rid of if you are certain you don't want it. And for those that do want it, it seems to work pretty well.

Winuser · Sep 1, 2023

TraderGary said:
I agree that what Microsoft is doing now is not right. I too think it is wrong to turn OneDrive ON by default and then just move a users Documents and Pictures data into OneDrive. As expected, users are totally confused by what has happened. This has caused a lot of vitriol and bad feelings. Microsoft needs to recognize that this was a bad idea and fix it going forward. Microsoft instead simply needs to explain how OneDrive works and leave it totally up to the user if they want to implement it. This is the way OneDrive was formerly handled and Microsoft needs to go back to doing it right.

To sum up my feelings about OneDrive. OneDrive by itself it great. The way MS is trying manipulate to profit them is corporate greed at it worse.

TraderGary · Sep 1, 2023

pparks1 said:
Yeah, I'm not certain they did the right thing. I can really only speculate on why I think they may do it this way. I just know that it is the way it is, and it seems quite easy to get rid of if you are certain you don't want it. And for those that do want it, it seems to work pretty well.

There are too many longtime users who are not technical. All they know is that their data is no longer where they are used to keeping it. For them things aren't they way they are supposed to be and they are confused and don't know how to fix it.

Winuser · Sep 1, 2023

pparks1 said:
I don't know what to say. They have the default set the way you don't like it. that's fine, you can change it. If they forced you to save the files there with no ability to redirect them, that would be a different story.

Even with one computer, there is a benefit. For somebody who isn't computer savvy, they may buy a desktop computer, use it for 3 years or so and the hard drive may die. They don't know anybody to fix it, they don't really want to put money into it and would now just rather have a laptop. So, they buy a new laptop, logon and low and behold all of their stuff shows up. It's magic to them.

For those of us that know how is one thing. What about those who don't? If any of them reach the free storage limit do you think MS will walk them through on how to move their User Folders to their local drive or try to sell them more storage or maybe a subscription Microsoft 365? I know where my guess is. This discussion has been interesting but I'm done with it and moving on.

TM21 · Sep 1, 2023

"Do we really need Momma Microsoft holding our hands and telling us what we want and need? I and many others don't."

NO I don't want it, and I won't stand for it. There is NO One Drive on any of my dozen PC's, and there never will be.
All my data is stored where I can immediately lay my hands on it. Not off in a nebulous cloud somewhere, in some unknown location?

flashh4 · Sep 1, 2023

@TachnoMage2021, we see eye to eye on this !

Edwin · Sep 1, 2023

I have MobiDrive, (though I rarely use it), just a few assorted items, and only online, no syncing.

Nothing wrong with OneDrive..., it's just, perhaps, the way MS implements it! They like doing things for you!

Dru2 · Sep 1, 2023

Edwin said:
Nothing wrong with OneDrive..., it's just, perhaps, the way MS implements it! They like doing things for you!

Many have said the exact same thing about Windows, yet they still use it

Ghot · Sep 1, 2023

I think it's time for MS to admit that OneDrive ain't all that, and make the move to... TwoDrive.

OneDrive: Still the elephant in the room.

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