MS OneDrive highjacked sys folders

Microsoft is not doing anything under handed, nor is there any sugarcoating. Every provider offers some sort of free storage solution for cloud storage, it is called Dangling the carrot. Windows like all OSs where they use a Symbolic Link to allow a folder to appear to be located elsewhere, but it is actually a bit of programmer magic. When you lose access to that drive the OS panics because that link is not where it looks for the default location that is physically programmed into Windows. You can believe what you want, but it has been discussed to where the horse is no longer a physical splotch.

hapEcat said:

I followed the links that dalchina provided, read a bunch, and then ran the .bat file to repair the "Documents" folder, with little to no success. It now points to C:\Users\hapec, and any attempts to further change its target, W10 complains.

What you show indicates you have a Documents folder now in the correct place, which is an improvement.

Previously you had it on E: - I assume you're trying to relocate it using the Location tab.
You haven't definitively stated how and haven't posted a screenshot of this

As I've stated several times before on tenforums...
a. I'd never personally relocate those folders. Why?
- if you get it wrong it's next to impossible to untangle. Easy to make a mistake
- those default folders get filled with folders created by programs I install - so they're not 'my' folders

That's why the relevant tutorial (at my suggestion) recommends creating a system image (disk image) before attempting relocation.

b. It's so easy to create your own exclusive personal folders on a separate disk or partition e.g.
My Documents
My Music
etc
- you can then add them to a library or create a new library if you wish.

That way the data is off C: and it's exclusively yours. What's there is what you put there - which is what you want.

Since you've now uninstalled OneDrive, create a new local user account and change its user folder paths to your Data drive.
Make it an Admin account since the original one was.
Then delete the original account, the problem account.

Even if you want the account to be an MSAccount-linked one, make it a local account in the first instance and then convert it.

Personally, I also keep two spare, local, Admin, password-protected user accounts so I can be sure of getting back into the computer in the event of user profile corruption affecting the main day-to-day user account.

I have tutorial links for everything I've said, if you want them.

Denis

Try3 said:

I have tutorial links for everything I've said, if you want them.
Denis

I had thought of just creating another account, before I posted to this forum. I was in hopes that there was a way to change those folder paths, without creating a new account, and going through the program reinstall hassle, even though most are installed for all users. Likewise, I too, use the 2 Admin account system like you described, and it's paid off several times.

But back to your tutorial offer, even though I could do it my way, I would appreciate those tutorial links.... Never too late to learn something new that you had not thought of, that might be easier!

hapEcat said:

I would appreciate those tutorial links

Since you've now uninstalled OneDrive, create a new local user account and change its user folder paths to your Data drive.
Add Local Account or Microsoft Account - TenForumsTutorials

And, for the relocations,
Desktop Folder - Move Location in Windows 10
Documents Folder - Move Location in Windows 10
Downloads Folder - Move Location in Windows 10
Game DVR Captures Folder - Move Location in Windows 10
Music Folder - Move Location in Windows 10
Pictures Folder - Move Location in Windows 10
Searches Folder - Move Location in Windows 10
Videos Folder - Move Location in Windows 10
Screenshots Folder - Move Location in Windows 10

Personally, after any change, I check the entries in the Registry
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Make it an Admin account since the original one was.
Change Account Type [Standard-Admin] - TenForumsTutorials

Then delete the original account, the problem account.
Delete User Account - TenForumsTutorials

Even if you want the account to be an MSAccount-linked one, make it a local account in the first instance and then convert it. [Switch to = Convert into]
Switch to Local Account - TenForumsTutorials
Switch to Microsoft Account - TenForumsTutorials

Personally, I also keep two spare, local, Admin, password-protected user accounts so I can be sure of getting back into the computer in the event of user profile corruption affecting the main day-to-day user account.
my ditty - Create two spare local, password-protected Admin accounts [post #2] - TenForums



All the best,
Denis

Try3 said:

All the best,
Denis

Thank you much.... Now I've got a lot of reading to do!

ok,. I'm out. Good luck.

Try3 said:

All the best,
Denis

In the course of reading, I stumbled across this tutorial on Restore Default Location of Screenshots Folder
I applied the same steps, and it worked on both the “Documents” and “Pictures” folders… So problem, solved.
And Denis, don't think for 1min those tutorials were for naught, I'll still read all those tutorials you dug up for me!

I would like to extend a special thanks to "dalchina", for providing tutorials, and his help in solving this matter.

Once again, many thanks,
Happy