Windows wants to do EVERYTHING through OneDrive

macnab · 24 Mar 2021

Hi

10 Pro 20H2

New MB, CPU, fresh install. OneDrive is Unlink from this device.

I install software: it wants to store the settings in a OneDrive folder.

I try screen capture: it wants to use a OneDrive folder to store the file.

I select a folder in Explorer, it displays the files one by one at 1 second intervals. I want to capture that (with Bandilab), the file is stored on OneDrive somewhere, can't see where because the window is totally transparent apart from the border and title bar.

How am I supposed to supply info when everything goes to OneDrive? Which I cannot access because I have unlinked this PC from my OneDrive account.

dalchina · 24 Mar 2021

Hi, one or more of these may help. You can uninstall the Onedrive app or program, whichever you have too.

Uninstall OneDrive in Windows 10
Enable or Disable OneDrive Integration
Turn On or Off Run OneDrive at Startup in Windows 10
Link or Unlink OneDrive with Microsoft Account in Windows 10

macnab · 24 Mar 2021

Yjanks

KeithM · 25 Mar 2021

Before you unlinked OneDrive, you should have turned off OneDrive's "Backup" of the Desktop, Documents, and Picures folders, which actually relocates them to the <UserPRofileFolder>\OneDrive directory.

That's now the default when you go trhough the OOBE when you first create an account. One of the screens has a title to the effect of "Let OneDrive Backup your important files" or someting to that effect. The opton to accept is obvious ---- less obvious is the opportunity to opt out and stick with per-user System folders only stored locally & direct sublfoldres of the UserProfileFolder.

If your system is brand-new & you haven't customized much, your best option might be to cfeate a new local account ( giving you the chance to cusromize your Profile folder name as well)

Otherwise, you need to turn off "Backkup" before you can sucessfully redirect the folders undeThis PC. This is done via the OneDrive Settings dialog, launched by right-clicking the OneDrve icon in the Notification Area.

Windows wants to do EVERYTHING through OneDrive-screenshot-863-.png

Windows wants to do EVERYTHING through OneDrive-onedrive-settings.png

Windows wants to do EVERYTHING through OneDrive-onedrive-3.png

macnab · 25 Mar 2021

Thanks.
I have my own backup plan.

KeithM · 25 Mar 2021

macnab said:

Thanks.
I have my own backup plan.

That doesn't sound like you understand what I was telling you.

Did you turn off OneDrive "backup" before you unlinked from OneDrvie?

No, you didn't! or you wouldn't have the isuue you have now.
I was telling yuo why your folder paths point to OneDrive and how to fix it.

If Windows set your User folders to OneDrive locations when you created your account,
unlinking from OneDrive alone
doesn't chnage those paths or allow you to change them.

macnab · 25 Mar 2021

Unlinked before your message arrived.

Only a handful of apps to remove and install.

KeithM · 25 Mar 2021

But you can still go to OneDrive settings and turn off "backup". Try it. I'm not sure if you have to relink or not to make the change, but if you do, so what? You can unlink after you've done it cleanly!

And when you have it seperated from the default folders under This PC, it's completley unobtrusive. I use my Public folder to share files.

macnab · 25 Mar 2021

I moved the backed up files (desktop folders) back to the desktop, switched off backup, OneDrive turned a happy blue colour and I unlinked.

Everything is happy.

I have a lot of data drives and have copies of the data drives (FreeFileSync) and I use Reflekt to back up my boot drive.

Learned that 1st thing to do is turn off OneDrive.

AddRAM · 25 Mar 2021

Yep, you don`t need it.