If we delete any file or folder from the One Drive Folder on our PC, the file also get deleted from cloud. In the same way, if hard disk crash/data wipe out from it, then whether all One Drive Folder data will be deleted from cloud also. If yes than what is the safeguard.
Off-line backups.
Users are continually urged to use disk imaging routinely (imagine hard disk failure etc) - Macrium Reflect (free). Files can be copied from images. Image files can be on USB disks, elsewhere on a network, in the cloud - if you have super super fast upload speeds....
There are other plenty of file backup options of course.
I'm in agreement with @dalchina , Macrium Reflect imaging is the first line of defense against the unexpected.
I do think in this particular scenario however, there's a big difference between OneDrive finding it's folder empty and not finding the folder at all. My guess would be you'd get an error when OneDrive opened saying the installed location was missing.
Of course one never knows until it happens and why having an image safety net is so critical.
Expect there to be a difference betweenif hard disk crash/data wipe out from it,
a. deleting data - requiring syncing in a controlled manner
and
b. a hard disk failure
Nothing will happen with the data if the disk dies or gets wiped.
This is why you should back up to OneDrive if you can.
Question: Do you lose data when you shut down your PC?
Answer: No
A shutdown is to OneDrive just like a disk dying or getting wiped.
So if all you need to do is put in a new disk, and then make sure your OneDrive is turned on, and it'll redownload if you have that turned on, of at least fetch the metadata if you only have File on demand turned on.
As for accidental deleting, no problem there either.
Just go to OneDrive online and go to recycle bin and click restore.
One thing I always do is for each of my systems, only sync the folder & files I need for that specific system.
Some PC's, or virtual machines, don't have or need much disk space, so I only sync what that machine needs.
If there happens to be a file not synced I need, I could always download it directly from OneDrive with my browser.
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