Windows 10 PC with only a local account downloading One Drive Files


  1. Posts : 11
    10
       #1

    Windows 10 PC with only a local account downloading One Drive Files


    I was preparing an old desktop for sale so I did a clean reinstall of Windows 10. I removed my online Microsoft account and created a local "Newuser" account with its own PIN. When you look at settings/accounts it shows no accounts. Wiped the drive for security reasons.
    Today I booted it to make sure everything is ok prior to sale. I noticed that there were now files in my documents and pictures from a laptop I gave to my daughter last week. Also there were files from a Civilization 2 game. Somehow it appears that One Drive is still sharing files between these PC's even though all accounts were removed from the old desktop? What a security nightmare! We just uninstalled One Drive from both of these computers and deleted all the files. Does anyone know how this can happen and if the old PC is still a security risk? Could the new owner reinstall One Drive and suddenly have access to her files?
    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,983
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    I was preparing an old desktop for sale so I did a clean reinstall of Windows 10. I removed my online Microsoft account
    Hi, it sounds as if... either you didn't actually do a clean install, or you did one but used your MS account when doing so.

    Note: if you really did do a clean install you would have deleted all existing partitions as part of the procedure... did you do that? (Just checking... )

    You also say:
    even though all accounts were removed from the old desktop?
    - there would have been no need to do that if you had deleted all the partitions as required.. noting a clean install is to unallocated space, using a bootable installation medium.

    It is possible to clean install Win 10 with a local account.
    Clean Install Windows 10
    step 4

    (I don't know why that specifically mentions 20H2..)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 11
    10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Yes, it was a clean install from a new download.

    However, it forced a Microsoft login to proceed with the install which sucks.

    Following installation I created a new local account and deleted my Microsoft account/login using settings/account.

    I thought this was enough.

    My daughter was using a laptop with my account. She never asked for anything to be uploaded to I Drive and I have never used it. Much to my surprise her data started showing up on the PC that I was selling even though the Microsoft account was deleted. Microsoft hypes security big time but leaves gaping holes when it come to their "preferred" apps.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,983
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    Thank you for your reply.


    However, it forced a Microsoft login to proceed with the install
    Hi, that is annoying, but you can work round that to avoid it as I showed.

    If you have things set up to sync and you use an MS account.. well, it's doing the job exactly as advertised.

    Thing is, you needed to be aware of that, and the way to clean install with only a local account.

    Much to my surprise her data started showing up on the PC that I was selling even though the Microsoft account was deleted.
    If you were logged in with only a local account, I can't understand that... unless you have some other form of data synching.. which would be surprising given the clean install.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 11
    10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Yes, I had done the clean install removing the partitions and installing on unallocated space.
    The bad thing was that the install forced a Microsoft login to proceed. I thought I was safe creating a generic local account and then deleting my Microsoft account. Surprise! Fortunately I booted it one last time before giving it away. I had forgot about doing the install with the network disconnected to get around this fiasco. Just did it all again with the network unplugged. Thanks again for the help. Kind of amazing that even after this clean install with only a local account and the device not listed on my Microsoft devices page, it still says Windows is activated with a digital license!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 42,983
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    MS does make some things tricky... making hard to avoid MS accounts and Edge e.g.
      My Computers


 

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