onedrive Microsoft OneDrive: The basics By Lance Whitney Want to be able to back up and synchronize your files with Microsoft OneDrive but aren’t sure
[See the full post at: Microsoft OneDrive: The basics]
![]() |
Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
SIGN IN | Not a member? | REGISTER | PLUS MEMBERSHIP |
-
Microsoft OneDrive: The basics
Home » Forums » Newsletter and Homepage topics » Microsoft OneDrive: The basics
- This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 10 months ago.
AuthorTopicLance Whitney
AskWoody_MVPFebruary 1, 2021 at 1:15 am #2339220Viewing 7 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
WSFriscoJohn
AskWoody Lounger -
rontpxz81
AskWoody PlusFebruary 1, 2021 at 5:48 pm #2339633If you want a Onedrive icon in your folder instead of original contents and the have to go to the Onedrive folder to find then-fine.
Latest version started to transfer all my files automatically, barely got it to stop. Now I’m trying to put everything back where it was and can’t. Older version you could copy a file to Onedrive and keep the original in the original folder.
I don’t want or need all of my folders in Onedrive. -
rontpxz81
AskWoody PlusApril 20, 2021 at 9:57 am #2359176I had the same problem with the newest version of OneDrive- started to transfer all my files automatically, stopped it, but it got My Documents folder, and now in My Documents folder only a shortcut to the OneDrive folder and have to go to OneDrive folder to see them. If you want a Onedrive icon in your folder instead of original contents and the have to go to the Onedrive folder to find them.
No info about this from Lance Whitney or how to undo it. I want My Documents files in that folder and not to have to click OneDrive shortcut to see them.
-
-
cyberSAR
AskWoody Plus -
RichardJ
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 4, 2021 at 2:23 pm #2340466Interesting article, just wish I’d seen it a while ago!
One issue I’d like help with. I have a large collection of photos on my old PC, I treat One Drive as a back up of these files but want to keep them locally. I have a new computer so want to transfer the files (thousands) to the new hard disk. What is the best way to achieve this? Simply downloading from One Drive was schedule to take days! I tried copying via an external hard disk, but am very unclear what/if One Drive has made of this plan, masses of files all say waiting to sync, Although One Drive system tray says “up to date”!
-
rontpxz81
AskWoody PlusApril 20, 2021 at 10:03 am #2359179I had the same problem with the newest version of OneDrive- started to transfer all my files automatically, stopped it, but it got My Documents folder, and now in My Documents folder only a shortcut to the OneDrive folder and have to go to OneDrive folder to see them. If you want a Onedrive icon in your folder instead of original contents and the have to go to the Onedrive folder to find them.
No info about this from Lance Whitney or how to undo it. I want My Documents files in that folder and not to have to click OneDrive shortcut to see them.
-
rontpxz81
AskWoody Plus -
anonymous
GuestJuly 5, 2021 at 2:30 pm #2375776Is there a way to use OneDrive only for backup? I didn’t realize til I was deep in the switch to a new PC with Win10, that all my data was going to OneDrive, and NOT to my drive. Somewhat clumsily, I managed to delete everything there and fix it so nothing went there in the future. I often have occasions to use my system with no internet access and I want all my data on my hard drive, but would be open to using OneDrive only as a backup.
2 users thanked author for this post.
-
b
AskWoody_MVPJuly 5, 2021 at 2:32 pm #2375785 -
rontpxz81
AskWoody PlusJuly 6, 2021 at 12:58 pm #2375937How did you to delete everything there and fix it so nothing went there in the future. In my Documents folder I now only have a link to the ONEDRIVE folder. Want my documents back in the original folder. No help from Will Fastie who has been writing all this stuff about OneDrive even though I asked him- he didn’t know. I imagine many don’t want their original folders moved to OneDrive- mine started doing it automatically. No solutions for restoring back.
-
-
Buteo
AskWoody LoungerJuly 17, 2021 at 1:02 pm #2378305Good morning
I wish I had read these articles before I used OneDrive. However I have been using it since I started the Mocrosoft Office subscription. Not as a backup but as a simple method of transferring some files to my laptop if I was away from home and my Desktop PC . This has worked very well. Then I decided to use the Cloud backup for a large folder on a separate drive. ( Thousands of photos). I made the mistake of assuming that nothing would be copied to the cloud unless i asked it to do so!!! To my horror the three folders – Desktop, Documents and Photos have stated to synchronize and I cannot stop them I do not use Microsofts Document or Photos folder. I ignore them and use my own data system. I thought the two folders were empty as I had not copied anything into them. However Windows 10 has filled the both with lots of items!! All duplicated elsewhere on my hard drive.
My question – How can I delete everything from the cloud – without losing the originals?
Then, from your articles, I now know how to copy my external hard drive folder to OneDrive cloud.
I hope someone can help
Best regards
Malcolm Jones
Viewing 7 reply threads -

Plus Membership
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.
Get Plus!
Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.
It's easy to post questions about Windows 11, Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.
Search Newsletters
Search Forums
View the Forum
Search for Topics
Recent Topics
-
A Validation (were one needed) of Prudent Patching
by
Nibbled To Death By Ducks
58 seconds ago -
Master Patch Listing for May 13, 2025
by
Susan Bradley
33 minutes ago -
Installer program can’t read my registry
by
Peobody
1 hour, 6 minutes ago -
How to keep Outlook (new) in off position for Windows 11
by
EspressoWillie
13 hours, 21 minutes ago -
Intel : CVE-2024-45332, CVE-2024-43420, CVE-2025-20623
by
Alex5723
11 hours, 5 minutes ago -
False error message from eMClient
by
WSSebastian42
10 hours, 59 minutes ago -
Awoke to a rebooted Mac (crashed?)
by
rebop2020
20 hours, 4 minutes ago -
Office 2021 Perpetual for Mac
by
rebop2020
21 hours, 16 minutes ago -
AutoSave is for Microsoft, not for you
by
Will Fastie
5 hours, 30 minutes ago -
Difface : Reconstruction of 3D Human Facial Images from DNA Sequence
by
Alex5723
1 day ago -
Seven things we learned from WhatsApp vs. NSO Group spyware lawsuit
by
Alex5723
1 hour, 50 minutes ago -
Outdated Laptop
by
jdamkeene
1 day, 6 hours ago -
Updating Keepass2Android
by
CBFPD-Chief115
1 day, 11 hours ago -
Another big Microsoft layoff
by
Charlie
1 day, 11 hours ago -
PowerShell to detect NPU – Testers Needed
by
RetiredGeek
14 hours, 44 minutes ago -
May 2025 updates are out
by
Susan Bradley
4 hours, 21 minutes ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 26200.5600 released to DEV
by
joep517
1 day, 17 hours ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 26120.3964 (24H2) released to BETA
by
joep517
1 day, 17 hours ago -
Drivers suggested via Windows Update
by
Tex265
1 day, 17 hours ago -
Thunderbird release notes for 128 esr have disappeared
by
EricB
1 day, 14 hours ago -
CISA mutes own website, shifts routine cyber alerts to X, RSS, email
by
Nibbled To Death By Ducks
2 days ago -
Apple releases 18.5
by
Susan Bradley
1 day, 18 hours ago -
Fedora Linux 40 will go end of life for updates and support on 2025-05-13.
by
Alex5723
2 days, 1 hour ago -
How a new type of AI is helping police skirt facial recognition bans
by
Alex5723
2 days, 2 hours ago -
Windows 7 ISO /Windows 10 ISO
by
ECWS
10 hours, 42 minutes ago -
No HP software folders
by
fpefpe
2 days, 9 hours ago -
Which antivirus apps and VPNs are the most secure in 2025?
by
B. Livingston
1 day, 7 hours ago -
Stay connected anywhere
by
Peter Deegan
2 days, 15 hours ago -
Copilot, under the table
by
Will Fastie
17 hours, 47 minutes ago -
The Windows experience
by
Will Fastie
2 days, 21 hours ago
Recent blog posts
Key Links
Want to Advertise in the free newsletter? How about a gift subscription in honor of a birthday? Send an email to sb@askwoody.com to ask how.
Mastodon profile for DefConPatch
Mastodon profile for AskWoody
Home • About • FAQ • Posts & Privacy • Forums • My Account
Register • Free Newsletter • Plus Membership • Gift Certificates • MS-DEFCON Alerts
Copyright ©2004-2025 by AskWoody Tech LLC. All Rights Reserved.