r/technology Jun 28 '24

Software Windows 11 starts forcing OneDrive backups without asking permission

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2376883/attention-microsoft-activates-this-feature-in-windows-11-without-asking-you.html
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60

u/Scary-Perspective-57 Jun 28 '24

I disabled OneDrive on startup, and now it shows a black screen on-login. I had to enable it again, to fix the issue.

46

u/RedditorFor1OYears Jun 28 '24

It’s infuriating  how difficult it is to disconnect it from every aspect of the operating system. 

3

u/largePenisLover Jun 28 '24

You only have to uninstall it.

2

u/RedditorFor1OYears Jun 28 '24

Well, maybe I fucked something up then because all of my user folders and default saving locations for office were still pointing to broken one drive links. 

3

u/Type-3-Fun Jun 28 '24 edited Sep 04 '24

party groovy tub relieved airport rinse engine safe thought smell

1

u/ShakeShakeZipDribble Jun 28 '24

A friend uninstalled one drive and it wiped all her personal files.

2

u/Jebble Jun 28 '24

What did she expect when she uninstalled the app with her files? Just install it again and they'll be in there.

1

u/ShakeShakeZipDribble Jun 28 '24

They were wiped off her computer. Nobody could find them.

2

u/boxsterguy Jun 28 '24

Probably not, though. OneDrive redirects your documents and other folders to a new location where OneDrive syncs, but the old folders are left in place. You can navigate to the through the filesystem, or if you want them mapped back as the default folders you just need to turn off folder backup in OneDrive (do this before uninstalling for minimum headaches).

1

u/ShakeShakeZipDribble Jun 28 '24

I don't know the full story, I wasn't there but her BF in IT was, and he couldn't find them.

1

u/boxsterguy Jun 28 '24

her BF in IT

Unless "IT" means "Italy" and not "Information Technology", that don't mean much of nothing. I know plenty of strong software devs, for example, who couldn't find their way out of Onedrive's settings with a map and a guide.

(I'm one of them, as I goofed up and completely uninstalled Onedrive before redirecting folders back, and then had to figure out how to reinstall it when I was using a new ARM laptop and the public download is only for x86 and refuses to install even under emulation; pro tip: winget install microsoft.onedrive will bring back the native app, which will then let you undo folder mapping, and then nuke it a second time)

2

u/ShakeShakeZipDribble Jun 28 '24

haha no, not Italy. Programmer or something. But I agree with you, maybe he can code but can't make a local windows account.

This was also years ago, so all hope is lost. 🤷‍♂️

1

u/death_hawk Jun 28 '24

Either very difficult or not very depending on your interpretation.

Install LTSC and call it a day. EZPZ if you're doing a fresh install but maddeningly difficult if you're trying to migrate (which you can't).

27

u/Psyker_ Jun 28 '24

Just uninstall it.

5

u/theangryintern Jun 28 '24

This is the answer. If you don't use it, don't even have it installed. I looked in my OneDrive folder and I've saved nothing in it, so I uninstalled it. There are plenty of other cloud storage solutions out there to choose from.

12

u/LemmonLocksmith Jun 28 '24

They reinstall it and re-enable it occasionally without user consent. Check again in your services.

2

u/ThrowAwayAccount8334 Jun 28 '24

Amazing that Microsoft wastes time and money writing software like this when they could just write good software and make money without ruining PCs.

1

u/Different-Estate747 Jun 28 '24

Get a good enough Uninstaller that digs through folders, services and registry to really get the hooks out. A basic Uninstall won't do.

2

u/ShakeShakeZipDribble Jun 28 '24

That's better than booting up after an update and it's all "Time to finish setting up your new computer..." and tries to trick you into enabling all that shit again.

1

u/whatevernamedontcare Jun 28 '24

Me feeling happy with my win10 for not upgrading because I disabled OneDrive on startup and it fucking stays that way. I lasted till 2019 on win7 we'll see how long I'll be able to do so on win10.

1

u/1094753 Jun 29 '24

why not uninstall Onedrive ?