Solved: Windows 10 OneDrive folder assigned to wrong folder - how to fix

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Mark Litin🇺🇸

Windows 10 OneDrive folder assigned to wrong folder - how to fix

Hi

I'm servicing a laptop running windows 10. In the Explorer, the wrong folder has been assigned as the OndDrive folder, and it's causing problems. The OneDrive folder has apparently been assigned to the Documents folder in the Explorer. (C:\users\XXXX\OneDrive\Documents). So when ever I access the documents I receive the "Location is not available" if the Documents folder is not actually being sync'd. If the Documents folder is being sync'd, it is populated only as far as the OneDrive folder would be.

I've tried changing to a local sign in, and then back to a microsoft login to no avail. I've tried changing the location by going into OneDrive settings. Still the Documents folder remains the folder assisgned as the OneDrive folder. Amongst other indicators, the Documents folder has the options to "Choose OneDrive folders to sync" whereas the OneDrive folder does not.

The file system is predictably intact and the c:\users\xxxxx\Documents folder is there and populated.

So how to force the OneDrive folder back to be the OneDrive folder and remove the assignemt from the Documents folder?

Thanks for any insight.

Mark

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Paul Sauvé🇨🇦

In short, create a NEW OneDrive folder in the location you want it to be. Now make sure OneDrive is running and that you can see the icon in the Notification area.

Right-click on the icon and select Settings ―> Account tab ―> Unlink OneDrive.

Right-click again select Change Location. Now navigate to the new OneDrive folder and select!

Mark Litin🇺🇸

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Thanks for the note, Paul.

Unfortunately that does not help in that changing the location to the OneDrive folder does not do a thing. It is still assigned to the Document It's as if it's assigned in another way other than the front door. I wonder if I need to modify the registry.

Paul Sauvé🇨🇦

Note that this does NOT delete the old folder, it simply indicates to OneDrive the location of the CURRENT folder to be used by OneDrive.

So, if you followed the steps exactly, the NEW OneNote folder you created is what will be used from this point forward.

If you already have files at the old location that have not been synchronized online, then move those folders/files to the new OneDrive folder.

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McKnife🇩🇪

Could you upload screenshots of all your settings in one drive (the try icon) and also screens of the explorer behavior that you describe? I find it hard to follow without.

Mark Litin🇺🇸

ASKER

Hi Paul

I understand how it is supposed to work, It just doesn't change as it should. It's as if it's locked there.

McKnife,
here are three snips: OneDrive properites, Documents properties, and Error when accessing Documents when it is not sync'd to OneDrive .

If you need anything else, please let me know.

Thanks!

Mark
OneDriveProperties.pdf
DocumentsPropertiespdf.pdf
DocumrntsAsOneDrive1.pdf

McKnife🇩🇪

Could you add all your settings in one drive that the onedrive tray icon reveals as well?

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Paul Sauvé🇨🇦

is OneDrive app installed and running on your PC?

I can see in the OneDriveProperties.pdf screenshot that the OneDrive folder is at c:/Users/marka and not at c:/Users/marka/documents!

Mark Litin🇺🇸

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see attached pdf files
setings1.pdf
settings2.pdf
settings3.pdf

Mark Litin🇺🇸

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Here's the last snip
settings4.pdf

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McKnife🇩🇪

Still one important thing missing, on http://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2016/01_w03/1070022/settings2.pdf - what's behind "choose folders"? Maybe even expand all the folders.

Mark Litin🇺🇸

ASKER

Yes, the OneDrive app is installed. That;s where I got the settings.

If you look at the Documents properties shows the path as C:\Users\Marka\OneDrive\Docuements. That, I believe is the crux of the issue.

Mark Litin🇺🇸

ASKER

Here it is
'
Thanks!
FoldersToSync.pdf

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McKnife🇩🇪

Ok, following your screenshots, it should be like on my machine which is healthy.
In explorer go to ->libraries ->documents and rightclick it. See if you can reset the path (tab: location) back to default which should be c:\users\Mark\documents

Mark Litin🇺🇸

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Did the above. (in the Documents in Libraries, not under This PC, which is where the problem is.)

No location tab. But clicked "Restore defaults" which then displays C:\Users\Marka.
In the Documents under This PC the Properties are as in DocumentsAsOneDrive1

Click Apply and OK.

Click the documents

McKnife🇩🇪

...and then?

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Mark Litin🇺🇸

ASKER

Sorry. Had to step away for a while.

Documents in This PC showed path C:\users\marka\OneDrive.

In other words, no matter what I do from the front door, the Documents folder is assigned to OneDrive, even though it is not even sync'd to it.

Library Documents is correct. It's just the Documents folder under This PC is being held captive by OneDrive. I think it's a glitch in the registry. What do you think?

Thanks

Mark

Mark Litin🇺🇸

ASKER

Whoops. I just realized the same anomaly exists for Pictures. Also mapped to OneDrive, but not sync'd to it. This is quite a mess.

Mark Litin🇺🇸

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... but the Pictures Properties has the location tab. I map it instead to the c:\users\marka\Pictures directory, confirm that yes, I want to move it, and get "The Folder Can't Be Moved. Access Denied"

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Mark Litin🇺🇸

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Signing of for the night...

Paul Sauvé🇨🇦

how do you explain this:

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McKnife🇩🇪

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Paul Sauvé🇨🇦

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Mark Litin🇺🇸

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Hi McKnife and Paul

Thanks for your attentiveness to my quandary. Sorry for the tardy resolution.

Actually, the profile migration just replicated the mess, so I just created a new user and copied the content to it.

Client is happy, and I can move on.

Thanks again.

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