Howdy,

I'm struggling with OneDrive.  I recently learned that OD is embedded in Windows 11, turned on by default, and has a default setting to remove ALL of my computer's data files up to its cloud.  That's outrageous.  Microsoft only explained that, "We told you so."  So I've been trying to back out gracefully without data loss and get back to a computer with my files on it, without OneDrive changes to my directory structure and File Explorer settings.  If someone has advice on the steps to do this, I'd appreciate it!  I'm sure I'm not alone.

Working with OneDrive Support, I have managed to:

Get all of my files back from the OneDrive cloud

Make a copy of my "local" OneDrive folders to my External USB drive

Turn off OneDrive synching

Turn off OneDrive as a startup application

Change back some (but not all) file Save locations for Outlook apps to point to my PC's directories and not to cloud OneDrive

Challenges:

(I am resigned to put my files onto Windows' directories called Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos, since I'd have to replace the OS to anything else.)

What I would like to do next with OneDrive is:

1. Get OneDrive out of my File Explorer as much as possible. Remove alias and duplicate folder names  in File Explorer that all point to the same place without "breaking" Windows 11

2. Delete all of the data on my PC under these folders and replace it with a "clean" set of files that I have established on my external USB drive.

Suggestions, etc., GREATLY appreciated, but please do not send me links into Microsoft's OneDrive help articles or communities.

Here is what my File Explorer looks like now

Thanks,

Dave

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Environment: In retirement, my home setup is very simple:

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 x64 computer

Windows 11 Pro OS

Connected to internet by Ethernet from router

1 TB External Seagate drive

external 27" HP monitor

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920

Spectrum cable modem connected by Ethernet to

ASUS AX5700 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 RT-AX86U Pro router

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra cell phone with Android 14

2 MS accounts on Outlook.com (one used to sign in to computer)

4 Google accounts on Gmail.com

I try to keep all updates and patches applied. No hacks or jailbreaks.

Key software:

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro OS 10.0.22631 Build 22631 (purchased)

Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021 client (purchased), including

Microsoft Outlook 2021 MSO (Version 2410 Build 16.0.18129.20100) 64-bit 

Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft 365 subscription (forced-to get for 1TB OneDrive cloud storage)

Browsers:

Firefox (main)

Google Chrome

Microsoft Edge (don't use it)

LastPass for Windows Desktop password manager (for now)

SnagIt 13 picture capture and edit

Generally speaking, I've been trying to avoid AI and avoid relying on the internet/cloud. Not a gamer.