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Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

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Re: Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

#101
This happened to me. I was wondering why my internet speeds were slow when I discovered that Microsoft was in the process of uploading my users directory, they had already uploaded almost two gigs when I realized. They also changed the path to these directories to something like C:\Users\name\OneDrive\Desktop\. Another poster in this thread claimed it's easy to reverse -- I disagree, it's a pain in the ass to track down the setting, and I shouldn't have to do this. When I did, it gave me an error for one of the directories and refuses to revert (documents?).

I don't like leaving negative or hyperbolic comments on HN, but this was enraging and unacceptable to me. It's hard to convey without coming off as unhinged. I only ever boot into Windows nowadays when I need to compile and test a Windows build of software. I understand Microsoft has built up good will through efforts like VS Code, but it's all undone because of things like this. I avoid MS products, they cannot be trusted.

Re: Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

#102
post #6

Microsoft makes it a pain, but you can still jump through some CLI hoops to use only a local user account to log in to Windows, rather than the cloud-conmected Microsoft account they try to funnel you into. Not logging into a Microsoft account prevents OneDrive from doing anything other than spamming you with notifications about how great it would be if you logged in and started using it. And you can still uninstall…

Or if ordering a new PC you can get one with Windows 11 Pro for a few $$ more, choose the option to domain join (during initial setup) to create a local account, and create user accounts with no Microsoft account.

Makes it easier to do minor little things like drive encryption as well.

Re: Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

#103
post #87

At least a Mac alllows you to have a local account without iCloud. We are not allowed iCloud accounts on our work lappies due to the risk of client data leakage. It seems to me, unless the Microsoft cloud is 100% trusted you would not be able to use it at many places. (We do have centrally managed computers and accounts).

Microsoft cloud is[1] indeed trusted: "Office 365 GCC High"[2].

[1] Read: "can be" [2] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/servicedescripti...

Re: Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

#104
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...to get new PC gamers onto an alternative for there to be a considerable shift away from Windows. Have you tried Steam on Linux? It works amazingly well, either with native Linux support in games or through Proton support (their Windows emulation layer). Quite a few people I know have gone that route and are shocked at just how well it works in practice.

I'm all in on Linux at this point - it's been usable for a long time. My comments not really about whether it works, as we know it does, it's about how we go about getting the word out there.

I just switched to Wayland with KDE Plasma 6.1 from KDE 5.x on X11.

VR works now. Screensharing and everything you expect with other operating systems works perfectly as well.

Re: Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

#105
post #87

At least a Mac alllows you to have a local account without iCloud. We are not allowed iCloud accounts on our work lappies due to the risk of client data leakage. It seems to me, unless the Microsoft cloud is 100% trusted you would not be able to use it at many places. (We do have centrally managed computers and accounts).

Tangential: If you use Office on your Mac, it is impossible to use your own hard drive as the default save location, or remove OneDrive as an option.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/i-wan...

Very, very frustrating for non-technical family members who can't find files in Documents or some other local hard drive location.

Re: Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

#106
post #6

Microsoft makes it a pain, but you can still jump through some CLI hoops to use only a local user account to log in to Windows, rather than the cloud-conmected Microsoft account they try to funnel you into. Not logging into a Microsoft account prevents OneDrive from doing anything other than spamming you with notifications about how great it would be if you logged in and started using it. And you can still uninstall…

Hacks that require going to into a CLI are just not accessible to non-technical people. Switch to something user friendly like Linux. At least Gnome only gets screwed up once every decade or so.

> Switch to something user friendly like Linux.

The same applies; are just not accessible to non-technical people.

Re: Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

#107

Seems like every 48-72 hours now Microsoft announces yet another extremely compelling reason to abandon their platform for Linux.

Which do you think is the bigger risk to ordinary users? - someone hacks into Microsoft and accesses their files from onedrive (for passwords/blackmail-info I guess?) - Microsoft looks at their files in onedrive and does something bad (not sure what) - someone hacks into their computer and accesses their files. Or someone does so by causing the user to download something bad - the user’s ssd fails or is corrupted bec…

There's no justification here for turning the feature on for users who have already explicitly chosen not to use it, or for not presenting them with the choice.

Re: Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

#108
post #50

I'm all for hating on Microsoft for their continued destruction of the local Windows 11 experience, but I actually think this is a good decision. Assuming you're logging in with a Microsoft account, and assuming you have a OneDrive account, it's a better experience to set up the folder backup feature as early as possible in the set-up process. If you really don't want it, it's easy to undo. I still don't like being f…

Linux and macOS is a great combo. I recently bought a full-spec UM790 Pro (Ryzen 9 with 64GB RAM), installed Ubuntu and colocated it with my router. I run vscode on my low-spec Mac Mini (M1 with 8GB RAM) with all the grunt work handled by the Ubuntu server thanks to the Remote-SSH extension. I saved several thousands of dollars by not buying a Mac with a decent amount of RAM, get the great macOS user experience, and…

> full-spec UM790 Pro (Ryzen 9 with 64GB RAM)

Fun fact: The machine actually supports up to 96GB (2x CT48G56C46S5).

Re: Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

#109
post #13

[flagged]

Windows 10 is very solid. I'm going to assume it will get updates for about as long as Windows XP did... I'll re-evaluate when they actually EoL it. Who knows, maybe that will be the year of the Linux desktop! (Spoilers: no.)

Next October (2025) is the end of the road, because my desktop can't be upgraded to Win11 and they tell me that about once a month.

Re: Windows 11 is now enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission

#110
post #101

This happened to me. I was wondering why my internet speeds were slow when I discovered that Microsoft was in the process of uploading my users directory, they had already uploaded almost two gigs when I realized. They also changed the path to these directories to something like C:\Users\name\OneDrive\Desktop\. Another poster in this thread claimed it's easy to reverse -- I disagree, it's a pain in the ass to track d…

This is almost my exact experience too.
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