Recently had a business client’s OneDrive application get stuck in the “Preparing to download” phase. OneDrive was apparently working, but this perpetually confused state of OneDrive did not give me confidence that something wouldn’t eventually go odd on me.
The solution that worked for me was to simply reset the OneDrive application. This article covers how to reset OneDrive.
This article will cover how to relocate the default directory of your Microsoft OneDrive folder. The below instructions should apply to all versions of OneDrive; OneDrive (work or school), OneDrive (home or personal), OneDrive for Windows
The web based app for Microsoft OneDrive includes a “For you” section which I personally have no use for. This section provides a shortcuts to “Access your memories” and appears to randomly display photos from my OneDrive Pictures folder. Since I have no use for any of that, it just consumes a large amount of display real estate at the top of the OneDrive web app page. Looking through Settings, there does not appear to be any option to adjust or remove this entire “For you” section completely.
A search of Microsoft Feedback and Community Forums also reveals that many others would like this section to be disabled, turned off, removed or collapsible but (as of this writing) no notice of such a feature has been provided by Microsoft.
Luckily we have a solution which requires the implementation of an Advertisement Blocker within your browser, which you may already have and be using.
When a file appears to have been updated on more than one PC, OneDrive may be unable to merge both versions. To help prevent the loss of data, OneDrive simply creates a new file with the computer name appended to the end of the file to distinguish which files have been changed and from which computer.
For example, if you have a laptop that isn’t connected to the internet and update the “OneDrive/MyFile.docx” file. Because the laptop isn’t online it cannot sync. But now you (or someone) also ends up updating the “OneDrive/MyFile.docx” file on an internet connected desktop PC. When your laptop goes back online, OneDrive will have a conflict because the file was updated on two different computers at seeming different times. As a result, OneDrive creates the conflict copy: “OneDrive/MyFile-LaptopName.docx“.
Microsoft OneDrive provides users with 5 gigabytes worth of free cloud storage. An embarrassingly trivial amount considering its intended purpose.
Begin by Uninstalling OneDrive from “Programs and Features“.
You’ll note that even after uninstalling OneDrive, it clings to your interface like hot gum to shoe treads.
These instructions will help completely remove it from the sidebar of your Windows 10 File Explorer Sidebar.
