When Windows users suddenly discover that their files have vanished from their desktops after interacting with OneDrive, the issue often stems from how Microsoft’s cloud service integrates with the operating system. The automatic, near-invisible shift to cloud-based storage has triggered strong reactions from users who find the feature unintuitive and, in some cases, destructive to their local files.

  • yeehaw@lemmy.ca
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    12 hours ago

    OneDrive is for syncing files across devices. It’s not a backup.

    Edit:

    Since there seems to be a lot of hate on my comment, allow me to explain.

    Backup software has a schedule, it has monitoring, it has alerting (email, SMS, ticket submission, etc), and checksumming. OneDrive frequently just shits the bed for whatever reason, often goes unnoticed in the corner, and users frequently miss it and nobody, not even IT, know. Not to mention it’s riddled with bugs.

    Yes, you are copying files from point A to point B but it is not the same. If you rely on onedrive as a “backup” you’re going to be disappointed at some point when you lose your files :)

    If you delete a file over here, then it disappears from over there. That’s not a backup. On a real backup, if you delete files or lose them or whatever, you have days/weeks/months to go back on versions to restore.

    • 87Six@lemmy.zip
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      1 day ago

      The problem isn’t one drive’s purpose, it’s that it’s so shoveled into windows that people that have no idea what it is use it accidentally then see files disappearing. It’s unintuitive shovelware with terrible UX, a dreadful combination.

    • Meursault@lemmy.world
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      22 hours ago

      Then it shouldn’t bitch at me about storage limits. Does it expect me to delete my shit again? All I’m hearing is OneDrive is better off being ignored entirely.

    • Threeme2189@sh.itjust.works
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      1 day ago

      I disagree, it can easily be both. I pay for Google drive and don’t have the client on any of my devices except for my phone, and it’s replicated to my NAS. I use as a form of remote backup and not to sync files.

    • cmhe@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      So like syncthing but you have to pay for it and requires a server. Seems useless…

      If you want to sync while not all devices are online, just spend 50$ or something and get a RPI and put syncthing on it.

    • qevlarr@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Right, so how many files you have on your laptop do you also need on your phone? How many desktop does Microslop think the average person has? If cloud storage is actually only cloud syncing, is there a market?

      • macaw_dean_settle@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Most of them. I use my files across my Windows laptop, desktop, tablet, and Windows 10 Mobile. The syncing allows me to have access no mater what device I am on. Just because you don’t use this feature, does not mean it isn’t useful.

        • qevlarr@lemmy.world
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          20 hours ago

          That’s why I asked about the actual files. I know it’s cool to have the ability but really it’s typically only specific files, not every fucking thing you ever opened or saved. And please keep in mind people on Lemmy are not your average user. Most people have a phone and one other device at most