One Drive…not all it’s cracked up to be? (i.e., how do I automatically save)

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So what’s the deal w/ One Drive…payin like $6 a month for all this secure cloud storage, but what good is if it doesn’t automatically sync/save files I’m working on to their respective folders?  (like the old MS back-up did).  Is there a way to do this…easily? (’cause…it’s a p-i-t-a to individually upload files after they’ve been edited…to go thru that whole routine).

I guess what I’m looking for is automatic back-up…i.e., if I make any changes whatsoever to a file that’s stored off-site…I want that edited file to be updated to the appropriate folder where it resides in said cloud.  Can this be done w/ One Drive?  Am I missing something simple?

thanx,

MWF

 

 

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There’s two ways to do this. First you can set up syncing on the folders you save to your local drive.  Alternatively you can safe directly to the one drive in the cloud and it auto saves.

Choose which OneDrive folders to sync to your computer (microsoft.com)

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Susan…

thanx.  I clicked on that link…chose my white icon (the only one I have)…hit Help & Settings…& there is no ‘Account Tab’…

this is what I get:
http://www.mw4man.net/fukedup1drive.jpg

what now?

thanx,

MEF

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mw4man wrote:

hit Help & Settings…& there is no ‘Account Tab’…

Step 2 of the instructions does say to click on Settings after Help & settings.

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Susan…

OK…I see…ALL the Folders were selected.

I don’t believe you’re understanding me.  When I opened one of the selected folders …where I had made recent changes to a document in that folder (made those changes ON MY PC)…the updated files were not there

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Could you be more specific about where you’re saving files and exactly where you’re not seeing them replicated?

Are Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders set to get backed up at OneDrive, Help & settings, Settings, Backup tab, Manage backup?

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Mr. Manager…

1) The files/folders originate in various locations on my PC’s file hierarchy…primarily in ‘My Documents’, but other locations as well (tons of docs in 18 different folders).  When I open/edit/save them, I had always hoped the updated file versions would automatically go the their respective folders on OneDrive (no one thus far has answered if that is a fact, or if I have to manually choose to back up post file changes).
2) Just checked today; & I do have OneDrive (app) installed on my PC (but the white icon doesn’t display in the task bar unless I’ve opened the app).
3) When I followed Susan’s directions…all the folders are check-marked (as being available on my PC).
4) I just followed your directions, but only 3 of my 18 total folders were showing (backing up those now), but I’m certain I have worked in other folders recently.

thanx for your help,

mw4man

 

 

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I use OneDrive and all my folders update as necessary. I’m not sure what you’re doing from your description, so I’ll describe what I do and maybe this will help.

All my files and folders are in the OneDrive folder, so as an example

C:\Users\name\OneDrive. So if I change a file in say C:\Users\name\OneDrive\documents then it’s updated in the cloud. It’s also updated on my other PCs which have OneDrive installed, even though the folder name is different e.g. E:\Users\name2\OneDrive

What doesn’t happen is if I edit a file in C:\Users\name\documents then that doesn’t go into the OneDrive folder. I’m not aware that there’s any facility to do this (though I’m happy to be proved wrong on this).

@b mentioned backup. This isn’t exactly the same as the main OneDrive app. When you click on any or all of Desktop, Documents and Pictures, they are backed up to the cloud and should be seen in the OneDrive folder. However, these don’t sync to other PCs. It’s possible they would if the folder name’s are the same, but they are not on my PCs.

So it seems you’re expecting files in non OneDrive locations are automatically sent to OneDrive. That isn’t the case and I’ve not seen anything to suggest it does, again I’m happy to be proved wrong.

There’s a newsletter article which implies you can use symbolic links to fool the system into thinking some OneDrive files are in OneDrive, but I’ve never managed to get that to work

Eliminate spare time: start programming PowerShell

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Let me ask y’all this…

So far, I’ve been able to sync the 3 main folders (as determined by OneDrive), but none of my others.  At the same time…I have a gazillion little green check marks on all my documents; & it’s almost as much work to sync as it is to do a basic upload.

So…If I uninstall OneDrive from my computer…& simply back up the way I always have (which is to go to my OneDrive folders online; & upload)…if I choose ALL the files from any of my various folders & hit upload…will OneDrive upload the ones that aren’t there & ignore all the rest?

thanx (& thanx for all the help thus far),

mw4man

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