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I am sticking with 1803.   1809 had a lot of issues when it came out.   Microsoft seems to be trying to get 1903 right because they really messed it up initially.   I have feature updates set to delay 365 days.   I am expecting that 1903 will be stable before then.  I do have an ISO of 1809 if I need to make that interim step.

The TenForums tutorial on how to sync any folder in OneDrive actually recommends creating a junction.  As I understand it, when something accesses the linked folder through a junction, this is processed by the host file system, which would be the original folder.   This would actually do everything I want because it can link to any folder on any device on the same computer.   It is more limited, but likely safer.   Since it is processed by the host file system, I assume that OneDrive would work OK using a junction type of link.

It is also suggested that one could create a full symbolic link instead.   This could point to an external device.   As I understand, when something accesses a folder linked with a full symbolic link, the action is processed by the requesting software, which would be OneDrive in this case.   Presumably, since OneDrive is using the same file system utilities within Windows, it would work.   However, OneDrive does so much regarding syncing and sharing that I would hesitate to try this.

As I noted, I decided to just assign my OneDrive folder as the top level folder on my data drive for my Documents and Pictures folders, e.g. D:/OneDrive/Documents.  They were already on the data drive under a top level folder [username], so I just unlinked OneDrive, renamed the top level folder to OneDrive, and then reconnected OneDrive pointing to that folder.   I just did that.  It was confusing at first as it gave me a message that the folder already contained files and would not set that location.  I found that I could just say accept this location, and it worked.   I now have both my Documents and Pictures folders showing under OneDrive, and everything in the folders is showing the indication that they are now syncing.   This will take a while as I have a lot of files.   Interestingly, Windows redirected the locations of my Documents and Pictures folders to the new location automatically, without any action on my part.

How I have to set up a new Backup Set and macros for my incremental folder backups with Retrospect.

I have been doing more research.   Apparently, the symbolic link is a feature of the more recent NTFS file systems.  Essentially, it can create a subfolder (really a special link) in the OneDrive folder that refers all access requests to the original folder.   That way, I can have my Documents folder, for example, where it is located now.   A new folder with the same name (if I make it that way) would appear under the OneDrive folder.   I can access, save to, delete, or any other file action to either of those folders, and the results would physically take place in the original folder but also appear exactly the same in the new linked folder.  (There is only one real set of data in the original folder.)  This would allow me to backup any folders on my machine (some links can even be to external devices) through OneDrive because OneDrive would “see” any of those folders linked to it as if the original folder were within OneDrive.   This clearly is more complicated than having an actual folder.   It could be confusing if you forget what you did because there would be two apparently identical folders on the same computer file system.

Having discovered that, I think I will just do things the more straightforward way by putting my real Documents and Pictures folders (and any others I want) under the OneDrive folder assigned to my data drive D:.   I can do this easily by renaming the top folder on D:, now [username], to OneDrive, and making that the OneDrive folder.  As you suggested, this would reflect the status of the computer after I started using OneDrive, with no confusion.   Retrospect has pretty powerful features for file backup (including deduplication), so it could probably continue the past incremental backups in the same way as before if I edit the hard locations of the folders it is backing up in the backup macros.   However, I think I will just use this as an opportunity to start a new Backup Set, again reflecting the computer after I started using OneDrive.   Microsoft is clearly wanting people to move in this direction, so I should have no worries about any problems or confusion in the future.   I was reluctant to make the change, but I see no strong reason to resist.  It will take me a while to make all those changes, but that is a one-time thing.

Thanks for the discussion.   This has been interesting and enlightening.

 

I marked resolved because my question about moving the library folders was answered.  It still does not provide the functionality I really want.   The reference to symbolic links suggests that it would work, but I am not sure I understand that and whether it might cause any issues later.   As I have been thinking about it, I will probably just give in and move the folders under OneDrive.   At present, my Documents and Pictures are located on my data drive at D:/[username]/documents and D:/[username]/pictures.   I will likely just unlink OneDrive, rename the [username] top level folder on D: to OneDrive, and assign that folder to OneDrive.  I will need to deal with Retrospect.   I do regular incremental file backups with Retrospect.   I may just start a new Backup Set.   It is useful to do that from time to time with Retrospect so it is not keeping up with so many prior changes.

Thanks again.  The references you provided, which I had not found, are pretty clear that it is simply a way to move those folders under OneDrive.   The fact that is what happened to you makes it very clear.   That is very disappointing.   This is a real limitation in my mind.    I suppose they have to be on the same drive as OneDrive because the software may effect the move by changing the directory links rather physically copying files.

I appreciate knowing before having to try to see what will happen.

Thanks for the input.   Are you sure the files get moved?   Everything I can find from Microsoft implies that the three library folders are backed up directly if selected.   I set up my OneDrive to my data disk D: based on the information supplied that the library files have to be on the same drive.  I already have my standard Documents and Pictures folders stored there.

I have approx 35,000 files in my documents folder right now.   I really don’t want them to move as I back them up with Retrospect every day.   If they move, I will have to reconfigure Retrospect, and it will start over again backing them all up the first time.  I also want to keep the local location for ease of use (not in the OneDrive folder).

I am on version 1803, but I set the delays in the Group Policy Editor because I thought it might be more reliable.   I still have the delay options showing in the Windows Update page under advanced settings, but they kare grayed out and cannot be changed there.   If Microsoft removes them entirely, including group policy, that is a serious problem.

This is great news.   I became a lifetime subscriber to Windows Secrets many years ago, and it was invaluable until recently.   The AskWoody site with Susan has been a stopgap.  I did contribute because it is so needed with the disaster Windows has been in the last few years.   It is great to have the whole team back and get back to a new and improved combined product.  I look forward to even better things coming.

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Great Lake Bunyip, woody

Based on earlier posts here, and Susan’s comments, I ran the upgrade from 1703 to 1803 today.   I had a saved version of 1709, but I just decided I did not want to have to upgrade again in 6 months.  The process went smoothly for me.   So far, I have not seen any issues.  One strange thing happened.   I have Macrium Reflect set to backup my computer every evening at 7 pm.   For some reason, Macrium was triggered to run a full backup right after the upgrade completed.   Perhaps the upgrade erased the memory of last night’s backup, so it thought it needed to run the missed backup ASAP.   I also got a message during the upgrade that Roboform had been updated and stopped, and it gave me an option to restart Roboform — which I did.   Roboform is working, and the version is the same one I had before the upgrade.  I may discover some other issues at some point, but this seems to have been a reasonable move.

I saw Woody’s post today about whether to upgrade and which version.   Based on the comments I have seen, I guess I will try upgrading to 1803.   Perhaps it is finally stable enough.  I hate to have to deal with another upgrade in less than a year.   It is probably better to get the latest version of 1803 right away before Microsoft replaces it with 1809.  Thanks.

Thanks for the input.   I am following Woody’s advice to stay on 1703.   It seems like 1803 still has many problems so is not a good choice right now.   I would be interested in your perspective.   These continuing problems with Windows new feature releases is very frustrating.

I don’t understand this comment.   Certainly, the Windows 1809 is to be avoided.   However, previous messages, and the current master patch chart for September, say the regular cumulative updates for Windows 10 in September are safe to install.

I am not sure. I thought it would hold off forever. However, I did hide KB3150513 last month, and I noticed it came up again with September’s updates this week. I had to hide it again. I don’t know if this was because Microsoft reissued it. What I have been doing is checking all updates when some are available, hiding those I don’t want to install now, and then waiting a day or so until those I hid no longer show in the list under Settings>Windows Update. I then install those updates from Settings. For September’s updates, on Saturday I hid three non-security updates Susan Bradley suggested not be installed at this time. I looked again today, and they were gone from the list. I selected to download and install updates, and only the ones I did not hide were installed. This is a bit of a pain, but it seems to give the most control available with Windows 10. I am still running 1511, so I don’t know if the Anniversary Edition changes any of this.

Yes, I did try the powercfg -lastwake command, and it came back never. I searched the Event viewer logs for events 1 and 42. I do see event 1 information messages right near when the computer starts up, some about starting Windows Security Service. I also found event 42 which relates to Windows Updates. However, these were an hour or two after the computer started. In both cases, they are just information messages, and I don’t see them telling me anything. I can find event messages that Windows was started right when the computer started, but again there is nothing that would tell me what caused the startup.

The only other things I tried were resetting the BIOS defaults at Dell’s suggestion. That did not correct the problem. I also ran all of Dell’s built-in hardware diagnostics, but the tests all passed. Dell said the only other suggestion they have is a complete reinstall of the operating system. I don’t want to do that at this point because it is just too much work when I can leave the computer unplugged as a workaround. I have not tried completely uninstalling Reflect at this point, but when I have some time I might try that just to see.

It does not seem to be caused by Windows wake functions since the powercfg says it has never been waken this way and there are no wake settings in place. It seems like it has to be something in the BIOS if it is truly waking from full shutdown, but all the “wake on” settings in the BIOS are disabled. Still a mystery.

My computer is set to require a password. When it starts by itself, it stays at the login screen. Of course, it will run tasks that were scheduled in Windows like virus updates and various maintenance tasks without anyone logging on.