Using OneDrive for Nearly Continuous Backup

⚜️ OneDrive can be used for many things, but one of the most valuable is ongoing online backup.

⚜️ OneDrive as backup
You’ll need a Microsoft account to use OneDrive.
OneDrive is included in Windows 10, and can be downloaded and installed on older versions of Windows.
Setting up OneDrive creates a OneDrive folder on your PC.
OneDrive automatically copies files and folders in that OneDrive folder to the cloud and other PCs.
Setting OneDrive as the default location to save documents makes using it transparent.

Chapters
0:00 OneDrive Continuous Backup
1:20 Configure OneDrive
2:00 OneDrive folder location
2:30 Turn off Backup filters on this PC
3:30 OneDrive online
4:00 Changes sync
5:10 Set OneDrive folder to be default
9:00 OneDrive keeps old versions

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#askleo #oneDrive #backup

[askleonotenboom]

Even if you use it for nothing else, use OneDrive for this.

[karlia_mc]

Great vid Leo, Personally I don't use the OneDrive backup feature, but I have simlinked my documents, Graphics other outside folders to OneDrive. The main reason I did this is OneDrive fails to read a lot of Thumbnail types. Symlinking solves that.

[dansanger]

I think if you just let Windows back up your Documents folder, you wouldn't need to go through the extra steps. Yes, I watched your other video about using the OneDrive backup feature, so it should probably only be done if you know what you're doing.

[reallyisitjustme]

I use Onedrive Backup to save space on my hard drive and use the status icons, cloud or tick, to know if the file is saved on my computer or in the cloud. To choose the status of a file, I right click on it and can then choose "free up space" or "always keep on device".

[RobertMuh-ge]

Thank you again for another great explainer. Time to apply what I've learned on my new laptop.

[DavidM]

Were it not for the versioning, I would call this a sync and not a backup. After 30 days, it's not a backup for older files. I would not rely on Onedrive for my backups. I do think that the Office 365 annual subscription is great value though. I get to share with 5 other people and each of us gets 1 Tb of Onedrive storage.

[jrgomez]

Really like this video. I'll definitely follow this backup strategy. Thanks!

[jcddcjjcdnz]

This is an excellent chanel because it can upskill new or inexperienced windows users. Many sites aim to high for those wanting to learn windows.

[qoldies]

I use idrive, p cloud and Dropbox plus several local external drives.

[kirksteinklauber]

Interesting video!! Quick one: After i define a new default folder in Word (as an example), any other file or sub-folder created within that Word Saved Document will also replicate automatically? or only when I use word and save only word documents?

[NoEggu]

Instead of creating a sub-directory (for example, for Word documents) within your OneDrive directory, can you instead configure OneDrive to sync other directories -- perhaps your documents directory?

[peterjackson]

Google has continuous backup for its apps like Google Docs. The user doesn't have to install anything and you don't have to deliberately do anything. It just happens automatically And it's FREE.

[jonr]

Not sure if I said this before but really got Excel files corrupted by the long paths in the OneDrive server... Made me lose my mind.

The formulae got corrupted and then as the files are constantly uploaded/downloaded, the original local file is mirrored on OneDrive, both were the same i.e. trashed.

(Excel replaced the formula with the value. No error message at all.)

So you need to make your OWN backup manually away from OneDrive. And you need a manual version control system. Microsoft has versioning as the video says but not sure I'd trust it! They call it History, bit like Apple. But it's not Apple!!

If you make a change or error you don't notice, all those automatic versions just get overwritten with the error eventually.

So I would not rely on OneDrive as a backup UNLESS you COPY local files from another folder to the OneDrive syncing folder.

And not reliable version control either, unless you append numbering indexing like (1) (2) etc for INTENTIONAL versioning. Or describe the status in the filename like 'revision C before change xyz'.

OneDrive is pretty pointless unless you need to access your files from different devices or locations, or share them with other users. THEN it is great especially with office docs etc.

Sorry Leo, on a real downer for MS these days. And trust for any tech or media pretty much zero. Lost too many USB sticks, cards, etc to corruption. One is none!

[richardmaynard]

Leo, on a back up question. I have a full image just made and I have a new drive that I want to replace it ane then add the image one the new drive. I use Acronis home pro. I am not sure the steps to do this. Could you give step by step on how to do this. Or should I make a clone drive and replace the old drive with the clone? I realy enjoy your daily you tube postings, and have learned a lot from them.

[whiz]

Microsoft commandeering out data under the pretense of file space.

[johntrim]

I was scrolling through YouTube, saw your face, thought you were Bernard Sumner and clicked on the link hoping for another album with Hooky. I can't stop laughing at myself.

[colt]

Are these files encrypted before being uploaded to Onedrive?

[andrewkeir]

I've just had am email from OneDrive saying they think I have ransomware and they're going to delete files they think are involved from my OneDrive. It's not much use having a backup if someone can randomly decide to delete it; I don't feel I can rely on OneDrive so, reluctantly, I'm going to have to find something else - unless you can advise me how to prevent MS from randomly deleting my OneDrive files? Not your fault I know, but I'm stuck - I hadn't realised MS could just do this whenever they choose. A backup someone else can wipe isn't really a backup.

[franciscohorna]

1 question can you uninstall onedrive from yer system or is it tied to windows not going to do that just wanted to know i dont use it have it turned off in startup

[maagu]

I agree. A court order to reveal your otherwise personal information is now locked away in some warehouse with the warehouse owners obliged to open it upon a "judges" request, and they can keep you out as well.

I will say that if asked by law enforcement to do so, they may back up your files from your computer, even without your knowledge! (via a back door).

All this means is that they won't have to raid your home or business or even need take your computer. I think the FBI would really like that feature!