It would be good if Microsoft had some real people on the end of a phone. They used to.
all my photos and files have been moved off my computers hard drive to one drive. AL
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David Wolsey
5
Reputation points
ALL MY PHOTOS THAT WERE ON MY HARD DRIVE HAVE BEEN MOVED TO "ONE DRIVE" AND COMPETELY RE-ORDERED. I WANT TO GET THEM BACK IN ORDER. THE SAME WITH MY FILES
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers
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Linux is coming 0 Reputation points2026-11-11T19:13:23.8866667+00:00 What the hell. I just signed up to backup my pc on onedrive and now MY FILES HAVE FUCKING BEEN MOVED!
Why would microsoft be so fucking stupid to choose to do that?
How do I get my file structure back and still have a backup. or do i need to just backup the old fashioned way?
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David Wolsey 5 Reputation points
2026-11-12T10:08:27.6666667+00:00 Microsoft did this to me after a routine update. I got varying pieces of advice from Microsoft advisers - not employees - I had no read idea who they were. I was given some instructions to put everything back - I think you can see it on the thread here, but it was only partially successful. I put everything on a portable hard drive and now keep all my photos on it. I was advised by the computer shop I visited not to use the cloud and now do not sync to the cloud. I now don't get constant messages that my cloud storage is full and to buy more space!
I was annoyed that Microsoft had the audacity to get my files and move them all, there was a message that I could press one button to make them all public. Why would I want to make photos of my family public?
Microsoft have zero customer service. The phone help just cuts you off.
I would go to a computer shop or get help from knowledgeable friends, them move to Apple.
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Chen1018 13,875 Reputation points Independent Advisor2025-07-07T13:52:07.8566667+00:00 Hi David,
I'm Cherrelyn, I'm here to help and I understand how upsetting it is when your files are suddenly moved and reorganized without your intention. To get your files back in order on your hard drive have you tried to open OneDrive and go to the folder (like Pictures or Documents) where your files now live. Then select and copy the files or folders you want to move back. Paste them into the corresponding location on your local drive ex. his PC > Pictures. Once confirmed, you can turn off folder backup by right-clicking the OneDrive icon in the taskbar > Settings > Sync and Backup > Manage Backup, then disable the folders.
Let me how it goes' I'm here to help you further.
Warm regards,
Cherrelyn
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David Wolsey 5 Reputation points
2025-07-07T14:51:43.2166667+00:00 My photos are mine they were on my hard drive on my computer. You had no right to move them all. They were organised by topic in a folder. You now suggest that I take each one of the 486 pictures and paste it back into the file I put it in. It took me a great deal of time to organise in the first place. I am very annoyed about this. I am going to use a portable harf drive so you can’t get your hands on them again.
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EmilyS_726 34,285 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2025-07-07T19:49:43.5766667+00:00 David, I hope you haven't started moving (copying them) anywhere yet. That's a unnecessary step and you were given wrong information.
If your OneDrive app is still running at the moment, this is all you need to do:
- Right click on the OneDrive cloud icon on the lower right on your taskbar to go to Settings.
- On the "Sync and Backup" tab, click on "Advanced Settings" to expand that section. Then under File On-Demand, click on "Download all files".
- Give it plenty of time to allow the files to be downloaded from the online cloud. On your computer's file explorer, you can observe the OneDrive folder and its folders/files inside. You want all of the green checkmark icon to turn solid green with a white checkmark. Depends on how many files you have, this process can take a while, so please be patient.
- Once all of the folders and files turn into the solid green icon with white checkmark, you can go back to OneDrive Settings. Very important - click on "Manage Backup" button, then turn off all folders listed there.
Restart the computer. All of your files are now back to its local path.
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David Wolsey 5 Reputation points
2025-07-08T07:06:08.1833333+00:00 I really don’t know what to do. I am getting different advice. I turned on the computer this morning and there are 900 photos I need to put back. I called Microsoft this morning but the AI just kept going on about product activation and I couldn’t follow their instructions.
You are very kind to offer to help but I am retired and not tach savvy. All I want is to write save and save some photos. I don’t want or need anything else. I need someone to guide me slowly through the steps to get my pictures back. I don’t know if you would have the patience.
there is a local computer shop,will go in there today.
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David Wolsey 5 Reputation points
2025-07-08T07:12:19.2033333+00:00 Sorry, I pressed accepted answer, I thought this was about accepting it, but it said the problem must be solved, far from it. I told the other kind woman that I will take the computer in to the computer shop and ask them to help. They said I didn’t have to put each file back. I did try to move each photo but it won’t let me move them.
i am dreading windows 11 it will be more intrusive and do more of this. I feel so powerless. I can’t follow their instructions complicated instructions, they might as well be in Ancient Greek.
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