Can't Rename Or Move Files After Uninstalling Onedrive

Hi. I posted over a week ago about this, but it seems no one saw it.
Awhile back, a random OneDrive file appeared with my music in it (then moved files to new folder). OneDrive was not installed on my PC. Kept deleting it, it kept reappearing. Installed OneDrive to make a proper uninstall, and now I am no longer able to rename or move any files or folders. I can make a folder but when I try to rename it it says it does not exist. I assume this has something to do with OneDrive, it even reinstalled OD last week on it's own. I uninstalled it, but I still see it in my registry.
The only files I can rename are those in the folders made by my scanner, even though those cannot be renamed either, but I can work within them.
Can you help me get rid of it once and for all and regain control of my Win 10 PC files, please?

 

Install OneDrive, make sure it is running, (it is like a virus, it kinda is running but also isn't, very stealthy) then move the files - I'd even move them off the computer to a USB, then see if you have control of them and then remove One Drive.
We have been forced to use OneDrive and I found even though there is a OD icon, which makes you think it is running - it is not and will not function until you actually run OD and log in to the account, then it stealthily changes the paths to your files to the OD cloud. It's not so much a backup but more like a roaming profile. Not a fan.

 

When this first started I had never had OneDrive installed, nor had ever been logged in to a Microsoft account. I did install it, create an account and log in to see if it would fix the problem, but it did not. I refuse to use the OD cloud, and none of my files are on the cloud. I would just like to get rid of the residual OneDrive files and be able to move and rename my files. I also have the same problem on my external hard drive.

 

I have found a OneDrive file in HKEY Local Machine. Would deleting it help or would it mess something else up?

 

Reinstalled OneDrive, logged in, still can't rename files or folders. Maybe it's not a OneDrive issue

 

HELP!

 

Did you check the permissions on the files / folders? Are they marked "Read Only"? According to the path are they on the local drive?
Change permissions - Right-click > Properties > Security > Advanced > Change owner to your account. Check “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.”

************************************************Below here you are on your own********************************************************************************
As far as removing One Drive there are a few tools for that - I can't stamp any of them, never tried them, but here is one - https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil

Prior to nuking it from orbit- I'd use Linux to copy the files off the system and wipe the NTFS permissions with NTFS-3g.

 

Hi. Thanks for the reply.
Don't really care about the OneDrive at this point, not even sure it has anything to do with the problem.

My name is the owner of the account.

They are on the local drive ie,
C:\Users\MyName\Desktop\New folder
C:\Users\MyName\ThisPc\Pictures\My Pictures\My Pictures/New folder

They ARE marked read only, but when I uncheck it and apply, it just comes back to read only again. I do notice that the items I can rename are not read only so maybe that is the problem. How do I make new folders, etc. NOT read only by default ? or change the attributes of those that already exist?

 

Update, the folders are not checked read only, they have the black square in the read only box

 

Whenever I create a new folder (on desktop, photos or documents) and try to rename it, it says "can't find the specified file", "the folder does not exist". This is also happening with some of my older folders, however some files can be renamed within the folders.

 

Ensure OneDrive hasn’t set the files to be online only. Check that files on demand isn’t enabled as well as the Windows backup which saves the important folders to OneDrive.There used to be the option to choose to keep files on the PC or both PC & OD but this might now be under files on demand.

 

There are no files in the cloud, backup/syncing is toggled off for all. I have also set regular file extensions I use as Excluded from Backup as a failsafe in case it does try to back up files. When not checking settings, I unlink the PC. No change.

Apparently, there is no longer an option to turn off Files on Demand, it does not show anywhere under Advanced Settings, nor does it show a "Save space and download files as you use them" option or a Files Collaboration button.

I have no files in OneDrive. It says "0 KB used on this PC", Storage 0.1 gb used of 5 gb.

Windows backup is off

I am not sure this is a OneDrive issue, seems more like Registry or something.
I am able to delete the folders I can't rename.

 

LMGTFY... To fix file permissions in Windows, you can reset them using the icacls command in an elevated command prompt or adjust them manually through the file's properties. To reset, use icacls "full path to the file" /reset for a single file or folder, or icacls "full path to the folder" /reset /t /c /l to reset permissions for a folder and its contents. Alternatively, right-click the file or folder, go to Properties > Security, and edit permissions for specific users or groups.
Using the icacls command (Resetting Permissions):

1. Open an elevated command prompt (search for "cmd", right-click, and select "Run as administrator").
2. For a single file or folder, use the command: icacls "full path to your file" /reset or icacls "full path to the folder" /reset.
3. For a folder and its contents (including subfolders and files), use: icacls "full path to the folder" /reset /t /c /l.
4. Replace "full path to your file" or "full path to the folder" with the actual path to the item.
5. Restart your computer after applying changes.

Manually Adjusting Permissions (File Properties):

1. Right-click the file or folder and select Properties.
2. Go to the Security tab.
3. Click Edit to modify permissions.
4. Select the user or group you want to adjust permissions for.
5. Check the desired permissions (e.g., Read, Write, Modify, Full control).
6. Click Apply and then OK to save changes.
   

 

Thanks, but it already says I have full permissions for the files.
I have been googling this issue for weeks, and tried a ton of "fixes", nothing has worked yet

 

I tried icacls for the new folder on desktop, but it says: The system cannot find the path specified. Successfully processed 0 files, Failed processing 1 file. Although, again, the folders do already say I have full permissions.
Tried the MSDT tool, but it couldn't identify the problem

 

I don't know if this is relevant, but I notice that my default apps for opening photos, pdfs, etc. have been reset too, but that could be because we tried resetting the system

 

Open OneDrive settings (select the OneDrive cloud icon in your notification area, and then select the OneDrive Help and Settings icon then Settings.) From MS website.

 

I did all that, thanks

 

I have noticed that there was an Adobe Update around the time this problem started. Any chance that could be the culprit?

 

It’s possible but I can’t see any connection unless it updated files stored on OneDrive or added features which affected OD.

 

I have no files stored on OneDrive.

 

Then it may be that a new feature or software changed OneDrive.

 

Thanks for the input.

I have NEVER in my life used OneDrive. One day I noticed that only my music was in a OneDrive folder on my PC. No idea where it came from. At that time OneDrive was not and had never been installed on my PC. It was not in my programs or anywhere. I had never had an OD account or downloaded OD, and was not logged in to MS on my PC (and still not). I ended up installing OD just to be able to uninstall it correctly. Everything was working fine at that time. Wasn't until much later this problem arose. I have since reinstalled OD (it's not backing anything up, just exists) hoping that would help but no difference if it is installed, uninstalled, logged in, disconnected. OD doesn't seem to affect this problem at all.

I am not sure if this problem has anything to do with OD. If it does, I don't know what else to do. There were some updates of programs like Avast and Adobe that happened around that time. I tried uninstalling the programs, but that did not help, maybe it was some sort of scheduled update or something? or maybe something that was deleted during removal of OD remnants.

I have run virus scans, troubleshooters, sfc scannow, chkdsk f/r, a bunch of the Tweaking repairs, followed various online solutions tweaking settings, tried safe mode, even reset the PC, nothing has changed. I don't really want to wipe the whole PC and start from scratch. Now that system was reset, I can't even revert back to an earlier time.

Everything else works, except I cannot rename or move folders (says they don't exist). I can create and delete the folders, I can rename and move individual files from folder to folder. The same thing happens when using EHD.

 

I haven't seen it happen for a while, but OneDrive was reinstalling itself with Windows updates after I had uninstalled it. Just for giggles, have you tried asking Microsoft for assistance?

I know, I know: it can be very frustrating dealing with their help site but, just on the off chance that they may actually have something useful to offer... And, if this has happened to you, the chances are that it's happened to others as well.

Also, at no point in any of the above have I seen if you can copy the affected files to an external drive. Can you do so, or do you already have backups?

 

I have considered talking to MS, but haven't done it yet. Have also seen others with similar problems online, but their fixes didn't work and some of them never found a solution.

I can and have backed up to my files to an external hard drive, but am unable to rename or move folders once on there either, which suggests it's the system somehow.

 

If you were to connect your external drive to another machine, perhaps...? A rental, local library, a friend?

If the files can be manipulated there, then I would consider doing a complete wipe and reinstall of Windows. Drastic, yes, but it might be what is called for here.

 

I don't know where, but I can look into it. A complete wipe has been suggested, but I am trying to avoid it.
I should connect one of my older EHDs and see if they are different, as the files were put on before this issue.

 

If you choose to go with the reinstall, I would certainly do so before Microsft's EOL date of 10/14/25 for Windows 10...unless, of course, your machine can handle an upgrade to Windows 11.

 

It can't

 

Then you've definitely got to consider the EOL date, as I don't think Microsoft will keep 10 available for downloading.

Sometimes the best, and only, fix is the most disruptive.

 

Windows 10 has been extended for 1 year.
https://www.askwoody.com/2025/a-one-year-extension-to-windows-10-almost-free/

I got an email today in which Susan Bradley explains the free option.
https://www.askwoody.com/newsletter/ms-defcon-2-get-ready-to-extend-windows-10/