Hi

I would initially make a backup copy onto 1 or more USB sticks.  Then a re-install will be inconvenient, not catastrophic. 

Perhaps this....

Make Sure All Files Are Downloaded Locally

• Open your OneDrive folder in File Explorer.

• Right-click any files with a cloud icon (“online only”) and select “Always keep on this device.” Wait for the green checkmark to appear; this means the file is stored locally.

• Double-check that all critical files in your OneDrive folder have the green checkmark before proceeding.  

  Unlink OneDrive

  • Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.

  • Go to “Help & Settings” > “Settings.”

  • In the “Account” tab, click “Unlink this PC” and confirm.Your local OneDrive folder will remain, but will no longer sync with the cloud.

• • • After unlinking, files which were “online-only” before action will be removed, so be sure all needed files are downloaded first.

• You can verify your files by browsing the OneDrive folder in File Explorer—files with green check marks are safe locally.

• ​

• Back up your files to another local folder or drive if you want an extra layer of protection.

By following these steps, you will safely keep all local files on your PC after unlinking from OneDrive.

@anne_droid​ Thank you for your sound advice.  Right now, I cannot do anything.  OneDrive keeps crashing my computer as it is dealing with "syncing errors."  This is what it is calling its ransomware-esque behavior.

I do not have the ability to backup anything because OneDrive has conveniently deleted not only my online backup stuff but also my files on my computer, all the while holding them in the Users/name/OneDrive folder that is eating up all my hard drive space.  I now have only 136 MB left of a massive hard drive.  I can no longer access any of my documents except online on the OneDrive website.  I do not have the space to download anything.  OneDrive will not allow me to download any of my files to a place other than the hard drive it has taken over.  And every time I try to restore my "deleted" files from OneDrive's recycle bin, the website keeps crashing on me.

How is this not the very example of legalized ransomware?  If I don't pay my monthly fee to Microsoft to keep my 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage, I lose all my digital property.  If I get rid of it, I lose all my digital property, and my hard drive is crashed, still not being allowed to access any of my digital property (even though it is still, somehow, saved to my laptop's hard drive taking up all my storage space).

Is there anything else that I can do?  It has stolen all of my doctorate work.  I cannot access any of it.

@anne_droid​ I have somewhat figured out what OneDrive is doing to crash my hard drive.  It keeps making me restart the process and create a new OneDrive folder.  Then, as OneDrive keeps trying to download my files onto my computer.  Any file that is already there, OneDrive is making a duplicate copy of it and adding .copy to the end.  

Right now, my laptop is deleting non-essential apps as OneDrive is processing over 25k changes.  I have a black screen on my laptop.  When I click on the Users/name/OneDrive folder, there are a lot of red x's on all of my documents.

it really makes no sense what is happening.  OneDrive is really out of control.

So, OneDrive is trying to redownload all of my files, which are already on my computer.  Then, when there is no space left, my computer deletes nonessential files and apps.  OneDrive takes up the unused space, thereby making my computer delete more files and apps.  Then, my computer crashes as OneDrive also takes up all my laptop's processing power.

What a wonderful ransomware Microsoft has created.

Oh, and there seems to be nothing I can do about any of this.  There was no option to stop the duplication of files or the deletion of them.

Hi

I use a LIVE LINUX to access/overcome such things.  Linux Mint or Debian 13.

Because you are posting I am going to assume you have some capabilities to create a USB.

This is slightly historical..

HOW2 Retrieve Windows Files Using a Linux Live CD/DVD or USB.

You can create your own CD/DVD or USB using AnyBurn software, with a downloaded iso file, even use family/friends PC if needed. Sometimes a local store has a Magazine with a Linux Cover Disk attached, or you can buy, from the internet, a pre-made media for a few quid.

A Live (nothing installed to overwrite anything on the Hard Disk Drive, or to stress the unit unnecessarily) USB provides a way to use readily available Linux Mint on a PC, desktop or laptop, without installing it to the Hard Disk Drive, but allowing it to run in Memory (RAM).

I will stick to the USB stick type, since many PC’s don’t have CD/DVD drives any-more (although the principle still applies).

The hardware is 2 USB sticks, one an 8 GB for the OS (some OS’s will fit onto a 650Mb CD and others a 4.2 Gb DVD), and the other, bigger than the amount of data to recover, EG:-256 Gb USB, or an actual disk drive in a caddy should that be preferred.

Getting a suitable Linux Operating System (Distribution/Distro) is easy, from https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=knoppix, or an actual OS site like https://linuxmint.com/download.php, this creation DESTROYS ALL DATA absolutely and finally on the OS target Stick.

Just format the larger capacity USB normally and name it something sensible (FAT32_VFONE).

Once created you boot from the stick, ESC and F9 is quite usual, but not all PC’s are created equal. It takes a few minutes and is not very responsive compared to an installed version of the OS (it does not install on your PC and therefore running in RAM can be a little laggy/lumpy).

But using the RAM and CPU it will present a Desktop with C:\Windows visible if at all possible.

Then you get a desktop that’s not completely alien I hope. Bottom Left use the MENU just as you would the MS Windows equivalent.

Click on that to open it and the listing to the left of the screen should show the something sensibly named (FAT32_VFONE) USB stick and other Partitions, Folders, Files etc etc. Mine is called Windows and is ‘/dev/sda3’ /media/lbb/…Windows co-incidentally.

Usually the data you want is in C:\Users under the appropriate user name, but not necessarily, so navigate as you would in an MS OS. The drag and drop feature is exactly the same, as will be the “several hours” to write them out to a USB stick, unless there is only a small amount of data that you actually need. NB:- Battery should be fully charged if appropriate. Right-click and Copy the files. Right-click and Paste the files.

Satisfied with the end result, that your irreplaceable DATA/Files are on your USB drive, ready to Re-Install on your computer once it’s fixed. Close down File Manager and look for the SHUTDOWN button menu, bottom left corner and click and select shutdown as is your usual practice.

Another window will open with some choices on how you can log out. Click on Turn Off Computer.

Once the PC has CLOSED/SHUTDOWN, remove your USB drives and put them away for safekeeping, until your PC is up and running again.

IF in doubt please ask, and you will probably gonna need your BitLocker key.

@anne_droid​ Thank you.  I will work on this approach.  I do have one other idea to try.  Thank you for this approach.  If my other idea fails, then I will work this one out.  I have my Bitlocker key memorized, so that shouldn't be an issue.

I’ve seen this happen before when OneDrive sync takes control of your default folders (Documents, Desktop, Pictures, etc.).

You can stop the duplication and recover your files by doing this:

1. Pause OneDrive sync → right-click the OneDrive icon → Pause syncing.

2. Open File Explorer → right-click Documents → Properties → Location tab → click Restore Default. Do the same for Desktop and Pictures if needed.

3. Move your files from Users\Name\OneDrive back into the original Users\Name folders.

4. In OneDrive Settings → Sync and backup → turn off “Backup important PC folders.”

5. Resume sync only after verifying files are safely back in place.

This reverts folder ownership to Windows and stops OneDrive from duplicating or auto-syncing everything again.

Hope that helps you get control back of your local files!