OneDrive - what is this program? How to disable how to delete the cloud OneDrive?

Probably, it is not necessary to say thatdeveloper of Windows operating systems - Microsoft Corporation - is trying to constantly improve its software products. So many users, since versions of OS 8 and 8.1, have encountered the OneDrive service. What is it is now and will be considered. Moreover, many people know this service under the previous versions of Windows, there it was called a little differently.

OneDrive: what is it?

So, first let's see what is itrepresents this service (or service, if you want). To understand the interpretation of OneDrive (what kind of program is it), one should have at least a superficial idea of ​​the so-called "cloud storage" that is gaining popularity recently. But in fact, in fact, OneDrive is one.

However, unlike other similar services, this service has a number of quite interesting features. But first things first.

History of origin and development

In general, the "cloud" OneDrive as an independent serviceappeared in February 2014 after the renaming of the almost similar service SkyDrive (it was launched back in 2007), which initially belonged to the spectrum of online services provided to users of Windows operating systems by Microsoft, formerly known as Windows Live.

What is most interesting, the renaming of the servicewas just the result of a lawsuit by British company British Sky Broadcasting Group. But he himself remained virtually unchanged in terms of functionality.

Key features of OneDrive

Now, more about OneDrive. What is this program, and what is it for? As mentioned above, this is exactly the "cloud storage", which on a remote server provided previously users with systems, starting with Vista, 7 GB of free storage space for files, then, however, the volume was reduced to 1 GB.

But a little bit later the users became available 15 GBon a remote server, and registered users of the G-8 (those that have a Microsoft account and use the official system update packages) are 25 GB. To date, 50 GB is available to store personal information after registration. And, as claimed, this is not the limit.

The fact is that you can buy the right place,paying for its use a certain amount. In this respect, Microsoft did not change its principles. However, this situation is observed today practically with all the "cloud" services, which first provide users with the minimum amount of space on the remote server, and then, with a lack of space, they offer to pay for its increase. However, here there is a question of expediency of purchase, especially if the user uses service only for work with office documents or pictures. Naturally, if you put a video (and even the highest resolution), there certainly is not enough room. However, this is the problem of each specific user.

Storage of information and work with documents

As for the basic functionality, the OneDrive storage, as well as any other service of this type, allows uploading files of any type to the remote server (this is not surprising to anyone right now).

But here's what really pleases users,using the service on a daily basis, the procedure for uploading files to the server, again, as compared to the rest of the repositories (if the corresponding client is not installed) is simplified as much as possible. The fact is that OneDrive's own client is already integrated into the system, more precisely - into the standard "Windows Explorer". As you can see, you can simply copy or drag the necessary objects to the service area in the "Explorer". Downloading will happen almost instantly (of course, provided the connection to the Internet is uninterrupted).

Moreover, the OneDrive’s “cloud” itself hasa number of interesting features. It turns out that using this service, you can not only exchange office documents between users connected to the service and sharing certain folders. Thanks to the support of Office Web Apps, directly while working with OneDrive, you can view most of the known formats that correspond to office programs (Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.). In addition, there is also support for viewing PDF and ODF documents, although, unfortunately, their search function is completely absent.

No less interesting opportunity can be calledcreating office documents online. At the same time, if the OneDrive folder has a shared attribute for several users, editing of such documents can be done by all users.

Separately, it is worth noting the presence of synchronization by the postal service Hotmail and the search engine Bing. In the second case, you can even save the Bing search history in the vault.

Synchronization with operating systems other than stationary versions of Windows

Now as for the other, no less interesting.side onedrive. What it is in terms of synchronization with other systems is not difficult to understand if you take into account the fact that access to the storage can be obtained even from mobile systems Android, iOS, MeeGo, Symbian and, of course, from Windows Phone, not counting full support access even with Xbox consoles.

The only thing you need is installationa special client, an Internet connection at the time of access and login using your own login and password. It is thanks to this approach, Microsoft has managed to significantly increase the number of users of the "cloud".

However, not all owners of fixed systemsWindows like using this service. First, it constantly hangs in autoload and even when the service is turned off, it synchronizes files and folders with the storage. And secondly, and the disk space from this is clearly reduced. That is why the legitimate question arises: how to disable OneDrive in the system? The removal of the program while we are not talking, although it is possible to do.

How to disable OneDrive in Windows by editing Group Policy

As for disabling this service, you canuse a few basic methods. Each of them acts, in general, in the same way, but first we will focus on using the editing of Group Policy settings. For example, take Windows 8, although in the same “top ten” actions will be absolutely identical.

To do this, in the "Run" menu, use the commandgpedit.msc or call the configuration of the computer from the main menu, where in the root settings we go first to the administrative templates, and then to the components of the system. There simply selects the OneDrive section. When you open the parameters, a window will appear in which you need to select a ban on saving files in the “cloud” and then confirm your choice.

Disable OneDrive through the registry

Now let's see how to disable OneDrive withusing the registry. This is done just as easily. First, we get access to the editor using the regedit command, entered either in the "Run" menu, or by calling it through the Win + R keys.

Next, you will need to go through the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE branch, through the Software section, to the Policies subfolder, where you can get to SkyDrive via Microsoft settings.

Now at the end on the right we use PCM (rightclick) and create a DWORD parameter, call it DisableFileSync, open and set the value to "1". It remains to exit the registry editor and reboot the system.

Reset settings directly to OneDrive

In order not to delve into the system settings, and even more so in the system registry, you can do even easier.

Enter the settings of the computer, select the sectionOneDrive, and then go directly to the file storage. There is a line to save documents by default. Just put the switch in the off position, that's all.

How to remove a program for cloud storage, and is it worth it?

Many users simply disconnectit turns out a little. See how to remove OneDrive. But it should immediately be said that this service cannot be restored. You can reinstall it only when you reinstall Windows. Removal actions are recommended to be applied only if this service on the local computer is not really used or is simply not needed.

So how to remove OneDrive? Make it not so easy, but possible. You must first complete the process, and not from the Task Manager, but from the command line, where you enter the taskkill / f / im OneDrive.exe combination. Now, if there is a 32-bit system, from the same command line we use% SystemRoot% System32OneDriveSetup.exe / uninstall, and for systems with a 64-bit architecture -% SystemRoot% SysWOW64OneDriveSetup.exe / uninstall. After that, we overload the terminal, and the storage problem disappears.

You can also delete the file directory forcleaning disk space. The OneDrive folder defaults to C: Users, where the address is followed by the user name and the subsection of OneDrive. You can do this, by the way, by simply disabling the service, without even completely deleting it.

Conclusion

Here, in fact, all the basic informationconcerning the OneDrive service. What it is, we are more or less understood. In general features and functions, too, I think, everything is clear. But when it comes to disabling or deleting a service, it is recommended to disable it, rather than delete it. But how little can there be a situation when you need quick access to the "cloud storage", and with the lowest cost in time?

So think a hundred times beforemake the final decision, because to restore the service will be possible only in one way - a complete reinstallation of the system. And no kickbacks to the control point here will not help. On the other hand, if you use any official client for access not from Windows, but from some other device, you don’t need to keep such a service on your computer.