@puzzlezaddict wrote:@khitteh OneDrive isn't always helpful as it claims to be, but it can certainly be installed on a given computer without any trouble. The key is managing the settings. And there's no reason that gaming computers are special in this regard; the relevant question is how much data is in the folders OneDrive wants to sync.
OneDrive causes loads of issues for gamers, I wouldn't use cloud saves either.
@khitteh OneDrive's default settings often cause problems, and OneDrive can cause problems for anyone who isn't paying attention. That's not the same as saying OneDrive itself should never be used. I don't like it myself, but I'm also willing to take the time to make my own backups, and many games' saves are small enough that OneDrive syncing them wouldn't matter. Plenty of games don't save data in Documents either.
@puzzlezaddict wrote:@khitteh OneDrive's default settings often cause problems, and OneDrive can cause problems for anyone who isn't paying attention. That's not the same as saying OneDrive itself should never be used. I don't like it myself, but I'm also willing to take the time to make my own backups, and many games' saves are small enough that OneDrive syncing them wouldn't matter. Plenty of games don't save data in Documents either.
People generally don't pay attention or set things up correctly. You can sit here all day trying to educate people as they come in one by one with issues over OneDrive after they happen, those issues will likely happen to them again in future and you'll still be here trying to educate them. Then it will happen again and they'll be back. And you'll still be here fighting the air.
Better to get rid of the problem altogether.
@khitteh A fresh install of Windows 10 or 11 Home or Pro, as in, not an update or a new user account, now sets OneDrive as the default location for user files. The people who aren't paying attention will probably neglect to pay attention long enough that they have files they'd like to not lose when they belatedly nuke OneDrive off their systems. Some others might actually like OneDrive, for example those with multiple computers they play on and a lack of interest in manually setting up some other sync process. That's why this guide exists: people have different needs and preferences, and it's not my place to tell them what's best for them.
Anyone is paying attention enough to be aware of your (and others') suggestion to get rid of OneDrive is also paying enough attention to decide how to adjust its settings. Even getting rid of it after the fact requires some work, again if people don't want to lose their existing data. And changing the wrong settings can cause more problems than it solves.
@puzzlezaddict wrote:cause more problems than it solves.
Better to train people how to set up their gaming computer for now and in the future. Not having OneDrive to start with solves all the issues with files suddenly out of their control.
They also need to disable Controlled Folders as well.
