is MS "OneDrive" STILL spying on me?

[Big Chudungus]

I was bullied into signing up for "MS account" months ago with new laptop and IIRC I tried to kill any other MS stuff.

Now I'm seeing "OneDrive" in path of files being saved by other programs when I tell them to save. When I try to again DeActivate or Remove the OneDrive I go to Settings then Apps and see a bunch of MS stuff but no "OneDrive" as pictured in various "how to" instructions.

What is going on?

Also, I see stuff like MS Edge that I'd like to kill and it has 'uninstall' or 'deactivate' shown but only in light grey that doesn't do anything.

Pretty sure I'm "The Admin" of the laptop and no one else has ever used it.

I upgraded from Win10 to Win11 a couple months back. Do I need to do some tricky "run as admin" to kill off the MS stuff?

Shouldn't there be a nice comfy entire website or even Dummies book on "how to get as much dumb spying MS crap off a Windows PC as possible if required to use Windows apps"? Maybe even a service or website to log into that makes it all real easy and give you a nice list of MS items with one click deletion?

On similar note, there was a rash of browser/home page hijacking that seemed to 'jack your PC to Yahoo or other non-Google start page (this was back when Google was legit) and it was a real PIA to get rid of it and get back to Google start page. WTF wouldn't a YUGE firm like Google release some easy fix for all the victims of that?

[DoubleA]

[SactoDoug]

I jumped ship at Win10. Win11 is everything bad about MS on steroids.

There are ways to activate Win11 without a MS account. You can find a few YouTube videos on it. It sounds like it is too late for you. Win11 is full on spyware which is why they want you to sign up with a MS account. It is constantly reporting back to MS your activities and your data.

There are things you can shut off to try to get some privacy and more control over your PC. The problem is that ultimately Microsoft is in control. They can turn all of those things back on as soon as you update. They have the capability to remove apps, features and even your ability to use Windows at any time. It is in the TOS.

Do a search on YouTube for privacy settings in Windows 11. Running a Pi Hole or similar DNS blocker will cut down on a lot of the unwanted spying on your system.

If you are concerned about not having full control and ownership of your computer, then you should seriously consider switching to Linux. Windows and Apple allow you to use their OS but they own it. With Linux you own your OS. There is no way for anyone to remotely make changes to your system without your consent. The same cannot be said for MS and Apple product.

[Dirtlaw]

OP at some point in time I'm guessing you signed a very bad electronic agreement which you failed to read. Why is it that programs are now requiring an Internet connection when the Internet is probably the most dangerous place you can be?

[HecklerNKoch]

Use W10Privacy in portable mode to remove Edge and OneDrive and prevent its reinstallation.

[vino68]

You can install and run Win10 and 11 without a MS account.

[SkyHawk]

You can install and run Win10 and 11 without a MS account.

Yes but IIRC with Win 11 now you have to disconnect from the Internet to do it. That is what I had to do recently for some new laptops for wife & daughter. They don't offer the option to create a local account during setup otherwise

[HecklerNKoch]

Yes but IIRC with Win 11 now you have to disconnect from the Internet to do it. That is what I had to do recently for some new laptops for wife & daughter. They don't offer the option to create a local account during setup otherwise

[Dirtlaw]

It is so wrong when you have to fool the machine to maintain privacy that should be yours from the start.

[HecklerNKoch]

It is so wrong when you have to fool the machine to maintain privacy that should be yours from the start.

The idea of a Microsoft account is disturbing to me. I don't even want to get into how wrong it is. But then ... we're dealing with Microsoft and it's to be expected.

[SactoDoug]

Microsoft is trying to turn Windows into a locked down environment just like Google and Apple. The first step is to require users to have a MS account. The next step is to force users to only install software from the MS software store. Then MS can rake in money from third part software makers by taking a cut of every sale in the software store. All of this will be sold as making your PC more secure and preventing malware from being installed on your machine.

[Big Chudungus]

I think I got it figured.

OneDrive was showing up still between "C:/" and "Desktop" so it was also showing up still on stuff I'd put on desktop recently, so....

I'm supposed to save anything off Desktop, then delete "OneDrive" folder which includes all my desktop, then put stuff back on desktop.

[Dirtlaw]

Microsoft is trying to turn Windows into a locked down environment just like Google and Apple. The first step is to require users to have a MS account. The next step is to force users to only install software from the MS software store. Then MS can rake in money from third part software makers by taking a cut of every sale in the software store. All of this will be sold as making your PC more secure and preventing malware from being installed on your machine.

SactoDoug ... I think you have it hammered.

[vino68]

Yes but IIRC with Win 11 now you have to disconnect from the Internet to do it. That is what I had to do recently for some new laptops for wife & daughter. They don't offer the option to create a local account during setup otherwise

It depends on the build number. The most recent build allows for bypass by choosing to connect/join a domain.

[sigstroker]

I jumped ship at Win10. Win11 is everything bad about MS on steroids.

There are ways to activate Win11 without a MS account. You can find a few YouTube videos on it. It sounds like it is too late for you. Win11 is full on spyware which is why they want you to sign up with a MS account. It is constantly reporting back to MS your activities and your data.

There are things you can shut off to try to get some privacy and more control over your PC. The problem is that ultimately Microsoft is in control. They can turn all of those things back on as soon as you update. They have the capability to remove apps, features and even your ability to use Windows at any time. It is in the TOS.

Do a search on YouTube for privacy settings in Windows 11. Running a Pi Hole or similar DNS blocker will cut down on a lot of the unwanted spying on your system.

If you are concerned about not having full control and ownership of your computer, then you should seriously consider switching to Linux. Windows and Apple allow you to use their OS but they own it. With Linux you own your OS. There is no way for anyone to remotely make changes to your system without your consent. The same cannot be said for MS and Apple product.

Sounds like a great idea, but all my software runs only on Windows.