No I don't want to turn on Windows Backup with One Drive

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Alternative backup mechanisms on Windows

  • Several commenters note built-in options that avoid OneDrive:
    • File History (to external drive or network share) for versioned user-file backups.
    • wbadmin and VHDX-based image backups for full-disk snapshots.
  • Others stress: these are convenience/versioning tools, not substitutes for proper offline/secondary backups.
  • Concern: turning File History on just to dismiss nags can waste disk space.

OneDrive behavior, data loss, and UX problems

  • Recurrent stories of:
    • Windows silently moving Desktop/Documents/Pictures into OneDrive.
    • Users assuming “it’s backed up” and then losing data when freeing space or disabling OneDrive.
    • Disabling/unlinking OneDrive deleting local files or breaking paths.
  • OneDrive is criticized as sync, not real backup. Sync happily propagates deletions and corruption.
  • Integration breaks workflows: games and apps dumping config/cache into Documents, PDFs exported to cloud copies that lag or fail to sync, Git repos mis-synced.
  • Some say OneDrive itself works fine for them; the real problem is forced enrollment and confusing defaults.

Dark patterns and consent

  • Strong dislike of dialogs offering only “Yes” and “Maybe later” / “Not now” with no “No, never”.
  • Complaints that repeated prompts are effectively harassment until the user mis-clicks.
  • Comparisons made to stalking behavior; calls for regulation requiring opt-in to be no easier than opt-out and for a permanent “don’t ask again” option.
  • Registry keys, Group Policy, and AppLocker can often suppress prompts, but are inaccessible to most users.

Comparisons with other platforms

  • Many argue macOS and iOS similarly nag for iCloud, Apple Music, etc.; others report minimal nagging if skipped at setup.
  • Android and Google Photos criticized for aggressive “turn on backup” popups.
  • ChromeOS praised for respecting the choice to disable Drive.
  • Some feel Apple is “less bad” because local accounts and optional iCloud still work; others say both vendors are equally hostile once online accounts are involved.

Coping strategies on Windows

  • Tactics mentioned:
    • Uninstalling OneDrive (though major upgrades may reinstall it).
    • Disabling OneDrive via notifications, Group Policy, AppLocker, debloat scripts, LTSC/IoT editions, or third‑party “shutup” tools.
    • Treating C:\ as disposable and keeping real data on separate partitions, external drives, or VMs with no network.

Linux / macOS as escape, and their limits

  • Many advocate switching to Linux (Mint, Fedora, Arch, atomic/immutable desktops, etc.) to avoid OS-level nagware and forced cloud integration.
  • Others push back: Linux has its own reliability, driver, gaming, and UX issues; macOS has nagging and lock‑in of its own.
  • Still, several anecdotes of non‑technical users voluntarily migrating to Linux because Windows hassles became intolerable.

Broader concerns

  • Frequent references to “enshittification,” monopolistic abuse, and weakened antitrust enforcement.
  • View that desktop OSes are being turned into ad and subscription platforms rather than neutral tools, with backups and “security” used as justification for more data capture and lock‑in.