Solved How is this possible?, desktop background after formatting

[miketwenty1]

Yeah don't want to detract too much from the follow up question, can we see things like desktop backgrounds that are synced, but even things like browser history is synced, I'm not sure from what browser(s), but I can see why someone would want to disable some if not all of these features.

mike

 

[adamf]

Yeah don't want to detract too much from the follow up question, can we see things like desktop backgrounds that are synced, but even things like browser history is synced, I'm not sure from what browser(s), but I can see why someone would want to disable some if not all of these features.

mike

And so you can. See post 16.

 

[alphanumeric]

In Windows 8.1 those settings are in the SkyDrive sync settings. It will sync your lock screen, desktop wallpaper, Metro screen background, user account picture, even your tile layout if you wish across multiply devices. If you reinstall and log back in with the same live ID it all gets refreshed back to what you had before.
Charms bar > settings > Change PC Settings > SkyDrive > Sync Settings

Thanks to all that contributed to this thread

Thank you alphanumeric on pointing out where to access these flags.
I didn't even know these feature existed without you enabling them. I didn't even know I had a skydrive folder in my user account to sync things in my outlook account.

Thanks again - great support on this forum.

One quick follow up question that I think someone else earlier asked (sort of),

Are we able to actually view what information MS stores on our accounts? I know we can view the things we intentionally stored like documents, videos and picture, but can we see misc things like what desktop background, personal preferences and things that are stored?

I don't see my background anywhere on skydrive.

mike

​

I don't know? I don't store anything their except those synced personalization items. I haven't bothered to look at the Microsoft end to be honest.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

In Windows 8.1 those settings are in the SkyDrive sync settings. It will sync your lock screen, desktop wallpaper, Metro screen background, user account picture, even your tile layout if you wish across multiply devices. If you reinstall and log back in with the same live ID it all gets refreshed back to what you had before.
Charms bar > settings > Change PC Settings > SkyDrive > Sync Settings

Thanks to all that contributed to this thread

Thank you alphanumeric on pointing out where to access these flags.
I didn't even know these feature existed without you enabling them. I didn't even know I had a skydrive folder in my user account to sync things in my outlook account.

Thanks again - great support on this forum.

One quick follow up question that I think someone else earlier asked (sort of),

Are we able to actually view what information MS stores on our accounts? I know we can view the things we intentionally stored like documents, videos and picture, but can we see misc things like what desktop background, personal preferences and things that are stored?

I don't see my background anywhere on skydrive.

mike

​

I don't know? I don't store anything their except those synced personalization items. I haven't bothered to look at the Microsoft end to be honest.

I sign into PC with Microsoft account. PC Settings > SkyDrive. I see 6.99 GBs free of 7 GBs. I'm storing nothing else there for now. There's nothing in any of the folders. I have to conclude its hidden.

 

[miketwenty1]

Yeah don't want to detract too much from the follow up question, can we see things like desktop backgrounds that are synced, but even things like browser history is synced, I'm not sure from what browser(s), but I can see why someone would want to disable some if not all of these features.

mike

And so you can. See post 16.

No, I meant how do you see things that are already saved. For instance, what are personal settings etc. it has saved for your account. But I'm guessing alphanumeric is right by concluding it's hidden.

 

[adamf]

No, I meant how do you see things that are already saved. For instance, what are personal settings etc. it has saved for your account. But I'm guessing alphanumeric is right by concluding it's hidden.

Ah sorry - I got the wrong end of the stick. I think you are (all) right. It must be hidden.

 

[Clint]

I forgot to save my address book when I did a clean install. I formatted my HD, did the clean install. My address book was there so was my lock screen pic. I didn't realize it until I read this post. I guess there is a big brother out there. Scary!

 

[popeye]

No, I meant how do you see things that are already saved. For instance, what are personal settings etc. it has saved for your account. But I'm guessing alphanumeric is right by concluding it's hidden.

Ah sorry - I got the wrong end of the stick. I think you are (all) right. It must be hidden.

Guarantee even if it is hidden, someone has the key.