OneDrive - Add or Remove from This PC in Windows 8.1

How to Add or Remove OneDrive in This PC in Windows 8.1​

   Information

SkyDrive is now called OneDrive instead.

OneDrive is Now Available Worldwide: Free Cloud Storage for Microsoft, iOS, and Android Devices | OneDrive Blog

OneDrive is a cloud-based storage service where you can view, browse, upload, and share the files you saved online to OneDrive.com. Store any file on OneDrive and it's automatically available to access or share from any device.

In Windows 8 and Windows RT, OneDrive was available to browse in the OneDrive app and only in File Explorer after installing the OneDrive desktop app.

In Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, OneDrive is more deeply integrated at the system level. Your OneDrive folders are now displayed in the navigation pane of File Explorer on the desktop for easier access and management in Windows 8.1. In addition, the OneDrive app will still always be available on your Start screen for access since it can no longer be uninstalled in Windows 8.1.

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove OneDrive (SkyDrive) folders in This PC in File Explorer for all users in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: OneDrive folder added to This PC
NOTE: This is for OPTION ONE below.

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EXAMPLE: OneDrive Documents, Music, Pictures, Public, and Videos folders added to This PC
NOTE: This is for OPTION TWO below.

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OPTION ONE

To Add or Remove the OneDrive folder in This PC

   Note

This option will add only the single main OneDrive folder to all Microsoft accounts on the PC. Each user will see only their OneDrive folder.

This OneDrive folder will not be added to Local accounts.

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1. If you have not already, you will need to take ownership for Administrators first, then set permissions to "Allow" the Administrators group "Full control" of the {8E74D236-7F35-4720-B138-1FED0B85EA75} keys in the registry (regedit.exe) locations below.​

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NOTE: How to Tell if You Have a 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows 8 and 8.1​

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(For 32-bit and 64-bit Windows)​

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{8E74D236-7F35-4720-B138-1FED0B85EA75}​

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(For ONLY 64-bit Windows)​

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{8E74D236-7F35-4720-B138-1FED0B85EA75}​

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2. Do step 3, 4, or 5 below for what you would like to do.​

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3. To Remove "OneDrive" from This PC in Windows 8.1​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.​

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Remove_SkyDrive_from_This_PC.reg​

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4. To Add "OneDrive" to This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.​

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32-bit_Add_SkyDrive_to_This_PC.reg​

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5. To Add "OneDrive" to This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.​

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64-bit_Add_SkyDrive_to_This_PC.reg​

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6. Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

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7. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.​

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8. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.​

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9. If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

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10. If open, refresh (F5) or close and reopen File Explorer to apply.​

OPTION TWO

To Add or Remove OneDrive folders in This PC

   Note

This option will add the OneDrive Documents, Music, Pictures, Public, and Videos folder to all user accounts on the PC.

Even though these folders will also be added to local accounts, they will not open.

You must be signed in to Windows 8.1 with a Microsoft account to be able to open these folders. Each user will see only their OneDrive folders.

If you change the default location of your "C:\Users\(UserName)\SkyDrive" folder, then it will break the Music, Public, and Videos folders until you restore the default location.

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1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. To Remove "OneDrive folders" from This PC in Windows 8.1​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

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Remove_SkyDrive_Folders_from_This_PC.reg​

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3. To Add "OneDrive folders" to This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1​

NOTE: How to Tell if You Have a 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows 8 and 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

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32-bit_Add_SkyDrive_Folders_to_This_PC.reg​

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4. To Add "OneDrive folders" to This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1​

NOTE: How to Tell if You Have a 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows 8 and 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

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64-bit_Add_SkyDrive_Folders_to_This_PC.reg​

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5. Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

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6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.​

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7. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.​

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8. If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

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9. If open, close and reopen File Explorer to apply.​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Enable or Disable OneDrive Integration in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1
• Add or Remove "OneDrive" from Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 8.1
• How to Map OneDrive in This PC in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1
• Make OneDrive Files and Folders Available Offline or Online-only in Windows 8.1
• Add or Remove "Computer" or "This PC" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 or 8.1
• How Add or Remove Default "Folders" from This PC in Windows 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Control Panel in This PC in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Libraries in This PC in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Add "Devices and Printers" to Computer or This PC in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Add or Remove DLNA Media Servers from This PC in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[ksdixon]

I appreciate the help with this, but now I'm going to be a pain in the arse. This tutorial inputs the default SkyDrive folders into This PC.
Is there a way to remove only the SkyDrive 'Public' and 'Videos' folders, and manually input other folders which are located on SkyDrive?

 

[Brink]

Hello ksdixon,

For that, it would be best to use the free This PC Tweaker program at the link below with the "Add Custom Folder" option to do so since the other folders would vary to much for a standard download for everyone.

WinAero: This PC Tweaker

 

[ksdixon]

Thanks. I've gotten things how I want them for the most part:



Documents, Music and Pictures from SkyDrive using the reg files here.
Downloads and Videos from the default Win8.1 user folders.
Programs and Torrents are also located at SkyDrive, added using ThisPCTweaker.

I also plan to remove SkyDrive, Homegroup, Karl Dixon, Libraries, Network and Control Panel, Leaving just This PC and Recycle Bin in the Navigation Pane.

Really wish I could figure out how to give Programs and Torrents the special SkyDrive folder icon.

 

[Brink]

If you're handy in the registry, you could go to the location below to look for the GUID key with a "performer" value with a data of "This PC Tweaker". These would be the ones the program added.


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace


Once you have the correct GUID keys for them, you can use the Find and Find Next feature to search the registry for those keys one at a time. Look for a DefaultIcon subkey with each instance found. If there's one, then you can modify it to have the data below for the special SkyDrive folder icon.

%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-1040

 

[ksdixon]

Doesn't seem to work

 

[Brink]

Which part?

Do you have a 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 8.1 installed?

Post some screenshots showing your registry settings for this, and I'll see what I can do to help.

 

[ksdixon]

Well, I don't think I had a provider value with the data 'This PC Tweaker' to start with. I do have two folders with a 'performer' value, with the data 'This PC Tweaker' {ae...} and {b6...}.



Then I wasn't sure how to find the correct GUID keys.

 

[Brink]

The GUID numbers in the left pane with the "performer" value are the ones.

 

[ksdixon]

Is it the GUID numbers I need to use in the Find/Find Next? I searched the registry, but it didn't bring-up another folder with a defaulticon value in it?

 

[Brink]

Yep, the long ae450828-.... and the other GUID in the left pane is the one you would want to search for.

You would want to be sure to scroll back to the top in the left pane in Registry Editor, and click on Computer in the folder tree first. This way when you search for the GUID with Find and Find Next, it will be from that point down to be able to search all of Registry Editor for the GUIDs.

 

[ksdixon]

I'm afraid I've searched the entire registry for both guid keys, and none of the instances of it in the registry had a DefaultIcon value.
These were the values that most of the found entries contained:

 

[Brink]

They should have a DefaultIcon subkey in the left pane for them instead of a value in the right pane. You would change the (Default) value for the DefaultIcon subkey like below but with the value in bold below.

%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-1040

 

[ksdixon]

Huzzah! It worked. Now It's instantly identifiable which folder is located in the cloud, and I only have to consult the one This PC folder, awesome

 

[Brink]

Great news.

 

[pbahnson]

problem adding full control permission to registry key

I'm running Windows 8.1 64 bit. I am unable to modify the registry to allow full control for Administrator. When I attempt to modify permission for the key, Windows returns:

---------------------------Windows Security
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Unable to save permission changes on {8E74D236-7F35-4720-B138-1FED0B85EA75}.

 

[Brink]

Hello pbahnson, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It sounds like you didn't take ownership for Administrators first.

 

[Nemix]

Hi Brink,

Is there any way to install the Desktop version of Microsoft OneDrive for Windows 7/8 after using the following guide and other guides on the internet to completely remove/uninstall the OneDrive integrated into Windows 8.1?

Or is there a way to have the integrated OneDrive in Windows 8.1 to work with a Offline Account and not auto sign/start OneDrive at Windows startup?

Thanks,

 

[Brink]

Hello Nemix,

You could install the OneDrive Desktop app in Windows 7, but it's not compatible with Windows 8.1 at all.

If you like, you could also map OneDrive instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/34847-onedrive-map-onedrive-pc-windows-8-1-a.html

 

[Nemix]

Thanks Brink,

The Map OneDrive in This PC in Windows 8.1 method is a bit too slow to sync on demand for me.

There was small program as an alternative to OneDrive Desktop and the Map OneDrive in This PC in Windows 8.1 method that was developed since Windows 8.1 Preview for Windows 8.1 Desktop but I can't remember the name anymore, I'll try and search for it online later on hopefully it's been improved by now and uses less resources; the automatic and on demand sync is as fast as OneDrive's.

Thanks again, :thumb: