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I have 3 computers. All of them have MS 365. All show different folders and files. I need to clean up. Please help

Anonymous
2024-08-02T21:04:02+00:00

I have 3 computers.

I have MS 365 on all of them. Includes all Office Apps.

  1. My main extremely vital computer is an HP ENVY TS 17 Notebook PC purchased in 2014 with Windows 10. It has all my official important files. It has my Quicken, which is NOT in the cloud.

But what is in my "This PC>Documents" does not seem to be what is in my "MS 365 Personal Documents".

  1. The second computer is an HP Spectre x2 Detachable 12-c0XXI purchased in 2018 that I bought to learn real estate business and discarded. I use this one for research, nothing that has vital files, except snagit snapshots.
  2. The third (Dell Inspiron 14 5410 2-in-1, purchase ~2023 ) was required because HP Spectre died, although it is now alive again. It is relatively cleaned and not used for many for months.

This is the Computer (3) I want to use to clean up and get everything straightened out and then get the other two perfectly in synch.

On all three computers, I have MS 365 Cloud, MS 365 Personal, and This PC>Documents. But nothing is in sync between the computer and between a computers MS 365 Personal and ThisPC>Document. What a mess I have.

I need to figure out a process to clean up and get all of the 3 computers and their content, in synch. These are my initial planned steps, please help:

  1. Purchase a thumb drive (done, coming Sunday, August 4, 2024)... 512GB
  2. Back up Computer 1 This PC>Documents This is vital information.
  3. Back up Computer 2 . The most important info on this computer is my Snagit. I'll back up This PC>Documents
  4. Back up Computer 3. same situation as computer 2 and same back up plan.
  5. Assuming I have enough space on thumb drive, back up computer 1 365 personal. Cuz it is not in synch with computer 1 This PC>Documents.

Then what? I don't know. I don't know if each computer has its on MS 365 documents. It seems like 'some' of the MS 365 Cloud is on both computer 2 and computer 3, but not everything that is on computer 1.

How do to I start fresh? Then once I have Computer 3 with everything fresh, how do I get Computer 1 and Computer 2 same as Computer 3. My goal is one set of MS 365 and This PC>Document and then the cloud, of course.

Eventually I will buy a new Computer 1, cuz Windows 10 (security updates) expires in January of 2025.

I should have learned MS 365 before I installed it. Is there a site that has an instruction manual for MS 365?

Will you be able to help me. I did try one solution run, then wsreset.exe, but it popped up a Windows Store webpage.

Thank you kindly, Rena

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Craig Long 17,910 Reputation points
    2024-08-02T22:53:58+00:00

    Hi RenaMack,

    Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

    I'll try to answer some of your questions.

    "But what is in my "This PC>Documents" does not seem to be what is in my 'MS 365 Personal Documents'".

    Turn on the Documents folder sync at OneDrive Settings > Sync and Backup tab > Manage Backup. Then, the Documents folder in File Explorer will merge with the Documents folder in OneDrive, and all documents will sync to OneDrive.  If you wish, turn on the sync for the other folders listed in Manage Backup.  All synced folders are located at C>Users>username>OneDrive.

    ▷ Video: Turn on OneDrive Backup

    You may want to turn off folder sync on the PC that does not have vital files. Then, the Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and/or Videos folders in File Explorer will not sync to OneDrive.

    If sync keeps re-enabling, you can avoid OneDrive completely by placing folders at C>Users>Username>ManilaFolders. Or you can try keeping the sync OFF at Manage Backup and pray that Microsoft won't grab your files without your permission. Good luck with that.

    If you want all files on all three computers to stay in sync, then sync should be enabled on all folders at Manage Backup.

    "1. Purchase a thumb drive (done, coming Sunday, August 4, 2024)... 512GB"

    You won't be able to sync files on a thumb drive. However, you can move your entire OneDrive folder to an external drive if you lack space on an internal drive.

    Install OneDrive on an external drive

    "2. Back up Computer 1 This PC>Documents This is vital information."

    That location cannot back up to OneDrive. To back up your Documents turn on folder sync at Manage Backup. Your Documents will move to **** this location: **** C>Users>username>OneDrive>Documents.

    "3. Back up Computer 2 . The most important info on this computer is my Snagit. I'll back up This PC>Documents"

    Turn on Documents folder sync at Manage Backup.

    Download and install or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office ...

    I hope this answers some of your questions. I know I haven't covered everything so feel free to post back here.

    Best wishes,

    Craig

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