OneDrive creating duplicate files?

Question

Hello, I'm experiencing an issue where I'm finding multiple duplicate files in folders for seemingly no reason.

There will be the original file, "file.pdf" and then there will be "file 2.pdf", "file 3.pdf", "file 4.pdf" and so on. Earlier this evening I also noticed that some files that had the year in them "receipt 2019.pdf" had been changed to 2020? That struck me as more bizarre than the duplicate files. 

I'm not sure how long this has been going on, but I keep searching through my folders and finding these duplicates throughout. 

My work PC is running Windows 7 (I have some older diagnostic software that requires 32 bit compatibility) and my field computer is a MacBook Pro running Catalina 10.15.

Has anyone else experienced this? I've searched the forums and didn't find anything quite the same. 

Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer 1

Has the root cause of this issue been found yet? I had this same issue on my MacBook Pro running Catalina with OneDrive syncing files to a Sharepoint folder at my work.  I had to disconnect from the folder (remove it from being synced) as it was causing lots of chaos with coworkers since the folder contained an important customer bid everyone was working on.  Our company has audit logs and the problem was easily tracked back to me.

Answer 2

Hello, 

So I've finally had some time to look into this today, I appreciate your patience. 

Here are my answers to your earlier questions in bold font. 

1.    The file name created by OneDrive you mentioned, “file 2.pdf”, “file 3.pdf”, “file 4.pdf”, I have tested on PC and Mac, when a file is repeatedly created in a local File Explorer/Finder, the numeric number of the file name should be bracketed, like this “file (2).pdf”. Is this the same situation? Or is the file name really like this (without brackets)?

Yes, that is correct. It will add the number to the end of the file name without brackets, it is this way on the Mac and PC.

2.    You said that some files that had the year in them "receipt 2019.pdf" had been changed to 2020, do you mean the file name is changed? Generally, the file name will not be changed automatically without any workflow or flow. Are there any Workflow associations for these files, such as Microsoft Flow, will it be caused by an automated process?

Yes, the filename itself is being changed, I have seen this anomaly change a filename ending in "2017" multiple times to 2018, 2019, 2020. This makes finding the duplicates more difficult to find. I've also noticed other instances where it will change other numbers (not just dates) and it will just create a duplicate file with the next number in succession (for instance, a file ending with 215965 has a duplicate of the same file but now it's 215966.)

3.    Have you shared your OneDrive account and password with others? Or whether these files are shared with others with editing permission? It may be caused by the operation of other people who has permissions.

No, no one besides me access to this account as far as I know.

4.    Check the information of the new files (properties/ get info), find out the creator and information about when it was created, recalling what you are doing at that time may cause this issue.

It appears many of these files were created on Wednesday, October 23rd 2019, some others have dates of Tuesday, October 29th. I can't recall anything occurring on these dates of note.

5.    If you are an administrator of your organization and have enabled the Audit log, you can go to Audit log to check the Modified file, Copied file, Uploaded file and Rename file activities, including who and when and how these files were created. If you have no access, you can contact your administrator to check it.

I see a message that I am not an administrator for the Audit Log.

Thanks in advance for your time, much appreciated.

Answer 3

Hi W-M5H9P16,

Has your problem been solved and found the cause? If you have any questions, please let me know.

Bryce

Hi, I’ve been out of the office and have not been able to look into this again since my initial post. I will post once i am able to check on both computers. 

Thanks!