Folders and files created with ONETOC2 in every folder

Question

Folders and files created with ONETOC2 in every folder on OneDrive and the External Hard Drive Files. I have done PowerShell commands, Uninstalled Office, and reinstalled. I have deleted it in Safe Mode. I have deleted files per suggestions by navigating to the PowerShell and deleting all old Office files from Office 16. I have two OneDrive accounts, and it's doing it in both. Program Files and deleted Office, and deleted the common files location.

Answer 1

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Hi, Melissa Silvey

The .onetoc2 file is not malware. It is a OneNote table-of-contents file, but when it appears in many normal folders, it usually means OneNote is treating a large parent folder as if it were a notebook.

Here are some suggestions you can try:

First, stop deleting the files repeatedly for now, because OneNote or OneDrive may simply recreate them. Open OneNote and check the notebook list carefully. If you see anything named like OneDrive, Documents, an external drive folder, or a broad folder instead of a real notebook name, right-click it and choose Close This Notebook. Do this in every OneNote app you use, including another PC, phone, tablet, or browser session if applicable.

After closing the wrongly opened notebook, fully quit OneNote from Task Manager, then pause OneDrive syncing. Now delete only the unwanted Open Notebook.onetoc2 files from normal folders. Do not delete .one files or a real notebook folder unless you are sure it is not needed.

It is recommended that actual OneNote notebooks be kept in their own dedicated folder, not mixed inside general file folders. If a notebook must be moved to OneDrive, move it from inside OneNote using OneNote’s share/move option, not by dragging the notebook folder in File Explorer.

Also, the “F:\Goodwin_ALL is unavailable” message means Windows cannot currently reach that external drive path. Reconnect the drive, confirm the drive letter is still F:, then clean up the files only after the drive opens normally.

Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you. 

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