Transfer Folders and Files from your Home Drive to OneDrive

Transferring Files from Home Drive (H:) to OneDrive for Business

Applies to: all Faculty, Staff and Students

Updated fall 2025

Overview

• MCCC is transitioning from server-based Home Drives (H:) to Microsoft OneDrive for Business.
• Windows 11 College provided computers automatically back up "Documents" and "Desktop" folders to OneDrive. File Explorer will display all your folders and files within your Desktop and Documents, on any College owned computer when you login. This does not apply to laptops temporarily loaned to Students via the Student Laptop Loan Program.
• Note: For faculty and Staff - Files already moved during the Windows 11 transition do not need to be moved again.
• Note: For Students - Student Home Drives can only be accessed from a college owned computer located on campus in a student lab or classroom.

Instructions:

Review and Clean Up Files

• Examine files in your Home Drive (H:), including Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders.
• Delete any unnecessary or outdated files to reduce clutter.
• Do not move system folders like "AppData" or other folders/files unless you are sure you need them.

Open OneDrive for Business

OneDrive can be accessed in a couple of ways. Using the Notification Area or Using File Explorer

1 - Using the 'blue cloud icon' found in the Notification Area(bottom right of screen by time and date)

Click the blue cloud icon in your Notification Area to open OneDrive.

(Picture of an Image: Notification Area in Windows Operating Systems)

Ensure you are signed in to your OneDrive for Business account by clickin the cloud icon.

The title bar should display "OneDrive - Montgomery County Community College"

(Picture of an Image: OneDrive Title Bar when opened from the Notification Area)

Access OneDrive via the desktop app ("Open Folder") or web ("View Online").

(Picture of an image:OneDrive Status Icons in the OneDrive App when opened in the Windows Notification Area)

2. - Directly access your OneDrive Folder in File Explorer locate a blue cloud icon followed by Your name Montgomery County Community College

(Picture of an image:OneDrive Folder as it appears in your file Explorer)

Locate Folders/Files to Transfer

• H:\Desktop
• H:\Documents
• H:\Documents\Pictures
• Other user-created folders and files
• Any files directly under H:\ (not in a folder)

Copy (Not Cut) Files/Folders to OneDrive

Select files/folders within the above folders to transfer. Use Right Click "Copy".

Avoid copy/paste Desktop, Documents, and Pictures from H: at the folder level to prevent nested folder issues (e.g., OneDrive\Desktop\Desktop).

• Use File Explorer to paste. Use Right Click "Paste"

Create new folders in OneDrive if needed.

• Verify Sync Completion
  • Look for a green checkmark in the system tray OneDrive icon ("Your files are synced").
    

    

    (Picture of an image:OneDrive Status Icons in the OneDrive App when opened in the Windows Notification Area)
• Use "View Online" to confirm files are uploaded to OneDrive via a web Browser.
  OneDrive on the web opens and you can spot check to ensure your files are uploaded.

(Picture of an image: OneDrive Action Icons in the OneDrive App when opened in the Windows Notificaion Area)

(Picture of an image: OneDrive sync status icons and descriptions )

Notes

• Only retain valuable information. Disregard unknown or unnecessary folders.
• Official Microsoft instructions for uploading content to OneDrive are available here.

Article ID: 5999
Created: August 27, 2019
Last Updated: February 25, 2026
Author: Matthew LaViola

Online URL: https://kb.mc3.edu/article.php?id=5999