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Microsoft to OneDrive users: We're sorry, click the magic link to keep your free storage
The Register ^ | Dec 11, 2015 | Tim Anderson

Posted on 12/11/2015 8:49:25 PM PST by dayglored

Unlimited storage still going away though

Microsoft has apologized to OneDrive users upset by the unexpected removal of their 30GB free storage - and is offering existing users a chance to keep their free storage if they click a special link.

"In November we made a business decision to reduce storage limits for OneDrive. Since then, we've heard clearly from our Windows and OneDrive fans about the frustration and disappointment we have caused. We realize the announcement came across as blaming customers for using our product. For this, we are truly sorry and would like to apologize to the community," says Douglas Pearce, Group Program Manager.

Microsoft had encouraged users to store photos and documents in OneDrive by making it a key feature of Windows and Windows Phone. Many users had 30GB of free storage, based on a 15GB offer plus 15GB additional storage to smartphone users on any platform who used OneDrive for their cloud camera roll. Then in November the company said that "Free OneDrive storage will decrease from 15 GB to 5 GB for all users, current and new. The 15 GB camera roll storage bonus will also be discontinued."

Confusing the matter further, the reason given was that Office 365 subscribers were overusing a separate unlimited storage offer, which is why the company is now apologizing for "blaming customers."

Over 72,000 users then made a feature request on the Uservoice feedback site to "give us back our free storage."

Now Microsoft has done just that - but only for those who click a special link by the end of January. That link is (drumroll...) right here.

Despite the offer, Microsoft is not changing its mind about unlimited storage. Office 365 users will get 1TB storage, and users of free OneDrive who do not click the magic link in time will be reduced to 5GB. That said, Microsoft is also offering a free year of Office 365 Personal to customers affected by the changes.

The company has done the right thing; but the incident nevertheless serves as a reminder that free stuff in the cloud can be taken away as well as given.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: microsoft; onedrive; windows; windowspinglist
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Damn fine print....
1 posted on 12/11/2015 8:49:26 PM PST by dayglored
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To: dayglored; Abby4116; afraidfortherepublic; aft_lizard; AF_Blue; Alas Babylon!; amigatec; ...
Click and you can have it back, mostly ... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

2 posted on 12/11/2015 8:50:10 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

Another “how did this idea ever make it past the first meeting” moment...


3 posted on 12/11/2015 8:52:07 PM PST by Scutter
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To: dayglored

All your storage are belong to us!


4 posted on 12/11/2015 8:55:43 PM PST by Lurkina.n.Learnin (It's a shame enobama truly doesn't care about any of this. Our country, our future, he doesn't care)
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To: dayglored

There is no silver lining in a dark cloud. Duck and cover until it blows over.


5 posted on 12/11/2015 9:01:25 PM PST by Paladin2 (my non-desktop devices are no longer allowed to try to fix speling and punctuation, nor my gran-mah.)
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To: Scutter

You mean the unlimited onedrive storage? I agree. I was like no way will this work out. And I was right. They were nuts to offer unlimited storage. Hell if they wanted to go big they could have but still limit it like at 5 or 10TB.


6 posted on 12/11/2015 9:06:03 PM PST by for-q-clinton (If at first you don't succeed keep on sucking until you do succeed)
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To: dayglored

Thanks.

I haven’t used my Win 10 laptop for a few weeks, and I would have missed this.


7 posted on 12/11/2015 9:07:19 PM PST by Grampa Dave (Obama has groomed CAIR to be THE voice of Islam in the USA as a dangerous political force in the USA)
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To: Grampa Dave

Glad it was useful! :-)


8 posted on 12/11/2015 9:08:19 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

I don’t understand what this means, could you either be a bit plainer here, or FRmail me?


9 posted on 12/11/2015 9:11:25 PM PST by nopardons
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To: dayglored
subscribers were overusing a separate unlimited storage offer

just keep scratchin my head.
10 posted on 12/11/2015 9:17:53 PM PST by stylin19a
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To: dayglored

Thanks for the post.


11 posted on 12/11/2015 9:18:59 PM PST by ClayinVA ("Those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it")
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To: stylin19a

Where is my unmetered nukeuleer electricity they promised me in the 50s?


12 posted on 12/11/2015 9:22:01 PM PST by Paladin2 (my non-desktop devices are no longer allowed to try to fix speling and punctuation, nor my gran-mah.)
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To: nopardons
> I don't understand what this means, could you either be a bit plainer here, or FRmail me?

Microsoft made some big promises about lots of free storage "in the cloud" for users to put their files.

Later, MS discovered this was not something they actually wanted to do. So they cut back. Users screamed.

So now they're walking it back a little bit, but the user has to ask for it, otherwise they lose it.

13 posted on 12/11/2015 9:25:42 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

Does that go for a Windows 7 person ?
Will I lose my pictures, if I don’t click on the link ?


14 posted on 12/11/2015 9:34:47 PM PST by nopardons
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To: Paladin2

dang. u r old. The only reason I know about it is cause I read alot, yeah, that’s the ticket.

No meters, no bills.


15 posted on 12/11/2015 9:35:04 PM PST by stylin19a
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To: nopardons
> Does that go for a Windows 7 person ? Will I lose my pictures, if I don't click on the link ?

As far as I can tell, clicking on the link can't do any harm, and might save your files that are on OneDrive.

That said, I personally don't use OneDrive, so if I were you and you don't want to take chances, get an opinion from someone who has looked into it as a OneCloud user. Probably another FReeper can help on that.

16 posted on 12/11/2015 9:44:27 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

Thank you; much appreciated.


17 posted on 12/11/2015 9:45:46 PM PST by nopardons
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To: Grampa Dave

I have never used it


18 posted on 12/11/2015 9:48:25 PM PST by hsmomx3 (GO STEELERS!!!!!!)
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To: dayglored

Store 30 gigs of PGP encrypted data. Give ‘em something to chew on...


19 posted on 12/11/2015 10:56:22 PM PST by W. (Make that rubble BOUNCE!)
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To: All

I just registered a new account...and got 15 Gigabytes of free file storage space


20 posted on 12/12/2015 12:21:53 AM PST by deks
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