Microsoft to Cut Free Storage Space of OneDrive – Learn Smart Ways to Save Space Now

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Microsoft recently sent OneDrive users a 90-days notice informing them of a decision to drastically scale down their free cloud storage. Email notifications were sent to worldwide users that tech-giant will shrink free storage capacity from 15 GB to only 5 GB with effect

from July 2016. Users who formerly enjoyed a free camera bonus of 15 GB, will not be able to do so. Those who exceed the new limit in late July, will find their account in a read-only mode. Users can view and download their files but they will be restricted from editing existing content or adding new files to the cloud. Act today, or you’ll find your free account converted to read-only mode. Read on.

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The Solution

Compress Your Data

Compress your files to make them smaller in size. Reducing redundancy in encoded data of your files will save large storage space. A compressed file contains a set of different files, sub folders, irrespective of their file types. Compressed files are easier to manage, organize. There are several file compression methods including GZIP, LZ, PKZIP and LZW and DEFLATE. The most commonly used is DEFLATE.

Which compression algorithm (method) is best for you?

Your Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage may contain variety of files. Here we have given list of file types with best compression algorithm:

  • LZR: The Lempel-Ziv-Renau algorithm serves as a basis for widely used Zip method.
  • Lempel-Ziv: Best for lossless storage
  • DEFLATE: Takes longer time to compress files; commonly used for PNG images, GZip and PKZip file types.
  • LZW: The Lempel-Ziv-Welch is an algorithm which is commonly used for GIF images.
  • LZ: An algorithm that uses SHRI & LZX encoding for Microsoft CAB (Cabinet) files.
  • As for other file types not listed above, use the Deflate compression method.

How to Compress your Data

Step # 1: Download Files from Server

Before compressing the files, make sure you’ve downloaded them all to your local PC.

 

Step # 2: Create a Compressed File

  1. Download a file compressing tool (Free 7 Zip, WinZip, WinRAR).
  2. Use the Location Bar in Free 7 Zip File Manager to navigate to the folder containing your downloaded files.
  3. Click the Add button on standard toolbar. Specify a name for your archive, select an archive format, compression level, compression method and specify a password (optional). If you are not sure, just keep the default settings.
  4. Click the OK button to start file compression.

 

Step # 3: Upload Compressed File on Server

Use the Upload icon in Microsoft OneDrive to upload newly created compressed file.

 

Step # 4: Delete Old Files

Remove all the old files previously stored on your cloud account.

 

Get Rid of Duplicate Content

Clone Files Checker is a state-of-the-art software designed to perform in-depth scans against any duplicate content. It compares file names, file contents as well as file tags to look for and weed out any duplicates. The user interface is very friendly and easy to understand. It facilitates a universal as well as a customized scan, where the user can choose to include or exclude certain sub folders, add or delete file extensions, apply file size filters etc. The file size filters display only those results that match the specified file size criteria. Select a parameter (Bytes/ KB/ MB/ GB), specify a file size and CFC will gather the results matching your criteria in a flash.

 

File type filters are used for choosing a specific set of file types. It categorizes your content into documents, videos, music, images and archives. Full scan takes relatively longer time than custom scan. Besides scan customization there is a unique feature called File Preview. You can preview music tracks, image snapshots, videos, and other content. In the end, you’ll be prompted to permanently delete duplicates or send them to Trash – a temporary storage space from where any duplicates can be retrieved later unless they are permanently erased.

 

Prominent Features

  • A handy tool that deals with ever-shrinking cloud storage space
  • Find duplicate documents, images, music, videos and archives
  • Deletes superfluous data to reclaim lost storage space
  • Variety of features to customize the scan process
  • A very uncomplicated user interface
  • Ability to add multiple cloud directories for scanning
  • Luxury to choose from several filters

 

Instantly Clean Up Microsoft OneDrive Storage

Here is how you can effectively scan OneDrive for any duplicate files and recover any storage space lost to clones.

Step # 1: Log-In to your Cloud Storage

  1. Visit Microsoft OneDrive.
  2. Log-in to your Microsoft Live account.

 

Step # 2: Download your Cloud Content

  1. Click the Files tab on the left panel.
  2. Move your mouse cursor at the upper-right corner of a folder to unhide the blue colored checkbox. Select all the folders you want to scan for duplicates, in a similar fashion.
  3. Click the Download icon on the toolbar.
  4. Wait for the download to finish.

 

Step # 3: Download Clone Files Checker

Download Clone Files Checker and install it on your computer.

 

Step # 4: Initiate Quick-Scan & Delete Dupes

  1. On the Clone Files Checker user interface, click the System Scan tab > Add button under Select drive /folder.
  2. Locate and add all the folders downloaded from Microsoft OneDrive (in step  # 2).
  3. Set the appropriate Search Options or keep the default settings. As a default, all files will be scanned without any filters employed during the scan process. Use the Custom option if you wish to scan for selected files (files types or file sizes).
  4. Click the Start Search button.
  5. Once the scan is over, you’ll be prompted to choose Quick-Fix or Review & Fix.

 

Step # 5: Delete Old Data & Upload New Files

  1. Delete the old files from the Microsoft OneDrive server. (Select the folders > Delete icon)
  2. Click the Upload icon > Folder option.
  3. Use the Browse for Folder dialog to upload all the original files to Microsoft OneDrive.
Raza Ali Kazmi
Website

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Raza Ali Kazmi works as an editor and technology content writer at Sorcim Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. He loves to pen down articles on a wide array of technology related topics and has also been diligently testing software solutions on Windows & Mac platforms. If you have any question about the content, you can message me or the company's support team.