OneDrive Files on Demand - symlinks not readable

maccra     Nov 25 8:10AM 2017

Hello, I had setup a repositiory to backup my OneDrive files to a local external hardrive using symlinks. I have just switched on using OneDrive's Files on Demand feature. Now I none of my symlinks are readable and I cannot backup any files. I have the Files on Demand setup with "Online only", "Available", and "Always keep on device" and none of these settings work. I had thought that at least I could backup the folders/files marked as "Always keep on device", but I can't.

For informatiom I use also Cryptomator and previously they had problems also with Files on Demand and they found that their was some changes to the java which caused their problems but could fix in the end (not sure if this helps, just wanted to convey that other software has problems with Files on Demand).

Below are sample error messages:

Failed to read the symlink: readlink C:\OneDrive\Attachments: The system cannot find the file specified.
Failed to read the symlink: readlink C:\OneDrive\Audio Books: The system cannot find the file specified.
Failed to read the symlink: readlink C:\OneDrive\Books: The system cannot find the file specified.
Failed to read the symlink: readlink C:\OneDrive\Books2: The system cannot find the file specified.
Failed to read the symlink: readlink C:\OneDrive\Documents: The system cannot find the file specified.

Cheers and thanks


gchen    Nov 26 10:17AM 2017

Not sure why but my guess is that Microsoft uses a special kind of reparse point for those symlinks. I'll take a look.