Avoiding the intrusion of "OneDrive" folder in fresh Windows 10 install

Solution 1:

A change by Microsoft requires you to install Windows while disconnected from the Internet to create a local user (such as me). Happened on Pro 1809. I've done it that way, and it works.

If you don't want to reinstall Windows, you can create a local user as explained in the second link above, make it an Admin, login as that local user, and delete the jeffh user, then move all their files or delete them.

Solution 2:

I was forced to enter "Microsoft Account" email address. I tried to skip this step, but I couldn't find a way to avoid it.

This is only the case on Windows 10 Home version 1903. In order to avoid it the next time, you have to disconnect from the internet, while you are installing Windows. This will cause Windows to be unable make the required checks, and will give you the option, to create a local account instead.

Once you’ve skipped the Microsoft account creation, the old “Who’s going to use this PC?” screen will appear. You can now create an offline account and sign in to Windows 10 without a Microsoft account—the option was there all along.

Source: Windows 10 Setup Now Prevents Local Account Creation

Is there any way to avoid this intrusion of "OneDrive", and the required Microsoft email address, in a fresh install of this newer Windows 10?

Since your account is linked to a Microsoft Account, all you have to do is disconnect the account, and you will be prompted to rename the profile. You will be asked to log out of the profile, when you log back into your local profile which will not be linked toyour Microsoft Account, you will have a new profile user directory.

I am also annoyed by that "jeffh" in the path. I never said I wanted a username of "jeffh". If I had been asked to provide a username, it would have been "me".

This is due to the fact your username is your Microsoft Account, which does contain those characters, but the entire username would be an invalid directory so Windows concatenates the username. You can disconnect your Microsoft Account in order to be prompted to assign a new user profile name, this will create a new user profile directory, and migrate your data.

Sources:

• Disconnect Microsoft account from my local account
• Disconnect Microsoft Account

If you want to then connect to your Microsoft Account to your new local profile you can do so, which then assigned the linked profile, to the directory that already exists.

Source:

How do I disassociate Microsoft account credentials from an account in Windows 10?