OneDrive Not Syncing - Location Is Not Available: The Data Present in the Reparse Point Buffer Is Invalid

If OneDrive stops syncing and a user cannot delete or access certain folders, the underlying cause may be a corrupted reparse point. This article explains the “Location is not available” error with the message “The data present in the reparse point buffer is invalid” and how to resolve it.

Symptoms

• OneDrive sync stalls or shows persistent sync errors for certain files or folders
• Excel files or other documents are not syncing to the cloud despite the user saving their work
• Attempting to open or delete a specific folder produces the error: “Location is not available - The data present in the reparse point buffer is invalid”
• Resetting OneDrive (using onedrive.exe /reset) may temporarily restore sync, but the issue returns
• The problem is isolated to a specific workstation rather than affecting all users

Root Cause

A reparse point is a special attribute that Windows uses to redirect file system operations. OneDrive, symbolic links, and junction points all rely on reparse points to function correctly.

When a reparse point becomes corrupted, the folder it is attached to becomes inaccessible. Windows cannot read, move, or delete the folder, and OneDrive cannot sync past it. This creates a bottleneck that can slow down or completely block sync for the entire OneDrive library on that machine.

Common causes of corrupted reparse points include unexpected shutdowns, disk errors, or conflicts between sync applications.

Resolution

Step 1: Identify the Problematic Folder

1. Check the OneDrive sync status for folders showing errors or stuck in a pending state
2. Try to open or browse into folders that appear in the sync error list
3. If a folder produces the error “Location is not available - The data present in the reparse point buffer is invalid”, that is the corrupted folder

Step 2: Remove the Corrupted Reparse Point

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Run the following command to delete the corrupted reparse point (replace the path with the actual folder path):

   fsutil reparsepoint delete "C:\Users\username\OneDrive\path\to\problem\folder"

3. This removes the reparse point data without deleting the folder itself

Step 3: Remove the Folder

1. Once the reparse point is deleted, the folder can be removed normally. Run:

   cmd /c rmdir /s /q "C:\Users\username\OneDrive\path\to\problem\folder"

2. If the folder contained important files, check OneDrive online (onedrive.com) or the recycle bin for recoverable copies before deleting

Step 4: Verify OneDrive Sync

1. After removing the folder, OneDrive should resume syncing automatically
2. Check the OneDrive icon in the system tray to confirm sync is progressing
3. If sync does not restart, right-click the OneDrive icon and select Resume syncing

What If the Folder Cannot Be Deleted

If the fsutil reparsepoint delete command does not work on its own, try running chkdsk first to repair any underlying disk errors:

chkdsk C: /f /r

This requires a restart and may take some time to complete. After chkdsk finishes, retry the fsutil reparsepoint delete command.

Prevention Tips

• Run regular disk health checks: Schedule periodic chkdsk scans to catch and repair file system issues early
• Avoid forced shutdowns: Unexpected power loss or hard resets can corrupt reparse points and other file system structures
• Keep OneDrive updated: Newer versions handle sync conflicts and edge cases more reliably
• Monitor sync status: If OneDrive sync stalls persistently, investigate early rather than waiting for users to report missing files

Key Takeaway

When OneDrive sync fails and standard resets do not fix the problem, a corrupted reparse point may be the cause. The “Location is not available - The data present in the reparse point buffer is invalid” error is the telltale sign. Removing the reparse point with fsutil reparsepoint delete and then deleting the folder resolves the issue and restores normal sync.

Related Resources

• Fix: “File Path Is More Than 259 Characters” in OneDrive
• Fix: Duplicate SharePoint Folders Showing in File Explorer
• Fix: “You’re already syncing a shortcut to a folder from this shared library” in OneDrive / SharePoint
• Microsoft Learn: fsutil reparsepoint

If you need help troubleshooting OneDrive sync issues or resolving file system errors, get in touch with our team.