What you’re seeing
- The migration report lists files that failed with messages about the path or URL being too long.
- Everything copies except items buried several folders deep in the old shared drive.
- Users report that whole subfolders are missing after the cutover.
- Files that did migrate cannot be opened or synced from deep folders in OneDrive.
Common causes
Every environment is different, but these are the causes our engineers find most often:
- The full SharePoint URL, including the site address, library name and every folder level, exceeds the maximum length SharePoint and OneDrive support.
- The old file server allowed deep nesting and long descriptive folder names that were never a problem over a mapped drive.
- The destination library sits under a long site URL, which eats into the characters available for folders and file names.
- Files are being migrated into a subfolder of the target library rather than its root, adding extra levels to every path.
- The OneDrive sync client on users' PCs adds its own local folder prefix, pushing synced paths past the Windows path limit.
Why it matters
Failed long-path files tend to be the oldest and most detailed records: archived projects, client correspondence, HR files and contracts kept in deeply organized folders. If they silently fail to migrate and the old server is retired, that data is effectively lost. Even when caught, failures force rework, delay cutover and leave staff unsure whether the new SharePoint site is complete, which undermines trust in the whole migration.
How AskTechGurus fixes it
Skip the trial and error. A certified engineer works on your actual system, finds the root cause, and fixes it properly.
Tell us what’s happening
Submit a ticket in about two minutes. Paste the error, describe what changed, and pick your tier. No charge to submit.
A certified engineer diagnoses it
A vetted, US-based systems engineer claims your ticket, usually within minutes during business hours, and investigates over a secure remote session you can watch and end at any time.
Fixed and verified with you
The engineer resolves the root cause and confirms with you that it’s working. You don’t just get a workaround, and you get a plain-English summary of what was wrong.
Pay only when it’s resolved
Fixed price from $99, invoiced only after you approve the fix. If it isn’t resolved, you don’t pay.
Frequently asked questions
Did we lose the files that failed?
No. Failed items stay on the source file share until it is deliberately removed, so nothing is lost as long as the old drive is kept until every failure is accounted for.
Will our folder structure have to change?
Often a little. The usual approach shortens the site and library names or flattens a few deep branches, and we agree the new structure with you before anything is moved.