R-Drive to Microsoft 365 Storage using the SharePoint Migration Tool
Table Of Contents:
Before proceeding with migration please review the resource documents:
For an overview of the preparation and migration process: Academic Support R: drive migrations - getting started
For Tips and Best Practices in using SPMT: Tips for R-drive Migration with SharePoint Migration Tool
Before you start
This guide assumes:
You have already cleaned up your content using the instructions in the documents listed above
You have appropriate permissions to the source and destination file location(s)
You have setup and configured the destination file location(s)
You have communicated the change and migration schedule with anyone that uses the files
Obtaining and Installing SharePoint Migration Tool
Microsoft provides the SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) for moving files from local drives, network drives, or SharePoint 2016 sites.
For information using SPMT please see the article. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointmigration/how-to-use-the-sharepoint-migration-tool#using-the-sharepoint-migration-tool
To download the current version of SPMT, navigate to .
Permissions: You must be workstation Administrator to install this software on the workstation.
Workstation Setup: We recommend using a “wired” connection on a Nexus workstation
Running SPMT
Step-by-step guide
When launching SPMT you will be prompted for your Microsoft 365 (M365) credentials. If you have logged in before it will cache the last username. You can use a different username by choosing use another account
Once you are logged in to the M365 service, SPMT will offer to review/rerun previous migrations or start a new migration. For this guide, select Start a new migration
Next, choose your source. Since this is a guide for R-Drives choose File Share.
You have the option to enter the source path, browse for the path, or copy and paste. In these instructions, we will browse for the path since in our case the R-drive is a mapped drive.
Select Migrate selected folder and folder contents if you need to keep all subfolders and structure
Click Choose folder . A new window willopen.
Click on the down arrow next to This PC
Scroll down to find the R-Drive and the R-Drive folder you wish to copy.
Click OK
In this case, we have chosen the Faculty of Science R-Drive and then selected the Physics Admin Office Share and the Budgets Folder. We can choose a sub-folder if we wish.
Once you have the correct source path click on the NEXT button to choose the M365 Destination platform. Here we are choosing the SharePoint option. Click on SharePoint.
Why is SharePoint the correct option?
Content in a Departmental Drive or Network Share is often meant as shared collaboration storage. OneDrive is for personal files storage
MSTeams stores files in a custom SharePoint Online site associated with the Teams site. Since it is a SharePoint Online, we can use the same method for Teams and for SharePoint Online as a destination. Simply open your Teams FILES location in SharePoint Online.
MS Teams Private Channels do not work with SPMT if you choose the Teams migration option. Instead, you need the direct SharePoint Online URL.We suggest opening your site and destination document library in a browser.
In our example below we are copying content to the Physics SharePoint site. The displayed URL is https://uofwaterloo.sharepoint.com/sites/sci-phys/finance/Budget/Forms/AllItems.aspx.
But, we only need the part as far as the sub-site name: https://uofwaterloo.sharepoint.com/sites/sci-phys/finance/Budget.
Always ignore the part /Forms/FILENAME.ASPX at the end of the URLEnter the URL in the field under Select a destination. SPMT tries to suggest a URL. We will replace the suggested path as shown below.
By entering the Sub-Site URL: SPMT will offer to browse any available Document Library names
Click Next and the window will update showing Library options – since we pasted Budget as the Library it should show this as the second field – otherwise, click on the dropdown to correct. Click Next
Give your migration a meaningful name and ensure the Source and Destination locations are correct. SPMT will offer a name based on the date and time stamp. Click Next (or Save for later)
After clicking NEXT we are offered settings and options for the Migration we have created. Not all settings are displayed, and additional settings can be found under View All Settings. For this document example, we will only look at the default displayed settings
Ensure that the Only Perform Scanning is ON
This setting ensures that a Pre-Scan of the migration is run, and errors reported
ENABLE Start migration automatically if no scan issue found to start the migration
Leave this OFF if you just want the Pre-Scan reports
ENABLE Preserve file share permissions if you want the process to try to copy current permissions. This may not always work correctly.
DISABLE this setting if you have created new permissions on the new destination.
Note Preserve permissions may not be desired and will not work if the user or group does not exits in M365.
ENABLE Migrate file version history and Automate user mapping
This attempts to retain the file metadata
Click SCAN to start the SCAN and Migration process.
Scan only:Scan and migrate: (Begins the migration after the Scan is complete)
Once the SCAN/Migration is completed, SPTM will report the results
The Migration may take an extended period for large data repositories. Migration speed will vary based on network speed, computer disk speed, and the amount of data to be copied. See also for information to improve the migration performance.
When the SCAN/Migration is completed, choose Save
Then review the migration results.
Migration details takes you to the Migration settings and config files
C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\MigrationTool\uwaterloo.ca\WF_50358258\Report
View Reports takes you to the specific folder for the log files for what was copied and any errors
C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\MigrationTool\uwaterloo.ca\WF_50358258\Report\TaskReport_aa087fae\
These Reports can be overwhelming – in general, you want to look for the Summary to see if everything was copied;
Errors on what was skipped and why: ItemFailureReport_R1.csv
Note in this example migration the displayed summary in SPMT shows that there were no errors, and all items were copied.
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Need help?
Contact the IST Service Desk online or 519-888-4567 ext. 44357.
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