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Forum Discussion
Dropbox backup deleting the original files on my backed up PC.
If this is the way Dropbox backup is going to work I may seek a different solution. Dropbox didn't just make a backup copy, it removed the files from my PC so that there is not a local copy. Is the...
revik345 wrote:
Dropbox didn't just make a backup copy, it removed the files from my PC so that there is not a local copy.
While the "backup" feature does move your key folders, they're still local. They've just been moved into the Dropbox folder which is still local to your computer and a regular folder like any other.
I am sorry to say but you are totally wrong when you say that the folders just get moved. Delete one of the files on either the PC or dropbox and you will see it is GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich
Super User II
Super User II
Demoerin Delux wrote:
I am sorry to say but you are totally wrong when you say that the folders just get moved. Delete one of the files on either the PC or dropbox and you will see it is GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's not wrong. The key folders are MOVED into your local Dropbox folder. This causes those folders to sync with your account online, so anything you do in the folder, such as deleting a file, will be synced to your account online as well, and vice versa. Delete a file in your account, and it will be deleted from your local folder on your computer. That is the entire point of an application that syncs your files. Changes made to one side are automatically made on the other.
If you do not want your key folders (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, etc.) to sync to Dropbox, do not enable the backup feature. Those saying that they didn't enable it, and that they only re/installed Dropbox, have likely enabled it during the install by not following the prompts that appear. It's not possible for the backup feature to be enabled on it's own, or by a single click.
If you need to restore any files from your backups, refer to this help article.
Please be aware there is a difference between sync and backup. Backup is when the files STAY on the backup drive (what ever you choose it to be). You described sync not backup. See the difference (you will see that there are one for storage, one for backup and one for sync):
Cloud Storage
Cloud Backup
Cloud Sync
What is its purpose?
File Storage
File Recovery
File Mirroring
How does it work?
Makes the same files accessible from multiple locations, via the internet.
Makes a snapshot of files from one device recoverable from multiple locations, via the internet.
Makes your files in cloud storage accessible on your local device.
What does it enable?
- Access to files from multiple devices
- Easy file sharing
- Collaboration in real time
- Recovery of accidentally-deleted files
- Device recovery after a malware attack
- Protection for all the files and data on your device
- Store files in the cloud, but work on them locally in applications on your device
- Save space on your local storage by making files online-only
- Rich
Demoerin Delux wrote:
Please be aware there is a difference between sync and backup. ... You described sync not backup.
No, I described how the backup feature in Dropbox works, in relation to your key folders (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, etc.). They're moved to the local Dropbox folder so they can sync with your account online. Changes you make in your key folders are synced, like any of your other files or folders. It's not a true backup; never has been. Delete a file from your Desktop and it's deleted from your Desktop folder online. The main differences between sync and backup is that online, your key folders are stored in a special folder for your computer and there are different options for restoring those files.
Dropbox did the same for my files...deleted the original. How do I get them back?
