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Forum Discussion
Dropbox computer backup: how to undo?
I uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox because of some issues with syncing.
In reinstalling, I thought I clicked on "no, I don't want dropbox to backup my computer" but apparently I clicked wrong because it started a backup that I couldn't stop in any way besides using the Pause Sync option.
So I let it back it up all the way and then turned off the automatic backup on the website, hoping it will delete the backup, but it didn't.
Now I have a backup of my computer on dropbox, which I don't want, and I can't just delete the folder because it deletes things in my computer too.
I tried with a couple of files, and deleting them in Dropbox deletes the original file, almost as if it's not a copy.
It also doesn't take up any space on Dropbox.
This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, can you help me?
Apparently I fixed it with the power of intense fiddling.
Following the steps given on the website here: https://help.dropbox.com/en-en/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/computer-backup
It wouldn't let me unsync everything per se, so I had to sync everything but one folder, go ahead until it let me set up the syncing again and unsync that folder. Weird I know, but it worked in letting me unsync. Anyways.
After doing that, I headed to the Dropbox folder and deleted the "my computer files" file, which is basically linked to the C: module.
If I tried to delete the whole folder it would give me a warning showing me it was deleting loads of files, but deleting just the link went smoothly and I lost no data.
Then I was able to delete the folder "computer backup" without any warnings from my computer, and again I lost no data.
Language may vary as my system isn't in English, but sharing the solution in hopes to help someone else down the line.
Hope this helps!
This would be one of the most perplexing and infuriating irritations about DropBox. Period!!! The method to do this simple task is amazing complex and most of the examples given in the help menu are not just frustrating, but do not work because the screen menu is different to what the help menu says. Never ever will I use this useless program again!! Seriously, why make it so complicated to simply undo a simple backup process and why in hell would you ever ask a computer to backup to DropBox and then once they are deleted from DropBox they are automatically deleted from your computer!!! WTF? And still after all this time I keep getting messages about upgrading my DropBox because its full and they hold you ransom because if you delete the damm application you lose all your data from your computer!! Nonsense!!
Hi Pips,
Have you tried the method I used? Did it work for you? It worked for me... I hope you can fix your problem too! It really is annoying, one misclick can lead to a whole mess!
your solution would have been great, except it failed 1 min into it, after removing everything from my desktop.
nothing was moved to dropbox
- Daphne
Dropbox Staff
Hi Caterina1993, thanks for posting!
Can you let me know if you tried the steps outlined towards the bottom of this article, to disable the backup feature, via the desktop app settings?
Also, can you let me know what steps you took to try disable this via the website?
Looking forward to hearing back from you!Hi @daphne and thanks for answering!
I did, I checked again just now and it let me sync and unsync again, but unsyncing doesn't seem to eliminate the folder in Dropbox and when I try to move it to the trash it says it's moving 15.000 files or something so it definitely isn't empty...
When I click in, it's like it's not even IN dropbox but instead it brings me to the C: folder so it doesn't look like "Computer > Desktop > Dropbox > My PC > Documents" which is where I am directly before I click on "Computer files" which brings me to "Computer > OS (C:) > Users > Caterina > Documents"
On the website there seems to be no automatic backup settings, is this normal?
I hope this additional information helps!Apparently I fixed it with the power of intense fiddling.
Following the steps given on the website here: https://help.dropbox.com/en-en/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/computer-backup
It wouldn't let me unsync everything per se, so I had to sync everything but one folder, go ahead until it let me set up the syncing again and unsync that folder. Weird I know, but it worked in letting me unsync. Anyways.
After doing that, I headed to the Dropbox folder and deleted the "my computer files" file, which is basically linked to the C: module.
If I tried to delete the whole folder it would give me a warning showing me it was deleting loads of files, but deleting just the link went smoothly and I lost no data.
Then I was able to delete the folder "computer backup" without any warnings from my computer, and again I lost no data.
Language may vary as my system isn't in English, but sharing the solution in hopes to help someone else down the line.
Hope this helps!
I have the same problem trying to stop / pause syncing and then followed your instructions to stop computer back up. However, the Preferences section in my account does not show a Backup tab / option. I also found that the instructions in your Help section on "How to stop and resume file syncing" did not match up with my account / dashboard. Maybe those instructions are outdated, or other issue, but this is very frustrating. Please check to send / post instructions that are current on stop file syncing and stop computer back up. This would be appreciated with many thanks.
After going through the same issue with iCloud I can empathize. Luckily I had a great techie at Apple who walked me through recovering my files. What I learned from the experience was to go back to good old external backup drives and store them off site. The myth of synching all your devices is just that, a myth. Until the user has control I am not being sucked in again.
