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Unable to stop or turn off desktop backup [SOLVED]
A while ago I turned on the new 'backup desktop/documents/downloads' feature. Now I want to turn it off, but I can't. There's no obvious 'turn this feature off' button. All the instructions I've seen point to a 'manage backups' or 'import' tab, which I don't have. I've upgraded to the latest Beta (Win 10), uninstalled, reinstalled, rebooted several times and nothing. I've just set Dropbox up again and I have unchecked the 'MY PC' box. But Dropbox is just merrily syncing all my stuff again. It's insane that Dropbox would enable this feature and not give users a simple way to turn the thing off. Does anyone know how I can do it?
So, for anybody who happens to stumble upon this - here is how you can solve it.
1. Move your Dropbox folder - I found this solution accidentally, because my PC was getting full and I decided to move my Dropbox folder to another partition, but you could move it anywhere. Go into the Dropbox app, click on the picture of you, select 'preferences' , then 'sync' and then select the option to move your Dropbox folder. Just put it in a different location. Doing this will nuke your desktop. But do not panic. You will not lose any data.
2. Re-create your Desktop - i.e. make a folder called 'Desktop', in C:\Users\YourName\'.
3. Copy or move all your old desktop files from the Dropbox folder called 'My PC blah blah whatever \ Desktop' to your actual Desktop. This will get your desktop back, and Dropbox will no longer sync it, because it will be looking at the 'My PC' files.
4. Do steps 2-3 for the Downloads and Documents folders.
5. Get coffee.
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This deos not seem to work. After unchecking the boxes, the Submit button is grayed out and will not allow me to proceed without at least 1 item checked. So annoying.
I dont have a preferences option on my initial. Now what?
- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi there MAYA77; I'm sorry to jump in here, but are you sure you're accessing the app's preferences through the system tray/menu bar?
I have just spent nearly TWO MONTHS dealing with this same problem and with your same issues (NO "MANAGE" or NO "IMPORT" icon). I have paid Carbonite to do my backup for years but I inadvertently clicked "YES" on the pesky pop-up that enabled this horrible Dropbox "feature" one day when it rudely interrupted my work. I have been trying to recover from having my files disappear from my PC ever since that day. I even manually copied 512 GBs of my files onto external storage to avoid my files disappearing from my hard drive again.
And don't get me started about the only support afforded me, Dropbox's totally pathetic CHAT. It is a TINY un-expandable box with eensy light gray type! so to try to follow it is impossible. Then my Dropbox employee "helper" guy emailed me the transcript of the chat. I had to format it in Word so that it was intelligible. With Carbonite I was able to speak to a human being who was very helpful. But before I could turn Carbonite back on, according to the Dropbox chat person, I needed to turn off this "Back-up" feature of Dropbox. I am now proceeding in the same way you are, hoping that Dropbox doesn't completely RUIN twenty years of Music entering and editing.
Anyway, I guess I really am THAT person because I now am telling everyone I know not to use Dropbox. EVER! Most everyone I know, uses Google for FTP, anyway. Sorry for your problems. I chose to follow this thread because it is listed the problem as "solved." NOT!!! Casper's solution sounds like "take arsenic! you really will feel better!"
Janthyer - does Carbonite work like dropbox? I like dropboxes ability to upload my photos straight from my phone - BUT - it will only upload them to my computer after I refresh on the phone and also reinstall dropbox on my computer so it is very annoying but I have lost a lot of photos in the past so I am coping with it for now until I find something else that will work for me.
I shall research Carbonite.
thanks
Gaye
Hi Gayent, I don't understand HOW Dropbox works at all so unfortunately I can't answer your question. I have used Carbonite for years to back up my computers, not my phone. I never intended to have Dropbox back up my computer but when it did, my files disappeared from my hard drive! Carbonite helped me recreate those folders in a different NON-DROPBOX location on my hard drive. Now I need to extricate myself from the Dropbox back-up process but I have been unable to do that because all of the suggestions I have gotten from Dropbox employees or community users have been unimplementable similar to the problem the other user I have replied to was having. Sorry you are having difficulties, too. Carbonite even gave me the number for an auxiliary support system they have to try to help me get out of this mess! Good luck!
cant find my picture on the drop box ap or preferences! not even sure i have an app now, doesn't look like an app, just a file.. I need help.
- MeganHey rhondaredcat, I hope you're doing great this Friday!
Can I ask for some more info in regards to the issue you're experiencing?
Do you have issues with our Computer Backup feature?
Keep me posted! - I deleted it all, gave up! what happened i think that dropbox got my desktop, documents and downloads, then I was over my limit and couldnt figure how to get those things out so i could use it, Thanks for trying to help me Maybe ill eventually get up the courage to try again
Thanks for this solution.
Seems the only viable solution so far.
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