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Forum Discussion
How to STOP Dropbox from deleting files on my computer if I delete them from DB?
I am a new user and while setting up to backup my Mac pictures folder, a really TERRIFYING notice popped up. It stated that if I delete any pictures from DB then those would also be deleted from my c...
Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorHi Tek Nomad, since Dropbox is primarily a syncing service, and changes made in the Dropbox folder will sync to the Dropbox site, and the same is true when changes are made to the site.
This means that deleting files from the site would delete the file from the Dropbox folder on all connected devices. This isn't something that can be disabled, unless you prevent syncing entirely on the desktop machine by signing out of your account or uninstalling the app.
As you have the computer backup feature enabled, have you tried disabling it? Afterwards, you'll get the option to move the folders and files back to their previous locations, which will also delete them from the Dropbox account online.
This means that deleting files from the site would delete the file from the Dropbox folder on all connected devices. This isn't something that can be disabled, unless you prevent syncing entirely on the desktop machine by signing out of your account or uninstalling the app.
As you have the computer backup feature enabled, have you tried disabling it? Afterwards, you'll get the option to move the folders and files back to their previous locations, which will also delete them from the Dropbox account online.
Hi Jay:
Thank you for the reply.
Despite having watched and read reviews on DB, I seem to have misunderstood how it actually works.
DB has been “backing up” my computer now for several days and is nowhere near done. Using Mac’s Time Machine with a new external drive to back up the whole computer merely takes a few hours. After that, Time Machine syncs any changes. That typically only takes a few minutes. What Time Machine does NOT do is to remove or move files on my computer!
I guess I will have to rethink this whole thing, disable the backup feature, and manually upload files that I want in DB. The whole thing seems like a terrible hassle!
It will remain to be seen whether DB was worth the upgrade to me.
To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. 😟
Thanks for your help!
I have disabled the syncing backup feature. However, all of my files show that these are in DB somewhere?
QUESTIONS:
1) If I move the files back to where they should be on my Mac can I cause erasure of the files?
2) If I delete the files from my DB account, in an effort to start over, will they then be deleted from my computer? If so, HOW do I stop that?
- WalterWhat option did you choose when you disabled the computer backup feature Tek Nomad?
Was it to 'keep content in folders on your computer' or to 'leave content in Dropbox'?I chose to keep the contents on my computer Walter.
I still see virtually all of my files in a DB folder on my computer. However, I am not sure that they are actually still there.
This is so terribly frustrating!
I simply want to keep all of my files on my computer and delete whatever DB has uploaded. Then manually upload important files to the DB cloud.
Thanks for your help!
