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Turning on dropbox backup but folder name is weird
I had tested the Dropbox Backup feature in the past so I know that when turned on my Computers should be added as My Mac (Unique Mac Name). I decided to turn it back on again when setting up two new Macs that I have but the backup now creates the folders as just Mac, Mac (2), Mac (3)
I've gone through the steps of unlinking Dropbox from each computer. Checking their names in System Preferences and also in the Security tab of my Dropbox account. The computer names are correct in Dropbox but the backup feature is still creating the folders as just Mac
OK, they are finally rolling up a Beta update for Dropbox Backup that will let you rename and I was able to do it! You can do go through Dropbox Backup in the app, disable the backups on all the computers there, and then restart them. Then, re-enable backups and it should move you over to beta so you can now rename things!
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Hi,
I just started backing up a new computer. The previous two show up in Dropbox as My PC (PC Name) but this third one shows up as PC (3).
The PC name is set just fine afaict.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
- Rich
Super User II
simmsg wrote:
I just started backing up a new computer. The previous two show up in Dropbox as My PC (PC Name) but this third one shows up as PC (3).
That is how the folders are now named. The first one will be named PC. Subsequent folders will be named PC (2), PC (3), etc. It was a change that was implemented to simplify the computer backup folders.
Thanks for responding. What a shame. The previous naming convention was at least understandable. And as others have pointed out, who is going to remember which is PC 1 vs PC 2 vs PC 3?
Fully agreed. What a horrible decision to give the computers such non-descriptive names. When will this be addressed?
After I reinstalled my pc, it create a new folder named PC2, and the previous folder PC I can't change its name, nor I can delete it. Does anyone have a solution?
- Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey SNANA51832, thanks for letting us know about this.
The 'PC' and 'PC(2)' folders mean that you have enabled the computer backup feature on two connected PCs, but the backup folder name cannot be changed.
Can you clarify what you mean when you say that you reinstalled your PC?
Did you update your operating system or did you just reinstall Dropbox on it?
And, are you seeing two backup folders for the same PC or do these two folders contain different desktop files?
Keep me posted. I reinstalled my operating system a few days ago and these two folders are not visible to me and show up on the new one as the PC folder. You can see the picture here.https://imgur.com/gallery/mGhrwen
But in dropbox, it will show this.https://imgur.com/5XcXvfi
After I reinstalled my operating system, I move all my desktop files from PC to PC2.So the PC folder is empty.And I can't delete it nor can i rename the PC2 folder.
And the dropbox desktop software will contain a PC2 folder.https://imgur.com/ka8UPxN
Look forward to your favourable reply.
- JayThanks for the info, SNANA51832, this is related to the computer backup feature.
Could you check if the old computer has been removed from the list of devices on this page? Sorry for the late reply,but it is always the PC2 folder.Though I have deleted all my devices and folders on dropbox, and I resynced, it will create the same PC2 folder.
- HannahHey SNANA51832, thanks for the update here.
You won't really be able to rename the PC(2) folder, I'm afraid.
And even though the computer was unlinked, it's still the same computer, and Dropbox recognizes that, so the backup folder will keep getting named 'PC(2)'.
Now, since the first 'PC' folder is empty, though, now that that computer is unlinked, were you able to delete it?
