We’re Still Here to Help (Even Over the Holidays!) - find out more here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
are already existing files uploading again? and slow performance
Hi all, first-time user here. I purchased the one-year account, because 2 GB is not remotely enough (go figure). Here's my issue: when I first started to upload from my laptop (Windows 10), every...
MerlintheMad wrote:
If I click and drag from my "C" drive "Pictures" and "Documents" folders, to the Dropbox folder, will that overwrite what Dropbox has already uploaded to the Website? Or will Dropbox simply ignore the files that are the same?
Dropbox will compare the files you put in the folder to the copies that it has online. If they're the same, nothing will happen. If they're different or don't already exist online, they will be uploaded. Just double check before you do that, because if they're already online, they're likely downloading to the Dropbox folder once you install Dropbox.
Or, should I simply delete everything Dropbox has done, through my prior messing around, and then click and drag new folders from "C" drive to Dropbox, i.e. start over fresh? Your advice on this is appreciated.If it were me, I'd probably start fresh using the Dropbox folder on the computer.
One deciding factor would be your network speed and data limits. If you're on a fast connection with no limits, delete and start over. It just needs to reupload anything that you had already uploaded. If you have limits, then you probably don't want to start over so you're not wasting bandwidth.
Thanks for replying:
What is the correct way to put my computer folders into the Dropbox client folder to get the uploading to the Dropbox Website going? I tried dragging my pictures and documents folders there, and all it seemed to do was create shortcut links back to my computer folders.
Rich
Super User II
Super User IIThat depends on your OS, where the files are located and how you dragged them. Most often, when the file or folder you're dragging in on the same drive as the Dropbox folder, you just drag it into the folder. This will move the files into Dropbox (you don't want to copy them in, because then you have two separate copies on your computer). If the files are on a different drive, when you drag and drop, by default you're copying. You would usually hold down a modifier key (CTRL, or SHIFT, or Option, etc.) to change it to a move. Usually it's holding down some combination of modifer keys that causes a shortcut to be created instead of moving or copying the actual files. This is all controlled by your operating system and not Dropbox.
Another related question, then, before I start over: If I click and drag from my "C" drive "Pictures" and "Documents" folders, to the Dropbox folder, will that overwrite what Dropbox has already uploaded to the Website? Or will Dropbox simply ignore the files that are the same? Or, should I simply delete everything Dropbox has done, through my prior messing around, and then click and drag new folders from "C" drive to Dropbox, i.e. start over fresh? Your advice on this is appreciated.
- Rich
MerlintheMad wrote:
If I click and drag from my "C" drive "Pictures" and "Documents" folders, to the Dropbox folder, will that overwrite what Dropbox has already uploaded to the Website? Or will Dropbox simply ignore the files that are the same?
Dropbox will compare the files you put in the folder to the copies that it has online. If they're the same, nothing will happen. If they're different or don't already exist online, they will be uploaded. Just double check before you do that, because if they're already online, they're likely downloading to the Dropbox folder once you install Dropbox.
Or, should I simply delete everything Dropbox has done, through my prior messing around, and then click and drag new folders from "C" drive to Dropbox, i.e. start over fresh? Your advice on this is appreciated.If it were me, I'd probably start fresh using the Dropbox folder on the computer.
One deciding factor would be your network speed and data limits. If you're on a fast connection with no limits, delete and start over. It just needs to reupload anything that you had already uploaded. If you have limits, then you probably don't want to start over so you're not wasting bandwidth.
Thanks, Rich. I will delete and start over................
