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euanburton's avatar
euanburton
Helpful | Level 6
3 years ago

Dropbox External Drive Backup - Changing Computers

I’ve just found out when you change Laptop / Desktop you can’t continue to use the same external hard drive with Dropbox Backup. This is absolute madness.

If you want to continue to use that hard drive with Dropbox Backup you have to re upload the full HD.

I have 2TB used on a 4TB external SSD and I’ve just changed to a new MacBook. I’m having to spend three days uploading / backing-up all my data again just to continue to use that same drive with the new device. What a waste of energy, electricity, data and bandwidth. For no reason. My old backup is sitting there in my account with all the same data and I just have to re-upload 2TB of the exact same files for no reason other than Dropbox can’t set up a way to re-link an external hard drive on on a new system.

I can’t believe this is the current state of affairs for this service.



Computer Backup
desktop
Dropbox Backup
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15 Replies

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  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hi Fabiusssss, currently, there isn't a method to continue using an existing external drive backup when using a different computer. 

     

    When using a different device, it would create a new Dropbox Backup on the site for the external drive.

  • Fabiusssss's avatar
    Fabiusssss
    New member | Level 1
    2 years ago

    Hi...has there been an update for this? I just bought a new computer and want to continue backing up the same hard drive to my dropbox. But it keeps on creating a new backup. There is no sense in uploading the SAME 1.5 TB of data again. 

    Has the dropbox team been able to find a fix for this since it was brought up over a year ago? Walter 

  • Walter's avatar
    Walter
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hey ajglendinning - could you let us know more about the issue you're facing so that we can advise further?

     

    Would the backups page help with what you had in mind perhaps?

  • ajglendinning's avatar
    ajglendinning
    New member | Level 2
    2 years ago

    Hello,

    I am running into this same issue mentioned in the post above. Is there still no solve for this almost one year after this posted? If I change computers do I need to re-upload my entire external drive?

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    3 years ago

    Hey there, euanburton, thanks for posting here! 

     

    Your feedback regarding our external drive has been very valuable and I will endeavor to make sure your voice is heard.

     

    I definitely see what you mean, and how it's affecting you while it's also not ideal. 

     

    I will pass on your comments to the relevant departments so that we can further improve our product.

     

    If you need anything else, let me know! 

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