I can't access my backup files, after Dropbox asked for a backup update

Thanks for your time, Walter.

I agree. It looks like our two options are a backup of local files, or a sync of files stored only on Dropbox. The old way allowed local storage with a backup online that acted as a sync, so it was both in one, and it looks like a lot of people were using this handy feature. If I move all my files to Dropbox for full sync and don't store them locally, why would I need a backup of my empty local drive? Or I could start copying and saving everything twice, once to sync and once to store, because I want it on local too. Now I am using the web interface of the backup to get files on my mobile which it is not really meant for. I don't think the upgrade message explained this well and I was annoyed that I couldn't get it off my screen and read it later to make a better decision. There seems to be no way out of this being a cumbersome and complicated experience that doubles a lot of workload and increases the potential for errors with its more demanding interface. I like Dropbox but this is a bit of a Flopbox.

Walter Here is the screenshot you requested. Please help me (and others) resolve these issues of not being able to store our files on our laptop AND sync to Dropbox AND access from other devices as we previously were able to do. Dropbox has a full-year's fee for services that were changed.

Thanks for the screenshot, cbshaffer.

If you hover your mouse over the Dropbox icon in your system tray, what do you see?

Also, if you click that Dropbox icon and then click the folder icon next to your initials/profile pic, which Dropbox folder is it taking you to?

Hi Hannah 
It takes me to the first Dropbox folder (4 down in the Desktop folder). What's the purpose of the other Dropbox folder (in NomadGirl22 folder--also in Desktop folder)?

Hannah Which Dropbox folder do I put my files in to sync with other devices? Can I get rid of the other one?
and the big question....how do I keep a copy of my files on my laptop(local drive) while having the ability to sync my files with other devices?

Hi cbshaffer, these seem to be the exact same folder, just displayed differently in Windows itself. 

One is showing the 'main' system folders on your computer (in the top section) and the second half is showing folders under your user account on your computer. You can confirm this by checking out other folders there, like both Desktop  or Music folders to see that the data is the same.

Both folders have sync icons, so both are syncing to the site. Adding a file to either folder would result in it syncing normally.

Jay Walter Hannah 
Thank you all for your time in responding, but I'm still at the same point as I began. Dropbox Backup has changed your services in an undesirable way. I want to be able to sync my LOCALLY STORED files with Dropbox AND access them from my other devices. This is what Dropbox previously provided. Is it really good business practice to take away services from your customers, especially when a year's subscription has already been paid? Please respond directly to this issue. If my former services are no longer available, what are my options for possibly canceling my subscription for a prorated refund.

Rich but when you move them to DB folder, you are taking them out of your local drive. I think many people (including me) want to continue having them on our own drive. 

I am still in exactly the same position. I originally posted on this two weeks ago. Since then, dropbox has received many other questions and complaints from people experiencing the exact same after pressing the upgrade button to the new back up service. Dropbox is answering all of these queries but does not seem to realise that they are all complaints and questions about exactly the same issue – this ‘upgraded’ version of Dropbox doesn’t give us the functionality we had previously. If I had known that clicking on the upgrade link would have got rid of the syncing functionality I had previously, I would never have upgraded. Dropbox is very much diminished value for me now. Dropbox says we can still get access to files if we drag them into the dropbox folder from our main device. But that is useless to me because I want the entirety of all my files and folders being synced all the time because I never know what I might need to get access to and I don’t have time to laboriously drag different folders into dropbox. It used to just mirror across all my devices and that is the functionality that I found so valuable and would like to get back. Dropbox, please would you reverse the upgrade because it has caused a huge amount of problems for many people – surely you can see this now? If this doesn’t happen, I will need to look elsewhere for an alternative to dropbox.