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Please help me stop an automated upload-process. It began after linking my new Laptop.
Hello,
Yes ... although this email is about Storage Space, as you will see below; there are good reasons I will NOT upgrade yet! Why? Basically because, important issues about transparency and t...
Hi Jay,
1. Following your advice, I clicked on “events page” (in your text) and scrolled down.
- Could not find info about “where the new files were added from?”
- While there, I counted 142 deletions I made, on 13/12/2023.
2.Then, in the “Search” window I typed “Where were the new files added from?”
- After clicking the “Search Icon”, nothing happened.
3. Next, I clicked on, “All events” and a drop-down window opened.
- None were active.
4. Now, the next 5 screen-shots (from Dropbox) is Stage -1, of addressing the following request by Jay. (Stage -2 completes that, by comparing 3 screen shots, from my Laptop: at Item Nos. 9 – 12 below!)
- He said, “you'll need to manually check your files and folders in the Dropbox folder to see what could be taking up your quota.” (Which is actually the difference between 1.6 - which I had already used; and the ' maxed out' 2.3 GB.)
- This series-of-five screen-shots clearly show that (a) heaps of photos were uploaded. And (b) they clearly trace across to my Laptop!
- Cos as you will see, the (i) images and (ii) File-names – of both sets are IDENTICAL!!
What we clearly see here is 5-sets of photos’.
5. This 2nd shot shows which set of (uploaded) photos I’m about to open.
6. Now I’ve selected the second photo - & also enlarged it – in the 2nd screenshot, below.
7. Obviously, this screen-shot is a photo, of miniature sculptures, arranged by the artist.
8. Hannah & Jay give different reasons for being skeptical, that any photos (or other files), were uploaded by Dropbox; from my Laptop. Jay suggested that …
- “Perhaps you have an app or service that is moving files into your Dropbox folder, or another machine you own is syncing files to your account.”
- The answer is No, to both of your suggestions!!
- None of the photos or other files which (spontaneously) uploaded to Dropbox; are on my Tablet, nor phone! They only exist on my Laptop!!
- All those images were old photos – which I SCANNED to my Laptop!
- None were transferred to another machine!
9. What I’ll do now, is prove to you that those pictures …
- Are on my Laptop.
- Since they do NOT exist on another machine – this is where they came from!
- And the only system I have, that’s able to ‘auto-upload’ files: is Dropbox!
10. Okay, here is a screen-shot of photo-files (on my Laptop.) Notice the highlighted 'folder' …
- Has the same name, as in earlier screenshots; from inside Dropbox.
- “Z - Coburg West P.S - Mini-SCULPTURES - Gr 4 Coburg West”
11. This time please notice “I’ve selected the second photo” once again. (See No. 6 above!)
12. Here is the same photo …
- Obtained direct from photo-files on my Laptop.
- This photo and File-name are the same: as those you already saw in (See No. 6 & 7 above!)
13. Okay … I could provide the same evidence, for hundreds of other photos!
- Cos the originals of all photos (spontaneously) uploaded to Dropbox, actually
- Exist on my Laptop: and only there!
14. FINALLY … I request that from here on – until fully resolved; my Case be handled by someone, with the Seniority required to …
- Sort out this mess.
- Take responsibility for awkwardness itemised below.
- Before emailing Dropbox, I spent heaps of time researching the problem.
- That was made far worse by Dropbox’s, totally in-adequate printed directions: about cancelling automated uploads. (See ‘Item No. 9 from my 1st email.
- Even directions – and suggestions made by Hannah and especially Jay, may have been procedurally correct. But did those clarify anything at all, for you?
- My 1st email to Dropbox’s “Community assistance” gave a clear overview (in Item Nos.9 & 11). I showed that suitable, clear ‘diagnostic, & trouble-shooting strategies’ were not provided by Dropbox.
- Yet vivid evidence I obtained from the Community assistance ‘Archive’ (see Item No. 11) makes it clear; I’m certainly not the first person to be messed-about, like this!!!
- Which is why my initial contact, was careful to be very clear.
- For I hoped, targeted attention would be given right from the start!
Therefore, as well as cancelling the ‘auto-upload function’ for me; I ask you to consider …
- A meaningful explanation of what caused the problem.
- Plus suitable redress – for the cumulative & enormous nuisance caused: by each of the above contributing factors.
Regards from GraemeH
Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorCan you right click that specific image from Explorer and choose Properties, in order to determine the exact location of that file?
Hi Jay,
You asked for “that specific image from Explorer … in order to determine the exact location of that file.”
- So, via Explorer and Properties I provide the following 3 screen-shots.
- Cos that sequence also helps to authenticate exactly where “that specific image” came from.
- Among heaps of folders on my laptop.
- Which was why I used that technique 2X in my previous email.
- The image in question being - that photo of miniature sculpted figures in a band: which I forwarded to you yesterday.
Screen-shot -1
Screen-shot -2
Screen-shot -3
Cheers from GraemeH
Hi Jay,
I omitted to point out an ambiguity - cos you didn't specify which file-source to obtain that data from. So I now clarify what I did.
The 3 screen-shots I just sent to you (above), were from photo files – now on Dropbox. Which were uploaded there by an automated system.
In other words, “that specific image” you wanted, was obtained from there – using “Properties”. Not from files still on my laptop!
From GraemeH
- Hannah
Hey SpudupS1946-Dragon, you most probably have enabled the Camera Uploads feature, but let's make sure.
If you select one of those photos and follow the steps here to locate its version history, do you see the name of the device the photo was added from?
Is it the computer you're currently using?
If it is, try following the steps in this article, to see if you can disable that feature and let us know how it went.
Hello Dropbox Staff, 17 /01/2024)
Haven’t received another email from you guys. Not sure why?
Might this unexpected (new) event, give any useful insight?
I happened to click on the Dropbox icon; at the Top-Left corner of my ‘Documents List.’
In this (new) view, all Folders in the Right-column have a Green-dot with a ‘white-tick’ in it.
Which includes all the Folders, that aren’t visible in the screen shot below.
Question:
- Does that indicate they’re Folders, still targeted for upload to Dropbox? When space becomes available?
- Also, none of the 4 emails sent to me by Dropbox Staff, asked for a screenshot – of the above view!
- Would this view have helped sort out, the auto-uploading of my files to Dropbox?
From GraemeH
- Jay
All folders with a green tick mean that they are fully synced to the Dropbox site, and that they also taking up space on your local machine.
Hello Nancy … or whoever is available, 18 /01/2024)
I happened to click on the Dropbox icon; at the Top-Left corner of my ‘Documents List.’
And this is an enlargement, of what I found – heaps of Green-dots with ‘white-tick’s in them.
All Folders in the Right-column have a Green-dot with a ‘white-tick’ in them. Including all the Folders, that aren’t visible in the screen-shot below.
Questions:
- What do those dots indicate to you?
- Are they part of the ‘auto-upload’ process to Dropdox?
- Do they indicate, which Folders are still targeted for upload to Dropbox; when space becomes available?
- Hannah told me, “Based on that screenshot (I provided), it doesn't look like you have the backup feature enabled at all.”
- Sooo … would the process - which added those Green-dots have been possible; without the 'backup feature' enabled?
- If this view of my Folders became available earlier: could it have (a) made anything clearer? (b) Or even let you guys fix the problem for me??
From GraemeH
- Jay
As mentioned previously, anything with a green tick is already synced to Dropbox, and will automatically sync if you add or edit any data there.
If the Dropbox icon, or any files and folders, has a red x on it, like in this article, then that means that those files couldn't sync for some reason. In a sense, this could be what you're referring to in 3, for any files waiting to upload when you get enough space on your account.
Hi Jay & Hannah, 18 /01/2024
1st … my apology.
Earlier today I looked for a reply from Jay. Having noticed my email (sent yesterday) wasn’t listed – nor any replies; it didn’t occur to me that ‘email-storage No.1’ must have got full. And therefore new emails were transferred to ‘No.2’! (Actually, I never been in this type of situation before.)
Meanwhile … I modified yesterday’s email and re-sent it this morning. Then having checked its ‘status’ (on-line); discovered that both versions – plus replies from both of you - were stored in ‘No.2’. (Sooo … I owe both of you an apology!!)
Seems like GOOD news though! Starting to look like, problems with my Dropbox may get sorted out!
Cos Hannah’s recent email (which I didn’t find till today), (1) suggested: the Camera Uploads feature was probably enabled. (2) Then provided a Link “... to locate its version history to … see the name of the device the photo was added from.”
Okay now, what these 2 screenshots confirm is – those photos were all: “Added by Graeme Hoel Desktop.”
* A question for Jay. Thanks for your feedback about the Green-dots. But when you said, “… anything with a green tick (1) is already synced to Dropbox, and will automatically (2) sync if you …”
- Does the 2nd use of the word “sync” mean – those files would then upload to Dropbox - if space is available?
- Which of course is exactly what I don’t want to happen!
- And when linking my new laptop to Dropbox, I certainly did not select that option!
Okay … where do we go from here? Cos I need space 'freed up': the difference between 1.6GB - 2.3GB.
From GraemeH
Hi Hannah & Jay, 18 /01/2024
Just realised, I overlooked Hannah’s second request, namely:
“Is it the computer you're currently using? (The answer is Yes – my new laptop!)
If it is, try following the steps in this article, to see if you can disable that feature and let us know how it went.”
Actually, it isn’t possible to hardly even begin doing that! Bizarre though it seems, the “steps" you directed me to: don’t open!
As a matter of fact, I was already directed to go through those exact-same procedures, by Nancy; after receiving my 1st email from you guys. The outcome back then was exactly the same as: when I tried exploring that again – a few minutes ago. So, in a moment, despite me expressing it differently to you below; what I typed in my reply to Nancy, was this same message.
- What follows is the proforma that opened from Hannah’s link.
“Turn photo uploads on or off in the Dropbox desktop app.
- Open your Dropbox desktop app preferences.
- Click Backups.
- Note: Click the dropdown next to Enable camera uploads for to switch between Photos only or Photos and videos.
- Click Change AutoPlay Settings next to Import photos and videos to Dropbox.
- Click the dropdown under Removable drive.
- To turn on camera uploads, select Import photos and videos (Dropbox).
- To turn off camera uploads, select any other option.
- Repeat step 4 for Memory card.”
- The problem is, after I “Click backups” …
- There is no “Dropdown”
- Nor any text about, “Enable camera uploads for … etc”
- Sooo … nothing opens to click on.
Therefore the options connected with Nos. 3, 4 & 5 don’t become available!
I drew attention to this back then! When I replied to Nancy’s email.
Anyhow, up-to-date we have solved 1 issue. (1) Folders & Files that uploaded to Dropbox came from my new laptop. And I did not initiate an automated uploading system.
But what do we do now?
From GraemeH.
- Hannah
Thanks, Graeme.
Just to clarify, the files with the green check mark icons mean that they are synced/uploaded to your Dropbox account, so you should be able to find those on the Dropbox website as well.
As for the steps to disable Camera Uploads, can you send us a screenshot of what you see in the Backups tab?
Hi Hannah,
- I begin at the Task-bar, in the ‘up-side-down ^’ window. And click the Dropbox icon, that has a red arrow on it. (The regular icon has not been working, since my Account ‘maxed-out’!)
- Next I checked the ‘blue -GH’ button.
3. Now checked “Preferences”
4. “Backups” is now checked.
5. Here I checked “Manage Backups”
6. And of course … here we are back at this window: which I did not set up: when linking my new laptop to Dropbox!!!
7. Meanwhile I checked “Photos and Videos”. But once again, obviously I selected none!!!
8. Now I check “Change AutoPlay Settings”
9. Which opened this window.
10. This time I checked “Removable Drive.”
Now I am speechless – due to wider implications of what just opened up!
11. Finally I checked “Memory Card.”
Now I’m even more shocked by further implications – of what is FINALLY emerging!
12. Meanwhile, I have 2 screen-shots from my phone which help to further authenticate, this fact. I wanted neither my smart-phone – nor laptop – to participate in automated uploading of photos or files to Dropbox!
13. Here in particular, under “Features,” Note that (1) “Camera uploads”; & (2) “Configure passcode” – are both “OFF.”
14. Wow! Hannah … you, Jay and I, finally have clear evidence, that my laptop was highjacked by a sophisticated application: to ‘max-out’ my ‘Basic Dropbox Account.’ That’s what the ‘smoking gun’ shows: but not only about circumstances I experienced: nor only about people with ‘Basic Accounts’!
15. But please let me know what procedures will be used to remove from my account, all that 0.7GB of un-authorise, uploads of Folders and files.
From GraemeH.
- Hannah
Thanks for the screenshots, Graeme!
So, indeed, from the AutoPlay settings, it seems that the saved options were to import your photos and videos to Dropbox, so once you switch that option to, let's say, "ask me every time", the importing will be disabled.
Now, if you'd like to bring your account under quota, all you have to do is move the files you don't need to have in Dropbox, out of your Dropbox folder.
You can move them anywhere else on your computer and they will be removed from Dropbox, thus clearing up your Dropbox space.
Hi Hannah,
Is there a location or window in Dropbox where all those unwanted, 'auto-uploaded' folders and files are grouped together? So I can find and delete them very quickly?
From GraemeH.
- Hannah
Happy Monday, Graeme!
They should be in a folder named "Camera Uploads". Can you check and let me know if you can find them?
