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lpvmc's avatar
lpvmc
Collaborator | Level 9
8 months ago
Solved

Upload versus back-up?

I know the difference between uploading a file and backing up one. But....when I upload a folder from my desktop into Dropbox it is still present on my desktop. The same is true when I backup a folde...
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  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    8 months ago

    The main difference is what you can do with them.

    Sync'd folders you can manipulate, edit the files within on other devices, share links to them and work on them on the Dropbox website for example.

    Backups are static backups that do update changes BUT not in real time like sync'ing does - and you cannot manipulate / edit things in it. So if you were on a different machine you couldn't go in to a backup to get a single file out to work on for example. 

lpvmc's avatar
lpvmc
Collaborator | Level 9
8 months ago

Okay, I understand I am confusing you. 

What I would like to do is use Dropbox, I have a license for Dropbox Plus (2 TB), as a save place for important folders. Until now I have used external HD's/SSD's but I do not trust those on the long run. 

What I like about uploading folders/files into Dropbox is that I can work with them on my PC, they sync automatically and are relatively safe. But, I would like to clear my c- and/or d-drive as much as possible to be able to use them for other tasks.

My test shows I can remove a folder from my PC, after I have uploaded it, and the original folder is still present in Dropbox. If this is true I don't need to use the backup option, which takes a lot of time, space in Dropbox etc.

I think my question is: can I upload folders  from my PC into Dropbox, remove the folders from my PC, and have them save in Dropbox?

Thanks in advance and with kindest regards, Leo.

Rich's avatar
Rich
Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
8 months ago
lpvmc wrote:

I think my question is: can I upload folders from my PC into Dropbox, remove the folders from my PC, and have them save in Dropbox?

If you're uploading files through the Dropbox website, yes, you can delete the files from your computer after you've uploaded them.

Do you have the Dropbox application installed, or are you uploading solely through the Dropbox website?

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