Exceeding Dropbox Basic storage and need to delete any duplicate files

Yes they probably are duplicated. But dont forget that they work as 2 different systems. So backup wont let you edit/change/share etc. it is just a 'container' of all files. You cannot get things out to do with it anything - it restores it all. 

As for desktop - that's only something you can decide...

Hi Mark

Thank you for replying so quickly.

Apologies but I only have a very basic knowledge of Dropbox. 

I don't know what the 2 different systems are that you refer to.

I'm backing documents up in case my laptop ever stops working. I presume that I can download documents from my Dropbox backup and save them to a new laptop and then be able to edit them, etc as I wish?

Is that correct?

Also, how would I delete the Regular Files - as they are only noted on the coloured bar in the overview of my account showing the storage breakdown? Where are they actually listed?

Thank you.

Skell

Hi @Skell 

Yes thats how backup works. 

However, what I mean is that the backup files are pretty much locked to that. 

You cannot do things like you can the regular unbacked up ones. For example share between devices (so open them on a phone, or a laptop), share them with a family friend etc. 

Those files show at www.dropbox.com/home

Hey Skell, thanks for reaching out to us.

Before you delete anything, you'll need to make sure that your backups are correct, to avoid losing any files you need.

So, I can understand that you currently have files in two places in your Dropbox; one is your backups and one is your normal Dropbox directory.

Your normal Dropbox files, like Mark suggested, can be found here.

And your backed up files can be found here.

Do you see that you have stored the same files in both places?

Hi from me as well, Skell! You could delete your Dropbox backups without deleting your Dropbox account altogether. However, that’s not necessary. 

Did you compare the files you see at your Home page here with your backups? Do you see any duplicate files that you can delete from your Home page and free up space?

Hi Nancy

Thank you for your reply.

Forgive me but I don't understand why I  need to spend time searching for duplications or even versions of saved documents on Backup that aren't actually the latest version as my syncing stopped a while back. 

Surely it is much quicker for me to just delete everything saved in Backup and set Dropbox to start backing up afresh the one folder that I need backed up,  as of today.  This folder, on my laptop, has everything I want saved.  Can I do that?  I just feel that somewhere along the line a lot of duplication has happened in my backups, which is why I have run out of space.

Thank you.

Skell

Thank you

Skell