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Where is the Dropbox backup folder on the mac?
Where is the dropbox backup folder on the mac? I need to back up my hard disk with Carbon Copy Cloner. But when CCC runs, it only pulls an alias file. The actual Documents folder that's now backed up...
I've learned this is an issue with Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) when used with Dropbox and other cloud backups. Those cloud backups are linked and somewhat hidden. When you navigate through your external backup drive, you'll think the files are there but they're really not. Using Dropbox backup for the "Documents" folder is risky simply because copying backups like CCC can't actually see the files - they're virtually linked.
For instance, on my one M2 Macbook air, Finder shows a little "document" icon inside of the Documents folder, and it also shows a tiny little gray lock icon. When I click onto that folder, it appears all my media is in documents. Great, right?
Nope! When I plug in the external backup drive to my iMac or another MB Air, I look at the folders. There, I see the /drive/Users/UserName/Documents folder is in fact completely empty. Nothing. And under the .Mac2xxx folder dropbox creates, if I dig around, I can find the hidden linked Dropbox folder. But again, that folder is empty.
So, in fact the files aren't backed up.
If you have the external drive connected to the computer running Dropbox backup, you'll think your files are safe. But if you plug that drive into another computer and truly try to verify the files are there, you'll be in for a surprise. Your files aren't backed up.
In CCC, there's an option under "Advanced Settings" to "Temporarily download cloud-only files to make a local backup". That may work, it may not.
The warning is - verify the files are actually on the drive by connecting it to another, separate computer so Dropbox can't fake/hide what's actually not there. When your computer crashes or you do a major OS upgrade and something goes wrong, and Dropbox gets hacked/deleted/whatever, you'll think your external drive has the files when in fact it doesn't.
Losing all her data happened to my girlfriend's computer once, so I'm much more fanatic about checking on another, separate computer with a separate account. You'll be surprised at what's actually missing.
