Format computer hard drive without having to re-sync my whole Dropbox

[alexanderr20]

I would like to format my machine but do not want to delete file on my drop box

I would also like to be able to back my files up locally so that I do not have to dowload them all again once i have formatted the computer

[Elixir · Accepted solution]

Hi @alexanderr20, In order to do that follow these steps: 

1. Make sure that Dropbox has completed any sync process, and all files are up to date. 
2. Then copy the contents of your Dropbox folder to your portable drive (such as a USB drive or external hard drive). 
3. Format your computer/reinstall operating system.
4. Install the latest version of the Dropbox desktop application and sign in to your account when prompted. 
5. The application will create a Dropbox folder and begin downloading files from your account. Stop the download immediately by clicking the Dropbox icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac), and selecting Pause Syncing from the menu.
6. Copy the files from your portable drive into the Dropbox folder.
7. Resume syncing by clicking the Dropbox icon in the system tray or menu bar, and selecting Resume Syncing from the menu. 

That should work for you. 

[Lusil · Accepted solution]

Hi @alexanderr20, thanks for posting your question on the Forum, & welcome aboard! :sailboat:

I just wanted to add to what @Elixir suggests above & clarify that when you Resume Syncing, your files will reindex, which also means that it should be faster in relation to them being downloaded from the start. 

Please do keep us updated on the matter & let us know if you have any more questions you’d like to forward. In the mean time, have a wonderful day ahead! 

[starproductions]

Would this work if I reformatted only my system drive (dropbox is synced to another drive) Reinstall Dropbox (latest) and point the sync directory to the old one?

I did this before on another PC and it never stops "indexing" the icon remains on sync with thousands of files but never really changes so I can't see if any new downloading files are actually being downloaded or not.

We are talking terrabytes of data. Wanting to know if I have to redownload all or will indexing work with latest version?

Thanks

[Lusil]

Hey @starproductions, thanks for nudging us on this thread. 

If you format your internal/main drive on your computer and you have the Dropbox folder located in another drive, it shouldn't be affected. 

However, to be on the safe side and to have some peace of mind, I'd recommend making sure that the desktop app isn't running before formatting. 

Once you complete the format, reinstall the desktop app. Before completing it, apply your selective sync settings and point the location to the parent folder of your Dropbox folder. 

If anything comes up, give us a shout here or submit a ticket to our Support team - we're more than happy to help!