Lost Files

[JohnL2]

I installed dropbox a couple of days ago, and it seems to automatically copy all of my folders and files over from my PC even though I hadn't requested this - I was simply attempting to put a small number of files in a folder I could share.

Within seconds I got a message saying I needed to upgrade as my storage was exceeding the space on the plan. I therefore deleted the folders and files that had been copied over in Dropbox. However to my horror when I returned to my PC the files were literally disappearing right before my eyes.

The folders and files were selected to be permanently from Dropbox (as I needed to free up the space for the shared folder) however it gave no message that this would be the same case with my the files in my PC.

I've goine into the deleted folders of the dropbox account and there's absolutely no trace of these, and there's no way for me to contact support directly. Has anyone had this issue and know even if they're would still be somewhere on the PC (they're not in the recycle bin unfortunately). Am really frustrated how a service like this would a) not automatically copy everything in your PC, b) not make it absolutely crystal clear that deleting from Dropbox would also delete from teh PC permanently. 

Gutted

[Walter]

Hi @JohnL2; thanks for posting on our Community and sorry to hear about your missing files.

It seems like you somehow enabled the computer backup feature upon installing the desktop app on your computer. 

If those files made it to our servers, you might be able to restore them from the events page; could you take a look there and let me know what you find? 

Thanks! 

[JohnL2]

Hello Walter

Thanks for the response. I've had a look in the events page but unfortunately they're not there. I don't believe the files ever came across in the first place. 

Is there anything else that can be done? 

Thanks 

[Walter]

If the files never made it to our servers, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do from our end to restore those files, John. 

In that case, you might want to search for a program or service that would be able to restore files that were deleted locally on your computer.

[JohnL2]

Walter that doesn't help me hugely.

I need to know from a Dropbox perspective what it means for the original file in Windows on my PC when this happens i.e. is the file actually deleted on Windows too and thus can be found somewhere on the PC, or is Dropbox overwriting the files which means they are actually not considered to be in a deleted state by Windows thus there's no trace of them.

As Dropbox is performing the sync with Windows you should able to tell me this, and thus where the files will be found in Windows.  

[JohnL2]

Walter, I've contacted Microsoft and used their programme and other 3rd party software but unfortuiantely there is no trace of these files which is frutstraing. 

Please can you let me know what Dropbox can do to help me recover these?

Thanks. Peter