Files replaced with old versions

[ralphAcosta]

Arrgh! Wednesday 01/27/2021 i opened a Word document and found all changes i had made in the last month were missing. It turned out that no files in my folder showed edit dates after 12/28/2020. I finally suspected that the only way old versions of files could be found to replace current versions was if Dropbox had restored from an old backup. Do they do this? If so, how can i get this repaired? A response by a user named "Lusil" to a similar post indicated the user got help from a "Recovery team" to restore at least some files to their newer versions. How can i contact such a team about this issue? It was really gut-wrenching to realize a month of work was gone. 

[Walter]

Hey @ralphAcosta; thanks for joining the Community and sorry to hear about this. 

It sounds like the desktop app on your computer wasn't syncing when you were editing your files. Do you remember if it was showing 'up to date' or syncing in your menu bar/system tray around that time?

When you look at your files on our website, do you see any of the versions of the file(s) you're looking for? 

If not, can you see any sign of them in your events page?

This is the place where all uploads, edits and deletions are normally logged so it should give you a hint. 

Keep me posted on your findings!

[ralphAcosta · Accepted solution]

Walter, thanks for replying! I got my data back! Lost by some still unknown process, but recovered by accident! A couple of days before my updates were lost, my wife attempted to sign on to her Dropbox on my laptop and Dropbox did what it apparently does, and saved a backup under my username. I got all that straightened out, but left that backup (for reasons unknown). When i read your reply, it triggered that memory and sure enough, my original data was there! Yay! I carefully restored everything from the backup and Dropbox synced it up to the sky, no problem. Due to significant medical issues for both my wife and me in the last couple of months, i had gotten sloppy doing my normal backups to usb sticks (plural). Not now! If i'd kept that up, i would have been irritated that Dropbox hiccuped, but it wouldn't have been significant. Now, whether space aliens invade or the apocalypse happens, i'm backing up before i attend to it. Thanks again. 

[Walter]

No worries @ralphAcosta; I'm just glad you managed to resolve this in the end!

Enjoy the remainder of your week and stay safe! 

[rolfmueller]

Hello,
you could write to Dropbox support