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Anyone else experiencing files and folders being deleted from Dropbox without human intervention?
I know that I'm going to get the stock Dropbox answer here that it can't happen, but I can explicitly tell you it does.
What I saw was random deletions of over 10,000 files/folders in the space of less than 33 seconds. Even with the best will in the world - not to mention the fastest fingers - this just isn't possible. Especially considering that some complete folders, and in some cases just files within folders, disappeared at 13:30 BST yesterday, all within 33 seconds (according to the event log).
The kicker is that the only person who has access to these files/folders is me - and I know for sure that I didn't delete them.
I guess there may be 2 explanations:
1) I entered a fugue state and decided to delete all my work on a number of cases
2) Something is happening with the Dropbox software that either Dropbox don't know about or can't fix
Been trying to get Dropbox support to assist, but got the usual default customer service answer of "it's not us it's you". Well, I know it's not me - so by extension it must be the software!
Next step is to request a refund of my yearly plan as I cannot have something that intervenes in my workflow like this and then wastes half a day (and counting) trying to figure out what's missing. I guess the only silver lining is that I have a Dropbox business account, so files are kept forever. Small benefit, but a good one at this stage.
So, after my long winded moan above, anyone have a resolution to stop Dropbox from deleting things from my folders? Or is it just time to move on to another provider?
Finally, don't let anyone from Dropbox tell you differently (especially the "Super Users") as I can categorically say it happens. They'll tell you it can't, but I know for a fact that it can.
Best of luck and hoping you don't fall foul of the same problems I've had.
currentcapital,
Did @Mark post something?
Further to your comment to @Mark -- my "buggy system" magically moved the files/folders while all my devices were powered down and offline at the same moment at 3:43 am one morning (and I was asleep...) -- that is one hell of a bug, practically supernatural.
Ask @Mark if he receives compensation from DB for his "contributions".
Thanks.
I'll check out sync.com
At this point, think I'm going to move away from a sync'ing approach entirely (at least for most secure form of backup) -- my concern is, per experience with dropbox, if the sync'ing service loses stuff, it also gets deleted off of your hard drive without any warning (and with DB, no ability to trace or recover...).
I'm on MAC, and when get resettled (moving soon...), may try a double barrell approach that keeps a sync'ing service running (good for accessing all my current working files from anywhere), and use network assessible storage (a drive connected to network router) to run time machine (which keeps versions back through time). In addition, maybe keep a bootable disk image in a 2nd partition on the same NAS device.
Problem I'm finding is almost all remote discs I've researched appear to have in the range of 10% failure rates; SSDs appear better, but not perfect, lots of stories of them just dying too.
So, whatever my NAS device, will want to see if I can have that backed up to someone's cloud as well...
Just an update on the situation to give what is fair. They did a rollback of the account and the 1066 files that were in there, are back as they were or at least those I checked so far. Helpdesk assisted promptly and for that I am grateful.
I was also informed ( I pass the info as I was given them), that the problem came from the Samsung synch with the Dropbox API.
Apparently, Samsung has released a "deep integration process that doesn't agree well with Dropbox" and Db advises against the auto-synch.
This is a bummer since I have been using the sync for the past 6 years on various Samsung phones without any issues, at the contrary it's proven very useful, besides to backing up pictures that I wouldn't be otherwise bothered to do, when my phone was stolen 3 years back, the auto-synch allowed me and ultimately the police to identify the thief and retrieve my phone.
I'm not a tech, so I have to take the information at face-value, I have deactivated the synch for Dropbox but will install it to another cloud that's not Dropbox.
Jane
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support
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Thanks for that.
Like the sound of your approach: belt + suspenders + duct tape.
I'm with you on the RAID5 or equivalent approach -- has occured to me as the only way to hedge against HDD failures (I setup timemachine on my MAC some years ago and external HDD failed within 3 months, poof!)
I'm going to be in Asia/China, so will need to find some cloud service for achiving that I can reliably access...
Thanks for your feedback (and maintaining informed, polite, helpfulness in your posts here).
@Watts H
Absolutely no problem, hopefully my negative experiences can help someone else avoid them!
If you have the skills (and I don't by the way!), the QNAP NAS that I use has the ability to be logged into over a secure VPN while travelling. I had to get someone to set it up for me, but it works a treat on the rare occassion when I'm away from the office (and my dog...) for extended times.
Enjoy the trip as well.
Cheers.
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