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Computer Backup
116 Topics
STOP Dropbox from backing up external drive
I made the mistake of accepting a request from Dropbox to back up an external drive plugged into my Mac. I didn't stop to think the files in that drive were going to be huge video files that should NOT be backed up to Dropbox. How do I stop the backup of that external drive? The help section says go to the preferences of the Mac Dropbox app and uncheck folders I don't want to be synced. There is NO such option. The only option is to uncheck something about set up notifications for new external drives. There was another help suggestion that suggested right clicking "the backup" and pausing it. WHAT backup?? I don't see the external drive listed anywhere in my Dropbox folder, and right clicking the external drive icon on my desktop doesn't show any Dropbox options. How do I stop this backup without disabling ALL backups?? Thank you for any help on this....Solved18KViews5likes22Comments
can't redirect into reparse point please choose different target path
So, I uninstalled Dropbox. Now I find that my folders; Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and God knows what else are all set to my Dropbox folder. When I go to 'restore' these folders to their correct, default Windows 10 path, I get the above error message. This is outrageous. What is the solution?Solved14KViews0likes67Comments
Backup folder name change
Hello! I have 2 macs, one personal and one for work. Both had backup enabled and when I went online, I saw both computers' backup directories. The directories were both in the format of "My Mac (computername)" However, recently I disabled the Dropbox backup on my work laptop because I didn't think it would be wise to backup my work stuff to Dropbox. But I was subsequently told it was OK, so I re-enabled the backup. While everything was uploaded to Dropbox just fine, the name of the work laptop backup directory is now simply "Mac (2)". I would like to rename the folder to the "My Mac" format I previously had, but it is not letting me rename the folder. Any assistance would be great. Thanks in advance.Solved10KViews13likes43Comments
Computer backup "can't backup without permissions" error for Documents folder. How can I fix this?
I'm trying to have DB back up my documents folder, but it keeps saying "cant backup without permission". Ive already set it to read and write for all users. How do I fix this?9.7KViews0likes16Comments
I told Dropbox to not backup an external drive; now I've changed my mind
The subject pretty much says it all! I'm on a Mac and I connected an external drive (formatted HFS+). A popup came up asking if I wanted to backup this drive to Dropbox and I said no. Now I'd like to explore that service but I can't figure out how to turn backup on for this drive now that I've dismissed the popup. Is there a way to turn backup on for this drive other than reformatting it?Solved9.3KViews0likes64Comments
I see a grey X next to my Windows files and they can't be opened after disabling computer backup
Hello! I used to use the backup feature of Dropbox for my computer. Notably, this included my Documents folder (on Windows 10). At some point I turned off the backup feature because I thought I didn't need it any more. I thought this would stop the integration with my computer gracefully, but it seems that now many of my files in my Documents folder are no longer accessible, as if they were made online-only (but there is no longer an online version backing them). Some screenshots attached. The problem files appear with a grey X on the bottom left of the icon. If I try to open them, I get failure and an error message sometimes depending on the program trying to open it. I do not have OneDrive, which is the usual cause I see online for the grey Xs. How can I get my files working again? grey Xs on files that cannot be openedgrey Xs on files that cannot be opened what happens if I try to open a text file with an X using notepad++what happens if I try to open a text file with an X using notepad++8.9KViews0likes12CommentsProblem with backup (folders not in default location)
Long Story - Short Version New pc/laptop. Installed 2nd hard drive/ssd Moved location of ALL my folders (public and private) to 2nd drive. Path D:\Users\XXXX(name of user)\folder(music, documents, videos etc) Installed upgraded dropbox with 1 year free gratis 100gb storage. because i bought a 2k laptop.... and discovered DropBox Backup& Sync.. It won't run because folders are not in default location. IE C:\user\XXXX\Folder Duh! Of course they ain't! And I dont want them there EVER! The repair option will move the folders back to C: and I DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN - EVER! And because of this, the backup funtion won't work. This is sloppy programming! I was using Glacier from Synology (which is FREE BTW) and i just point it at my folders and BOOM! backed up. This bit of software cant even backup if the files are not where DropBox programmers have decided they must be. Really Bad Idea. anyone these days with a pc or laptop, which can use a second drive WILL move their folders off the boot drive. unless they have a death wish, of course...Solved8.9KViews4likes25CommentsReally Understanding Dropbox Backup
I am a scientist that has used Dropbox (DB) for about 12 years. I have a 2TB family plan and only have used 15% of it. My OS is Mac Sierra (10.12.6) with 32GB of RAM. I use the Finder a lot more than most Mac Users. My DB files are in a subfolder of my user (home) folder. Here are my 2 questions: 1. In the past I was told that only the desktop and files in documents can be backed up with DB backup. Is this still true or can my hard drive folders and files in my User (Home) folder be backup up with the new DB upgrades? 2. Given my work and the long time I have used DB, I have 250 GB within the DB main folder (with many subfolders and files. Will the backup, after it initially syncs, slow my computer's operations by eating up a lot of User memory, or is this an incremental backup that rapidly updates those new folders and files (the way SuperDuper does and also Time Machine). I cannot afford to have a slow computer due to RAM consumption.Solved8.1KViews0likes8Comments
How to access Dropbox preferences in Windows 11
Hi folks, I use Windows 11 and somehow ticked automatic backup of computer files into Dropbox. Tried to change this in preferences but I am not sure how to access Dropbox preferences in Windows 11. Any help as to how to stop automatic back up or accessing preferences is much appreciated. JKJ17KViews1like17Comments
Dropbox and OneDrive overlap, when trying to back up my files
My Documents folder has all my working files, and I have uploaded it to Dropbox (10 GB data). I created this folder a few years ago because I wanted my files on the hard drive only and did not want to use the Documents system folder that sync with OneDrive. Now I am trying to set up the Backup. But I just found out that Dropbox cannot see the Documents file folder that I had created folder, it can only see System folders. Should I move my subfolders into the Documents system folder on my PC and the set the backup? Since I did not upload from the Documents system folder originally, will the Backup run into issues with the folders (from my Documents file folder) that I have already uploaded to Dropbox?Solved6.3KViews0likes24Comments
