Dropbox app won't let me uncheck PC for selective sync

[johnlockefromlost]

I'm using Dropbox Plus on my HP Envy laptop. I've backed up my computer to Dropbox, and now I'd like to factory reset my computer (including deleting all my files -- the whole reason I purchased Plus). I'm worried that if I do this, Dropbox will delete all my files as well, so I'm trying to use selective sync. When I unselect "PC" or all the subfolders under "PC" in my preferences and hit apply, it does nothing. If I open up the selective sync preferences again, those folders are re-checked.

What's going on? What should I do? I really want to reset this computer ASAP.

Thanks in advance.

[Rich]

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@johnlockefromlost wrote:

When I unselect "PC" or all the subfolders under "PC" in my preferences and hit apply, it does nothing. If I open up the selective sync preferences again, those folders are re-checked.

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You can't use Selective Sync to remove that folder. The "backup" feature works by MOVING your Desktop, Documents and Downloads folders into the Dropbox folder. If Select Sync allowed you to remove the PC folder, you'd be removing your actual Desktop and other folders from the computer.

As long as you unlink your computer from your Dropbox account, you can factory reset it without it deleting the files in your account online. Just make sure your sync is finished and Dropbox is showing Up-to-date before you unlink the computer.