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Forum Discussion
Dropbox has taken over files into my PC, and how I can restore them
I bought a new PC a couple of years ago and decided it would be a good idea to install Dropbox. I am not a techie and somehow every single document and file that I have created, despite being saved ...
Rich
Super User II
Super User II
dsm5 wrote:
... somehow every single document and file that I have created, despite being saved to my PC, was also saved in dropbox.
You likely enabled the Backup feature, which MOVES your key folders (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, etc.) into your Dropbox folder so they can sync to your account online. This option is presented to you during installation, or you can enable it manually after installation. It's never enabled without first prompting you. To prevent your key folders from being moved to Dropbox, don't enable the Backup feature.
Today I deleted a few unwanted files but decided to remove the software from my desktop. Every single file that I had saved to my PC has been removed, this even though they were only meant to be saved on my PC, not in dropbox.
You removed Dropbox without first disabling the Backup feature and moving your key folders back to their original location. Since those folders were now located in your Dropbox folder, deleting the Dropbox folder also deletes those key folders.
You should still be able to restore your files from the backup.
Hi there, I have the same problem and call it the same thing - hijacking. I did enable the backup because I do want a backup. I just also want to be able to directly access my files from my hard drive. I'm trying to do this because when I try to download files from Dropbox I keep getting a pop-up that says "Are-you-sure-you-want-to-copy-this-file-without-its-properties". But I DO want to download the files WITH their original properties (eg, pictures with the dates they were taken in the properties); Dropbox changes the dates to the day I'm downloading). I've also tried copying the folders on my hard drive to a usb drive, but get the same pop-up, presumably because the folders are linked because of, as you said, backing them up. Is there a way to keep my hard drive folders independent of Dropbox while still backing them up?
