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Forum Discussion
Deleted files due to external drive getting disconnected
1. It looks like the external drive where I keep the local copies of my Dropbox files got disconnected. 2. This caused a number of files to get deleted from the Dropbox server and from all local cop...
Hi dragomirradev, unfortunately when working with your Dropbox folder on an external drive that's always a possibility.
We can’t guarantee perfect functionality of the Dropbox app if you’re running it on an external drive. For the Dropbox application to work properly, I’d recommend that you install it on the hard drive of your Operating System.
This is because Dropbox can’t always work correctly if the Dropbox folder becomes inaccessible, and this can happen if it's located on an external drive.
I'll forward your feedback to the appropriate areas so we can continue to improve.
I guess I stumbled upon this issue with Dropbox's functionality. My old PC's main system HDD is too small to store all of my family photos, videos, documents, etc. so I moved the dropbox folder to a second internal HDD. It failed yesterday apparently and I noticed that files were being deleted. Isn't there a setting to keep cloud files without deleting, regardless of what I do with the files on my computer? What's the point of using Dropbox to backup my priceless family history if it is deleted due to a hard drive failure? That's the whole reason I'm using a cloud backup! Any help?
- No help at all. Dropbox have been ignoring this fundamental flaw for years now. They don’t seem to care about it so I’m in the process of changing suppliers
- Rich
Super User II
eusdawb wrote:
What's the point of using Dropbox to backup my priceless family history if it is deleted due to a hard drive failure? That's the whole reason I'm using a cloud backup!
But Dropbox, as you're using it, isn't a backup service. It's a file synchronization service that mirrors anything that happens locally to your account online (don't confuse this core functionality with the Backup feature, which operates differently). Add a file to the Dropbox folder and it's uploaded. Delete a file from the Dropbox folder and it's deleted online. That's the main purpose for Dropbox.
If you're just using the local Dropbox folder and relying on the sync process as your backup, then you're getting a false sense of security because file sync is not a backup. Use the Backup feature linked above, or use a proper cloud backup service.
That said, I agree that Dropbox has a lot of work to do in how it handles the loss of the local Dropbox folder, but this is precisely while it's strongly suggested that you not store Dropbox on an external drive.
- Just to reiterate - for Mac users in particular - because of the inability to expand the internal HD (it is now hardwired onto the mainboard these days) external drives become the go to solution. I just don’t get why Dropbox cant implement a safety mechanism that can swing into action on an external drive disconnection - to confirm before it goes ahead and deletes all files…..
It makes Dropbox Teams a major liability for Mac based studios using it for Sync.- Precisely this above. In a design studio where one job could fill your hard drive, external drives are the only option. Or spend all day selecting online-only/local files. Not exactly productive.
