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Forum Discussion
Backing Up External Hard Drive
I use my laptop to DJ. I have an 256GB internal drive, however my library of audio files is over 1TB. I currently have my audio library stored on an external hard drive and have a 2nd one as a back...
Hannah
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHey bsoki, thanks for your comment here!
Are you talking about an automated way to add files to Dropbox?
If so, you can only do it manually. We do have an automatic computer backup feature as well, though, if you want to check that out.
If you need anything else, let me know!
Are you talking about an automated way to add files to Dropbox?
If so, you can only do it manually. We do have an automatic computer backup feature as well, though, if you want to check that out.
If you need anything else, let me know!
@Hannah, I'm talking about an automated way of doing the "batch adding and waiting til sync" technique. I've checked the computer backup feature, but it works only for predefined folders, not for any folders, which makes it useless for the purpose of backing up external hard drives.
@Mark, that's unfortunate. Especially considering statements such as:
- "Easily access and share your work from any computer, mobile device, or web browser"
- "Back up any file or folder: No matter the file or folder you’re trying to back up — from photos and videos to large CAD files... "
- "Back up any file—anywhere, anytime"
- "Secure and simple cloud file backup"
and others right on the Dropbox front page or one click away from it. I think that's false advertising as so far I have spent in total 4-5 hours trying to back up my files.
Solutions I have explored:
- Symbolic links: would be the easiest, but don't work since Dropbox disabled them recently.
- API: limited to 25000 calls a month (I have more files than that) and is cumbersome and slow.
- Website: Takes hours just to get the list of all the files, then takes 10+ seconds to upload each file, regardless of its size. Browser is unusable during that time.
- Moving the Dropbox folder onto the external drive and moving all the files I need into the Dropbox folder: Sort-of works, but leaves the original folder and the rest of Dropbox features unusable since I don't want to have the drive connected all the time.
The last one seems promising, but I'll have to see how I can make the rest of Dropbox useful again, which means more of my time spent on this "simple cloud file backup" task.
I really don't believe that Dropbox software engineers cannot find a way to add an "upload files/folders" feature. If it's really so, then just give us optional SFTP access for uploading files.
- Mark
Super User II
In terms of moving Dropbox to an external drive I cannot recommend you dont do this enough... there is a huge risk of data loss. If the drive disconnects or doesnt connect quick enough Dropbox can delete data - once the drive does connect it doesnt 'readd the files' it does delete them. There are safeguards in place but these are not infallible as posts here show.
