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Forum Discussion
Dropbox moving my documents folder
Hi guys, I just tried the latest beta feature that allows me to backup my mac's folders.
The issue is that when I select to backup my documents folder, dropbox just moves my entire documents folder from /Users/username/ to /Users/username/Dropbox/My Mac/ folder without asking me if that's OK. It just created a symlink in my home folder (/Users/username) that points to the the dropbox folder.
THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE.
1. A backup software shouldn't move around the source files. I want my data to stay in a specific location that I prefer.
2. I have another backup software running on my machine that has to now re-upload ~9gb of files because dropbox decided to move the folder.
3. The replacement folder it created doens't even match the icon of documents folder.
This frankly feels like an intrusion of my data. Until dropbox can figure out how to backup files/folders without moving my data in the dropbox folder I am turning this feature off. I hope this feedback reaches the right folks.
Thanks.
This just happened to me today!!!! I'm flabbergasted!
It's supposed to be a backup, no where does it suggest that my files will be moved or does it seek approval.
I then contacted support through chat box and they just didn't respond when I told them what happened. I'm so upset that without asking they moved my files then just to completely ignore me. Mind you that it was handlled proffessionally with absouly zero foul language.
This has got to be one of the worst thoughout ideas. I'm am now very worried that files maybe missing and my backups were deleted right before I installed Dropbox.
I'm not a sue happy person but this has been sent to my attornies, terms of service can't cover mis-leading the consumer. I feel extemely violated and I only asked them to help me revert what they had done.
Also didn't realize this initially and am completely turned off. Also almonst deleted everything. I hope that I have now completely removed everything from dropbox from my computer. For years I found it very useful. This action unfortunately moves me to not trust dropbox. Sorry, but this is a pretty big issue.
this just happened to me too and I am also v surprised they moved everything without a notification! my links are all broken and I'm having trouble moving it all back. Really hope it doesn't accidentally delete anything
- Lusil
Dropbox Staff
Hello ainstushar, welcome to the Dropbox Community.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding our computer backup feature - we greatly appreciate it.
If any issues come up that you'd like to troubleshoot or you have any other questions for us, don't hesitate to give us another nudge.
In the meantime, I hope you have a lovely day ahead!
I just went through this setup and didn't realize it. When I realized I was backing up all my files and was going to exceed my storage limit, I cancelled the sync, updated the preferences to not include My Mac and proceeded to delete the files. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware that the setup process moved the contents of my system based, "Documents" folder in to the Dropbox folder itself! Imagine my surprise when I tried to find a file today, but it was no longer there. But the directory pointed me to the deleted Dropbox folder. Now I can't even find it in the Trash, because the deleted file only contains aliases to the folder hierarchy. I understand the logic in this, but the step was definitely not clear in the setup. I need considerable assistance to recover these files now. Please help!!!
any solution for this ? I also have the same problems, and want to get back all my files which I have prepared for them almost 2 months. .
Just happened to me. Are they kidding me? Its unbelievable that they move Documents folder.
Now I can't also sync on Google Drive
Anyone fixed this? Tks
Yes this nearly gave me heart failure also. All my scanned documents that were on an external drive containing my dropbox folder are now nowhere to be found including the master online portal version. Luckily I was able to search for the missing files amongst all the increasing numbers of "selective sync" folders (another "feature" that's getting increasingly dull...)
This may be a great feature but the trust element that is 90% of Dropbox vs "any-other-provider" just took a really big hit for me.
PLEASE TRY HARDER to be a bit clearer on what new features do before turning them on - maybe FAQ's including "Oops - I can't see my files anymore"
