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Deleted files from Dropbox were also deleted from my PC

Dear all,

I would like to ask for an advice how to proceed further.

A few days ago, I signed up in Dropbox – web version. When setting up my account, I must have left the default ticks to sync Dropbox with my Desktop, Documents and Downloads folders. Later I realized that I should have not left this default setting. As expected my free storage limit of 2 GB was exceeded and I tried to clean it up, so I deleted the files in my Dropbox web account. It turned out that these files were deleted from my computer as well (they were removed from Desktop, Documents and Downloads).

I was able to restore them from “Deleted files”, but the point is that I still do not have those files on my computer (please see the first screenshot ScS_1). I managed to download them from Dropbox and have them saved on an external flash drive. I can manually copy and paste them on locations on my computer, but is there a more proper way to do that automatically from my Dropbox account to my computer (i.e. transfer those deleted files from Dropbox to my computer, analogous to the way they were removed from my computer previously)?

In addition, when I try to access my Downloads folder from the Windows Explorer, I get an error message (please see the second screenshot ScS_2).

Can someone please help me with this? I would be extremely grateful. I searched different sources, but was not able to find a solution

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Accepted answers

Daphne

Thanks for getting back to us here @NoviceToDb!

If you previously uninstalled the desktop app, or have since disabled the backup feature with the steps Jay mentioned above, then the backup should no longer be syncing those folders to your Dropbox account.

However, the error that you're getting there for the Downloads folder may be due to deleting the folder without correctly disabling the backup feature. It's a little unexpected that the file path wouldn't revert back automatically.

To restore the default folder path for your Downloads folder, you can right click the folder and choose "Properties", and from there choose "Restore Default".

Let me know how it goes!

All comments

Jay

Hi @NoviceToDb, thanks for posting on the Community!

If you’ve restored the deleted files from the site, then installing the Dropbox desktop application would allow the files to download to your machine automatically.

You can then disable the automatic computer backup, if you haven’t done so already, and then move the files from the Dropbox folder to their old locations.

Hope this helps!

NoviceToDb

@Jay

Thank you for your reply!

Hopefully I will be able to download the files from my dropbox web account to my computer.

But can you please help me fix the issue with the unavailable path and directory (in this case "Downloads" as disclosed in the second screen shot from my previous post). Is there a way to solve this or I simply have to create the missing folder in the path where it is supposed to be (outside the dropbox folder)?

Thank you in advance!

Daphne

Thanks for getting back to us here @NoviceToDb!

To restore the default folder path for your Downloads folder, you can right click the folder and choose "Properties", and from there choose "Restore Default".

Let me know how it goes!

NoviceToDb

Thank you for the reply @Daphne!

Your reply actually solved my issue and helped me restore the defualt path of the folder.

All the best!

Daphne

I'm glad to hear that @NoviceToDb!

If there's anything else that I can help with, don't hesitate to give me a nudge here. I'd be more than happy to help further.

Hoping you have a great week ahead!

Ecuriel

Dropboxers,

Can i do a [path] restore Default for my Documents folder on my Windows 10 PC? Will this get rid of it always going to dropbox first.? I don't like the path going to Dropbox first. I want control of the files and the path. I really hate what this new Dropbox has done to my computer. Can i also just do an "Unlink" my PC to solve this...Just had it reimaged with a new operating system and had to load all my programs back on and that included Dropbox. To my surprise it has moved everything and i have lost control. Please advise. I am terrified i have lost some files. BTW i don't have a lot of space and now the "Documents" folder did not backup completely and don't want to "upgrade" just to finish the backup. i am very frustrated with this whole thing and am getting very stressed over it.

Thanks

Daphne

Hey @Ecuriel, thanks for joining us here!

I would strongly recommend disabling the backup through the desktop app settings first. Resetting the folder path was only something I suggest due to an issue where the path was not automatically reset.

To disable the backup, please follow the steps outlined towards the bottom of this article. You'll then be able to move the contents of your backup folder in Dropbox back to their original locations.

Let me know how it goes!

Ecuriel

I followed the Turn off computer backup 8 steps: Click Dropbox icon in system tray; click profile picture; preferences; backups tab; manage backup; uncheck all files; save; click stop anyway;

Files will then remain in Dropbox but won't appear in their original folders on my PC. There will be a shortcut to them called "My Files in Dropbox.

On my computer, they were accessible by a shortcut folder called “My files in Dropbox” that appeared in the “Desktop”, “Documents”, and “Downloads” folder that I'm no longer backing up to Dropbox.

This seems to be working for me and I have my files back on my PC only. I will exam more deeply in the next few days as I open files and programs tied to these files. I'll get back to you if they don't. Thanks for that. Whewwww!

Q: Can I then safely perform an "unlink"? I don't want Dropbox to link or sync to my PC until i feel more confident.

Daphne

Hey again @Ecuriel!

I'm glad to hear you stopped the backup without any issues. If you would like to unlink the desktop app for now, then please feel free to do so.

The Dropbox folder will remain on your computer, but it will just be like any other folder on your computer and will no longer sync with your account online. You can rename the folder or just leave it as it is for the meantime.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

haw3455

All of my files that are on My PC (desktop) somehow got into the Dropbox (and needless to say I ran out of space).

When I try to delete any files from inside the Dropbox, it "threatens" to delete the file "everywhere", which means, I would be left with nothing because it is the core of My PC.

How can I get My PC and all the files in it out of Dropbox but not wipe it out of my computer altogether? Thanks

Rich

@haw3455 wrote:
All of my files that are on My PC (desktop) somehow got into the Dropbox

You have the computer backup feature enabled.

https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/automatic-computer-backup-faqs

haw3455

Thanks you so much Rich.

It worked, however, My PC and Desktop folders are still in Dropbox.

Is there a way to get them out of there?

Thanks for your help.

haw3455

Hello Rich, again,

It seems like it wasn't working. Then I went back under Preferences, then I clicked on Sync and then on Selective Synch and noticed My PC was checked. So I unchecked it. I hope that was it. Have no idea why all of my stuff literally went into Dropbox.

Thanks for the help

haw3455

My problem is still not solved.

All the Folders, including my My PC is still inside of Dropbox and I am not able to move them out.

If I attempt to move them, I get a warning message that everything will be completely deleted.

What kind of B.S. is that.

Dropbox is pretty much holding all my Files and Folders hostage.

Can anyone please tell me what to do?

Thanks

haw3455

Hello,
I have a similar problem. My Dropbox has My PC and all my Desktop files and folders in it.

If I try to move any of the files, I get a "threatening" message that everything will be deleted.

I already canceled the Syncing in the Dropbox that caused this whole mess (as I just learned)

Can anyone please help me get everything out of the Dropbox and back onto my desktop without it getting deleted.

Thanks

Ecuriel

I chatted with a tech online and they suggested that I stop syncing Dropbox with the PC. Then you can grab all your files and and "move" them to your PC. It worked for me and I am doing ok now. I followed the instructions on how to do that. Any files that you deleted accidentally will be in the deleted folder on Dropbox and you can recover those as well. Good luck.

stru

This is what happened: Dropbox has a new feature. During installation a box reading "Back Up" is checked by default. Without ANY other notification whatsoever, Dropbox REMOVES all your local files during the installation and puts them on a folder of its own (online). Same thing happened to me in July and I ended up loosing all files that were locally stored in my laptop. I deleted the folder in dropbox and everything dissapeared from my hard drive too. I am still strugling to recover them. The folder was over 10GB so it was "deleted for ever".

After this I completely removed Dropbox from my laptop and guess what: whatever I save in the "Documents" folder, still appears to be in a dropbox path. Technician told me I have to do a whole format of my laptop to get rid of that.

What can I say, this is an absolut shame you Dropbox guys.