I have a "ghost" folder which keeps re-appearing no matter how many times it is deleted. Any clues?
Hey, is the folder you are trying to delete empty or does it contain any files? Usually this happens because a piece of software on a computer that the folder is shared on is trying to access it, and is recreating it when someone else deletes it.If there is a file in there, looking at the 'previous versions' will tell you which machine the culprit is. If you don't have a file in there, add a test one, delete the folder again and when it reappears, you'll be able to solve the mystery! Deleting the folder on the rogue machine will fix it permanently.
I have the exact same issue. Some very old files just reappeared in my root dropbox directory, and going to the web interface clicking on version history gives a 400 error.
It turns out that there does seem to be an issue with this happening to certain people. emilg was the first to mention it but there were no other reports of it happening at the time. Several days later more people started to report it.
As the other thread for this issue is longer and has a Dropboxer replying to it on occasion, I'm going to merge this thread into that one.
Same thing happened to me, noticed yesterday. Loads of folders and files dating back to 2011 suddenly reappeared on my Dropbox account. Also happened to my wife's account.
What's going on?? Like others that have posted here, I'm pretty shocked that Dropbox seem to be indefinitely storing everything I upload without my knowledge...
For me, the biggest thing is not a respawning of stuff I've deleted, but we all seem to have things that have been revived after 5+ years, which is way longer than the 30 days that Dropbox claims. So, Dropbox really needs to explain and not sugarcoat what happens otherwise that will get them into trouble.
So the reply I've had from Dropbox support is that simply I must have had an old computer reconnect and that revived the files. But this makes no sense. I had already checked which devices are linked and I only had either old, inactive ones (now removed) or the few I use all the time (and are uptodate). Their explaination also does not fit with so many of us experienceing the same problem. I'm wondering if THEY reconnected something old....
Anyway I'm worried about the integrity of my files and really not happy with that reply.
I have emailed Dropbox Support and Tweeted to them as well. Their reply has been less than helpful, basically saying that it's a problem on my end. Untrue as this same issue is affecting so many of their users. I have responded and am currently waiting to hear back. Not a happy camper, for sure.
@alex999 wrote: So the reply I've had from Dropbox support is that simply I must have had an old computer reconnect and that revived the files. But this makes no sense. I had already checked which devices are linked and I only had either old, inactive ones (now removed) or the few I use all the time (and are uptodate). Their explaination also does not fit with so many of us experienceing the same problem. I'm wondering if THEY reconnected something old.... Anyway I'm worried about the integrity of my files and really not happy with that reply.
that is utterly ********bleep**!
I've no computers added/removed/linked with my dropbox account, it just happened out of the blue!
@unclechichi wrote: I have emailed Dropbox Support and Tweeted to them as well. Their reply has been less than helpful, basically saying that it's a problem on my end. Untrue as this same issue is affecting so many of their users. I have responded and am currently waiting to hear back. Not a happy camper, for sure.
another ********bleep** reply from dropbox, evidence here everyoine started having this problems yesterday morning around 10AM GMT time
1/19/17 - I just went to save a file to my account and I had old folders suddenly reappear and one major one is now gone. I know this because the folders were those I set up on a project some 8 years ago. My folder structure looks like a mess now and it was tidy just yesterday. More alarming is one important folder is entirely gone! I checked the history and nothing out of the norm shows up but what a mess they have now caused. And I was looking at switching to a business account - ah, not after this.
Old folders reappear here at our office on two out of five computers.
Same issue, I just had folders sync up from years ago. No account activity, checked computer access and no unknown or old computers could have possibly done this. The folders were added yesterday around 8:30 CST.
Several folders that were deleted years ago appeared in my main Dropbox folder yesterday. Should I be worried about this?
billk86 wrote: Several folders that were deleted years ago appeared in my main Dropbox folder yesterday. Should I be worried about this?
Merging your post into the main discussion for this issue.
same issue for me. as of this morning several previously deleted folders have re-appeared in my DB. No connecting to older computers involved. hopefully this gets resolved soon.
I tried to get files recovered past 30 days a while ago, where was this bug when I needed those files then?
I'm having this same problem – several different folders of old files from 2009–2011, deleted years ago but suddenly reappearing overnight. And I definitely haven't connected to an old computer, either.
My Dropbox has also been stuck on "Syncing (16 files remaining)" since about 10am UK time, and I got an email around the same time to say that a file request was closed … for a folder I deleted last year. Something is definitely up here, and it's not good.
same issue here - files and folders that I deleted in 2011 reappear (several GBs).
@Rich wrote: @billk86 wrote: Several folders that were deleted years ago appeared in my main Dropbox folder yesterday. Should I be worried about this? Merging your post into the main discussion for this issue.
@billk86 wrote: Several folders that were deleted years ago appeared in my main Dropbox folder yesterday. Should I be worried about this?
Will we see any resopnse from Dropbox on this? I saw some replies asking about whether this was due to files being re-syncd from local machines... But I see no replies addressing that this can not possibly be the case for the majority of the people comenting here...
I deleted these files over 6 years ago. The devices I had those files on are long gone, and trashed. The Terms of Service state files are unrecoverable after 30days be Dropbox, suggesting when we delete from the service they are gone forever... Yet these files have retuend, sent to us by the Dropbox Servers... Why?? This is a massive breach of trust for Dropbox, and I think we deserve some communication about this before we find out from CNN or a tech blog website posting it all over Facebook... Or do we need to report this to the media ourselves to get an answer?
Two days ago, a folder mysteriously appeared in my dropbox folder. Some time later a subfolder was added and a word file was added. The folder and the files therein were mine but had been deleted years ago.
The events page has no record of the folders or the file being added to my dropbox folder.
How do I figure out what computer they came from and how?
Jim
Thanks for your reports, and we’re sorry for the confusion we’ve caused. Here’s more information about why some of you are seeing previously deleted files or folders reappear in your Dropbox.
What happened?A bug was preventing some files and folders from being fully deleted off of our servers, even after users had deleted them from their Dropbox accounts. While fixing the bug, we inadvertently restored the impacted files and folders to those users’ accounts. This was our mistake; it wasn’t due to a third party and you weren’t hacked.
Why are these files and folders so old?Typically, we permanently remove files and folders from our servers within 60 days of a user deleting them. However, the deleted files and folders impacted by this bug had metadata inconsistencies. So we quarantined and excluded them from the permanent deletion process until the metadata could be fixed. During this time no one had access to your files or folders and none of your other files were affected.
What should you do? We’ve fixed the metadata bug so you can delete these files and folders now, and they won’t reappear. We’re continuing to explore alternative solutions and will keep you updated here on the forum. In the meantime, we’ve made sure these files and folders won’t have a negative impact on your quota.
If you still have questions, you can reach our support team at http://bit.ly/cm-support
P.S: This has been marked as a 'solution' to be pinned to the top of the page and visible to everyone.
Let's say "it's fine".
However, it is extremely irresponsible to keep everyone in the dark, being silient or providing generic answers that lead to nowhere, instead of admitting there is an issue and you were working on it. There is no justifiable reason why anyone could have said anything yesterday after many posts, tweets, bug reports, and more.
Your attitude has been dismissive, rude, inconsiderate... I am a "free" member, I cannot imagine how paid subscribers feel like.
Good luck to you all keeping things straight and heads above water. This was a HUGE slap in the face to us loyal customers who put countless of important data in your servers, some of us savvier than others. The LEAST you could have done is say ASAP that it wasn't a hack, for people's peace of mind.
I am past furious. I am just now dissapointed.
Ross,
Thanks for your answer, but I still can not delete these files. I tried it both from my desktop and online.
All the folders instantly re-appear.
Please advise.
Oh and yes. The "ghost" folders, for lack of a better term, are still there. I delete and they reappear. I guess the issue isn't actually resolved
Thanks for letting us know! Ok, we're looking into this now. I'll update again as soon as possible.
@winni2 wrote: Ross, Thanks for your answer, but I still can not delete these files. I tried it both from my desktop and online. All the folders instantly re-appear. Please advise.
I'm going to follow up with you via email, you should receive it soon.
