After cancelling a backup I'm trying to redo that backup, but I'm getting an error message under status, even though I permanently deleted the first backup.
Thanks for your help!
Hi @klang999, welcome to the forum!
Can you send me a screenshot of the exact error message you’re receiving, so that I can have a visual?
Let me know when you’re ready.
Hi, thanks for getting back to me.
The drive is called 'INT HD', but every time I started over it added a version nummer, (1), (2) etc. Every time I permanently deleted and wanted to start over clean, but it does not let me use simply INT HD as a name.
It seems now that the backup was made, even though it shows only 494 Gb, where as the size of the drive is 644 Gb. Does data get compressed? Anyway, as long as it says "Error" I'm not sure the data is porperly backed up. Thank you for your help, best, Peter
Hi @klang999, if it says error, then it means that there was an issue backing up the drive.
Are you certain that it's connected to your computer and that the Dropbox desktop application can detect it to back it up?
Hi, yes it is certainly connected and seen by dropbox. As I mentioned it looks like dropbox has back up the drive, I can see all the folders. However, as long as it says 'Error' under Status, I'm not really having much confidence that everything is ok.
And then there ist the question why dropbox is adding a version number (x) every time I start over and does not let me erase the old version.
Thank you
Hey @klang999, can you let me know the syncing status that your app reports at the moment?
Also, what is the version of the app you're using at the moment?
Hi
As far as syncing, it says : All files are up to date
The dropbox app version is 155.4.5495
If it's adding a number each time, then it means that something is prevent Dropbox from detecting this as the same drive as before, and is creating a new backup.
Is the external drive swapped to other machines often? Is it possible that settings related to the drive are changed when this occurs?
No, the drive is never swapped or disconnected. And the settings always stay the same. Because I had these Error messages I deleted the backups several times, and also permanently deleted them, and tried to start over clean. this is when it added a number, increasing by one every time. Is it possible to rename a backup?
Thank you very much
Hi again, @klang999! I hope you’re doing well.
Is it OK if we open a ticket for you instead, and take a closer look into this?
Yes, that would be great.
Thanks
Done!
When you have some free time, please reply back to my email, and we’ll take it from there.
Hi, the question is : Is it possible to rename a backup?
Hey there!
At the moment, it shouldn’t be possible to rename your Dropbox backup, I’m afraid.
I need help to get dropbox to backup my external drive again. Current status when I connect the drive is "error". The dropbox instructions are to re-connect the drive. Doing this doesn't work. Do I need to delete the existing backup and start afresh?
Hey @matsuli, thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Can you let us know what you see, when you plug in your external drive to your computer? Does that bring up any dialog?
Are you using this external drive on other computers as well?
And what's the sync status of the Dropbox application, when you hover your mouse over the Dropbox icon in your menu bar?
1. No dialogue when I connect an external drive
2. External drive not used on other computers
3. Sync status says all synced.
...In the meantime I have deleted the old backup and have started to backup the external from fresh; I'm just not sure it is working
Hi @matsuli, are you referring to the sync status on the Backups page for that external drive?
If the sync status shows up as green, then it means it's backed up the drive. If you add, edit or delete files on the external drive, then it would sync those changes to the site. Does this occur for you now?
Having deleted the backup that showed error, and starting again from scratch I cannot see any new backup as it now may be in progress. But it is 1.2TB
If there is a new backup, then it should be visible there, even if files are still syncing. Have you tried clicking on 'Manage backups' to see if the external drive is detected in the system?
Nothing showing up...
Web is not showing a new backup
App on macbook is showing a backup in progress
Could you attach a screenshot showing the message you're getting about a backup in progress on the Mac?
As below, there is a spinning ball on the grey rectangle...this is in the app on the mac
Thanks for the screenshots, @matsuli!
Can you please send a few more details on the external drive you’re trying to back up? Is it HFS+/APFS/exFAT/FAT32-formatted, for example?
Also, what’s the app version of your Dropbox app?
Dropbox version: 164.4.7914
Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format
According to the Dropbox desktop application, what is the backup status in the 'Sync and backups/ tab? A screenshot would help greatly.
my dropbox desktop application (on mac) doesn't have a 'sync/and backups' tab.
Hey @matsuli, sorry to jump in here, but can you please send us a screenshot of the tabs you see in your Dropbox preferences?
Here we go
