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Can I back up a partitioned disk?

Hello !
I wanted to make a backup of some folders I have on a partitioned drive on my PC. The problem is that in the Backup Dropbox Beta configuration it only shows me folders on the C:/ drive.
My dropbox is also on another drive that is not C.
Does anyone know how to fix this?
Thank you very much for any answer!

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Hannah

So, if I understand correctly, you want a second backup of the folders that are already synced to Dropbox, right?

In that case, that's not possible, as the folders you have synced to your account are already synced with the Dropbox servers; they're already "backed up" since they're available on dropbox.com.

You'd have to create a manual copy and upload it to your account, but that would also mean double the space taken up in your account.

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Hannah

Hey @Laia IA, thanks for reaching out to the Dropbox Community.

Dropbox detects each partition on a computer as an individual drive, however, you can only back up files that are on the same drive as your Dropbox, which you're saying is not what you're seeing.

How did you move the Dropbox folder to that other drive? Through the Dropbox app preferences or manually?

Thanks.

Laia IA

Hi Hannah,

thanks so much for your quick answer. I have moved my Dropbox with the Dropbox preferences settings to the drive / :

The files I want to back up are on the same drive (D:)

When I try to configure the path of the files I want to secure in the back up it only gives me the option of C drive locations:

another question, is it not possible to back up an entire folder?

Thank you so much again

Laia

Hannah

Thanks for the additional info and screenshots, Laia!

I've looked a bit further into this and wanted to kind of correct my previous statement; with the Dropbox backup feature you can only back up files and folders from the hard drive with the Dropbox desktop app on it (usually the drive where your operating system is installed).

Basically, the drive where the app installed, not where the Dropbox folder is located, so what you're seeing is expected behavior.

As for your question about backing up an entire folder, can you please clarify a bit more?

Laia IA

aaahm, I understand.

Thank you!

that means that I can't copy the files I want to...
Actually what I want is a full backcup of all my Dropbox content that I have on my PC synchronised. I want a backup that is only available online. To avoid my mistakes of accidentally deleting folders or files... I have a backup on an external hard drive but I also wanted this online backup (just in case).

would this be possible with dropbox?

thank you I really appreciate your answers.

Laia

Hannah

Happy to clarify, Laia!

So, if you're using the Dropbox desktop app, but you want your files accessible only online and not from your PC, I guess I would suggest selective sync.

With that feature, you can choose which folders appear in your Dropbox folder and have the rest only available on dropbox.com.

I hope this helps!

Laia IA

I think I can make myself clearer with this diagram:

I already have folders with different sync settings. I just need a backup of the synchronised folders between my PC and the dropbox server. Is it possible to automate this with the Dropbox Backup Beta application? Or do I have to make a manual copy on the server?

thanks si so much again Hannah

Regards

Laia

Hannah

So, if I understand correctly, you want a second backup of the folders that are already synced to Dropbox, right?

In that case, that's not possible, as the folders you have synced to your account are already synced with the Dropbox servers; they're already "backed up" since they're available on dropbox.com.

You'd have to create a manual copy and upload it to your account, but that would also mean double the space taken up in your account.

Laia IA

Yes. That is exactly what I want.

Than I will make it manual.

Thank you soo much Hannah!

ClaudioCreativo

Hi Hannah, I had a very similar problem, however I am no satisfied with the outcome of this blog. I want to backup the data on / (this is not a flash drive, but just a partition).
I can't see any option that will allow me to select whichever folder I want to backup, but only those few that also Laia showed you.
Are you saying that Dropbox can only backup folders in the HDD where it's installed to?
In my case I could uninstall Dropbox and I will try to install it on /, however this 'feature' does not make any sense to me and it's very much limiting the opportunity to be agile and backup any folder connected to the computer.

Hannah

Hey @ClaudioCreativo, with Dropbox backup you can indeed only backup folders in the hard drive Dropbox is installed on.

I will, however, pass your feedback to our team about this and if you have any other questions, let us know.