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Forum Discussion
Deleted files due to external drive getting disconnected
1. It looks like the external drive where I keep the local copies of my Dropbox files got disconnected. 2. This caused a number of files to get deleted from the Dropbox server and from all local cop...
Hi dragomirradev, unfortunately when working with your Dropbox folder on an external drive that's always a possibility.
We can’t guarantee perfect functionality of the Dropbox app if you’re running it on an external drive. For the Dropbox application to work properly, I’d recommend that you install it on the hard drive of your Operating System.
This is because Dropbox can’t always work correctly if the Dropbox folder becomes inaccessible, and this can happen if it's located on an external drive.
I'll forward your feedback to the appropriate areas so we can continue to improve.
Thanks.
I don't think that this made a difference. I had killed the app and rebooted the computer with the drive attached to it. Then the deletions continued again.
I couldn't make progress this way. This was very time consuming and disappointing.
I am now trying to rebuild the local copy on a different drive, starting with an empty drive. Based on my previous experience, this will take weeks. And I don't know what will happen if the drive gets disconnected again and starts deleting files again.
Any advice?
Thanks.
Drago
I don't think that this made a difference. I had killed the app and rebooted the computer with the drive attached to it. Then the deletions continued again.
I couldn't make progress this way. This was very time consuming and disappointing.
I am now trying to rebuild the local copy on a different drive, starting with an empty drive. Based on my previous experience, this will take weeks. And I don't know what will happen if the drive gets disconnected again and starts deleting files again.
Any advice?
Thanks.
Drago
Megan
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHi dragomirradev, it's indeed possible that this is happening because you're using an external hard drive.
When you visit your account online, are the files fully restored, or does the restoration process still take place? I'd suggest you give some time for the files to fully restore online, then try again.
As for the different drive that you mentioned, I am assuming it's also an external hard drive?
The external hard drive is ok.
However, when it got accidentally disconnected from the power supply, this caused all files on the server to be deleted.
The question is how to prevent this from happening again. Can you add some safety measure in dropbox that would recognize that the entire local copy of the files has been disconnected and issue a warning to the user before automatically assuming that all these files need to be deleted.
Thanks.
Drago- Megan
Hi dragomirradev, unfortunately when working with your Dropbox folder on an external drive that's always a possibility.
We can’t guarantee perfect functionality of the Dropbox app if you’re running it on an external drive. For the Dropbox application to work properly, I’d recommend that you install it on the hard drive of your Operating System.
This is because Dropbox can’t always work correctly if the Dropbox folder becomes inaccessible, and this can happen if it's located on an external drive.
I'll forward your feedback to the appropriate areas so we can continue to improve.
This is not a solution. This is a limit.
- Megan, what is the latest on this issue. For what it is worth I think this is the single biggest liability using Dropbox - in particular in the Mac environment where you are driven to use external storage by Apple’s design philosophy.
Surely there is some progress on addressing this issue with some new/improved functionality by now ?- Megan
Hi ScottMOz, we don't have any current news on this.
We will make sure to update any relevant threads if and once we do. Thank you!
- Is it actively being investigated ? And is it recognised as an issue? The standard response from Dropbox of “we don’t recommend using external drives” isn’t satisfactory.
