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I have to reinstall windows and I have a lot of data on dropbox (~30 gb). I'm afraid dropbox will start syncing all over again. I want dropbox to keep the current files in my harddisk after I reinstall windows. (files are in a different drive, obviously)
SPRajagopal
Posted 2013-09-15T09:06:27.353
Reputation: 153
3
Dropbox path should be same before/after reinstallation. I just made the same thing, I bought a new laptop. I moved my old dropbox folder into my new laptop. By using settings in dropbox, select the dropbox folder --> you should show your actual folder to the new dropbox setup.
Note : DO NOT FORGET to backup actual dropbox folder into external hdd in order to avoid bad results.
NT.
Posted 2013-09-15T09:06:27.353
Reputation: 1 677
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Probably late, but because I was looking for that as well, here is the official procedure from the Dropbox documentation.
Laurent
Posted 2013-09-15T09:06:27.353
Reputation: 219
8
It looks like Laurent's answer is the right way. I seem to remember that SE likes the core part of the answer to actually be posted on SE, so here is what the DropBox documentation says, from the same link (https://www.dropbox.com/en/help/1941).
Basically, on the new computer or in the new location that you want DropBox (DB) to put the new DB folder:
To clarify how to start a DB sync from scratch in a new location (for example, in the event of already having all the files on a hard drive but in a different location, like myself & the OP), I had to actually
In my case this worked perfectly, and DB was "up to date" after a short while. Again, thanks to Laurent for the link with the answer.
By the way, on DB v3.0.3, simply changing the DB folder location to whereever my existing folder was (as per the other answer) did not work; DB stated "There is already a DropBox folder in that location" or something to that effect.
Demis
Posted 2013-09-15T09:06:27.353
Reputation: 266
uh... can't unlink, because of Dropbox's stupid new 3 machine limit. So... need to retain the existing link. – Michael – 2019-04-29T22:13:35.823
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this is how i did it on SAME computer after reinstalling windows
windows go on C: drive, dropbox files are on D: drive in subfolder "Dropbox"
i renamed that subfolder to "Dropbox OLD" and, after installing new Dropbox app, i chose same destination as before and call it the same "Dropbox". since i changed old subfolder name, there will be no conflict. I close dropbox app and MOVE (CUT/PASTE) everything from subfolder "Dropbox OLD" to new one.
then start dropbox again and let it sync. you shouldnt get any probs except if you changed some files from another computer (both will be preserved)
Tomislav
Posted 2013-09-15T09:06:27.353
Reputation: 1
You mean just point dropbox to the previous folder where dropbox synced files? Are you sure, because I've heard there are problems with conflicted copies? – SPRajagopal – 2013-09-15T09:22:40.610
I had no problems when I did this. Conflicted copies may however occur, if you change the data in the folder between the last "old" and the first "new synchronization". And as NT already said: Make sure top copy the Dropbox folder somewhere save before reinstalling Dropbox. – Tim – 2013-09-15T09:28:04.770
2problems with duplicate copies occur with ownership and permission issues. use the same account name when formatting. – Lorenzo Von Matterhorn – 2013-09-15T09:56:38.490
It's should not be mark as answer, i just do that. All files is mark as conflict, and dropbox client sync all file again. – Cheung – 2013-11-10T17:24:37.467
may be 99 people does it well but you (1/100) fail...So %99 it's working...if you try again,I hope it works for you too... – NT. – 2013-11-11T21:55:32.537
@Shiba not really, I already had this issue twice - one when upgrading windows from 8 to 8.1 and now when refreshing 8.1... all files were marked as duplicates and renamed - very annoying! – Wojtek – 2014-01-10T18:14:37.010