If you are a Dropbox user, check your files. If you have been using an older version of Dropbox’s software, you need to know that the desktop app has deleted some user files from the cloud.
There is both good news and bad news. If you have regularly updated the Dropbox software every time the message appeared stating that a new version is available, you should have no problems. The problem exists only in older versions of the Dropbox software. In more good news, Dropbox says that it’s restoring files where it can and is updating the bug.
However, there is bad news for some Dropbox users: the company says it can’t restore all the lost files. The problem seems to have affected only those users who turned on Selective Sync, which limits cloud syncs to specified folders.
Affected Dropbox customers are receiving email messages apologizing for the problem and offering a free one year extension to existing Dropbox Pro accounts.
I often write about the need for making backup copies of critical data. However, I have always emphasized why you should never depend upon any one backup. Hard drives crash, flash drives get lost, CD-ROM disks sometimes lose data, and online services have their problems as well. Now you know why I caution everyone to never depend upon one backup.
L.O.C.K.S.S.: Lots of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe (see http://www.lockss.org for details).
How many backup copies do YOU keep? Where are they stored? Are they all in one location?
5 Comments
http://www.lockss.org/
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I have SIX backups for all my critical files like photos, docs, and of course my genealogy notes, photos, database, etc. Dropbox; external hard drive (stored in a fireproof safe when we are gone for more than a day or two); my desktop computer; my wife’s desktop computer; and the two laptops we own. I guess I’m pretty paranoid since I have had 3 hard drive failures over the years. Thanks for the constant reminders, Dick, of L.O.C.K.S.S.!
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Well, my desktop icon shows I am up to date with version 2.10.30, yet when I go to the Dropbox download site, it says the latest versions is 2.10.41. Very strange
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Same issue as bhk. If keeping the program up to date they need to make it easier to either automatically push the update so users get a pop-up. Took a bit of hunting around on the website to learn that 2.10.30 was in fact NOT “up to date”
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Roger, I emailed Dropbox about the situation, here is their support reply:
Charleston, Oct 21 12:37 AM:
Hi there,
I forgot to mention in my last email that while it’s not necessary to have that version, I advise installing 2.10.41. It includes the latest patches, bug fixes, and optimizations.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Regards,
Charleston
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