Time Machine backing up my non-existent Dropbox

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Level 1

10 points

Time Machine backing up my non-existent Dropbox

I have a private Dropbox account that I occasionally access on my laptop at work which also has a Time Machine backing it up everyday. On a coincidence I went into the backups via the HD (not the Time Machine) and noticed that it has been backing up my private Dropbox folder. As it only contains my personal files, I of course don't want it in the corporate Time Machine. I don't understand how it even got there, I have only ever accessed my Dropbox via a browser (google chorme), although I did once download the desktop application in order to run my corporate Dropbox. Could the application somehow have picked up my private account instead?

What I would like to get some help on is: how do I permanately delete the Dropbox folder from the Time Machine and also how do I prevent future backups? The folder nor the desktop application exist anywhere on my work laptop.

As I am using my private Apple ID: here are some specs on the machine I am asking about:

Macbook Pro, mid 2012

2,9 GHz Intel Core i7

OSX Yosemite 10.10.3

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on May 25, 2015 2:24 AM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

May 25, 2015 6:32 AM in response to Linda

Time Machine could not have backed up a folder that doesn't exist.

To prevent an item from being backed up, add it to the exclusion list in the Time Machine preference pane (click Options to access the list.)

To delete existing backups, first enter Time Machine. Select the folder you want to delete. From the popup menu with a gear icon in the toolbar, select

Delete All Backups of ...

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Answer 2

Linda Author

Level 1

10 points

May 25, 2015 6:35 AM in response to Linc Davis

Yes, strange isn't it. In order to sort this matter out quickly (I don't really need the backup anyway as I work towards the corporate intranet) I deleted the entire backup from time machine and made a new one, making sure that the Dropbox folder was deleted from my laptop, but had SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, the Dropbox folder is visible in the backup folder in the HD view (but not in time machine app) so now I don't know anymore... Should I try and erase the backup again?

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

May 25, 2015 6:43 AM in response to Linda

Please post a screenshot that shows what you mean. Be careful not to include any private information.

Start a reply to this message. Drag the image file into the editing window to upload it. You can also include text in the reply.

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Answer 4

Linda Author

Level 1

10 points

May 25, 2015 11:48 PM in response to Linc Davis

Here the screen shot. As you can see; the backup is from yesterday, and the oldest one is from the 22nd when I deleted the old backup, made sure that the Dropbox folder was removed completely and then made a new backup....

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Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

May 26, 2015 6:55 AM in response to Linda

Open the Time Machine preference pane and unlock the settings, if necessary. Click the Options button. Temporarily add your home folder to the list of excluded items. Save the change.

Start a backup, or wait for one to happen automatically. When it's done, open the preference pane again and remove the exclusion you made earlier. Back up again and test.

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