Drop Box

[rsvp]

I'm not very computer literate so apologises before we begin if I appear completely thick!
I have drop box on my computer (HP pavilion running windows 8.1)and in one of the folders(?) there are downloads either automatic or ones I've downloaded - the same downloads are repeated in another download folder on my desktop. I think I originally installed d/box because I hadn't found my way around my computer and wanted somewhere to 'put things in until I could deal with them' Can I uninstall drop box as it seems to be duplicating what is already on my computer?
Thank you

[hc4361]

Your dropbox should be keeping your stuff in 'the cloud' - not on your hard drive.
This means you have copies should your hard drive fail and you can access your files from any device that is connected to the internet anywhere in the world.
If this is the case I see no good reason for uninstalling dropbox.

[Prudie]

Non techie answer - Yes you can uninstall it. I expect at some point you set it so that your pictures automatically upload to dropbox as well. If you don't want to use it as a back-up then remove it however the advantage I find with it (and there are other apps that do this) is it's a really easy way to move photos from one device to another or share with someone else.
I have it on my laptop,phone and tablet and any picture I take on my phone for example, automatically gets uploaded to dropbox on all 3 devices.

[rsvp]

Thanks for the reply hc4361 - you say my drop box 'should' be keeping my stuff in cloud (and there is a separate little cloud icon in the bottom r/h corner of the screen) - another question then.... as I have the cloud icon does this mean drop box IS keeping my stuff in cloud?

[rsvp]

Prudie your answer and hc's has convinced me to keep it and learn a bit more about the whole thing! thank you.

[hc4361]

Yes, rsvp. Another advantage is that you can safely and easily share your stuff with a friend if you want to. That doesn't give your friend free access to all of your files or your pc, just the file(s) you want to share.

[rsvp]

Thank you hc4361 for you help - seems sensible to keep it then.