So here is some background info to the issue I’m experiencing.
Earlier I set up my Windows 10 PC to sync a file to my Linux PC. Later I installed a different Linux distribution and then reinstalled Syncthing on the Linux PC. I went to reestablish the same sync file between the two PCs. Now I’m getting two things. One(1) the newer files are not syncing to the new Linux install and I’m getting this message: “folder marker missing (this indicates potential data loss, search docs/forum to get information about how to proceed)”.
Is any of this related? How do I correct it? And are my files at risk for deletion?
So is it possible the .stfolder got removed during the OS change? And I just need to remove the folder from GUI and then remake the same file in the same destination. Will I have to delete the folder at the Linux PC as well?
Also, as I type this, I am backing up all my files to an external hard drive. Should have already done this before, I know. As where I’ve already inadvertently lost a few files due to not understanding how Synthing works. My goal is to use Syncthing to back up my files across computers. So I want to send files from my Widows PC to my Linux PC. What I don’t want is an error to occur at the Linux PC and then end up deleting files at my Windows PC. In this scenario, how is the preferred way to avoid accidentally deleting files for the novice user like myself?
You can set the folder to Receive Only on Linux. You can also enable File Versioning there, which you can later use to recover files that you’ve accidently modified or deleted on the Windows side.
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I don’t know, I can hardly grasp what you’re doing. Windows and Linux use quite different paths so I’m not quite sure how you even managed to keep a syncthing config across two different operating systems?
Syncthing is not a backup tool in itself. It syncs files, not more. Meaning that if you delete files on one device, syncthing will also delete them on the other devices. You can build backup solutions involving syncthing, but it involves more steps than just setting up syncthing on two devices.
Yes, so this would be more the rout of using Syncthing as a “back-up” solution rather then a straight across “sync” solution. I’ll have to learn more about what File Versioning is and how to use it.
Back to the question at hand. I read the document provided above, “I am seeing the error message “folder marker missing”. What do I do?”
It says if your not sure what happened to your .stfolder, which I’m not, then I should delete the folder and re-add it. So do I delete the folder on both computers? I’m just trying to comprehend a coherent plan of action that doesn’t create a lot of extra steps.
You can read about versioning at https://docs.syncthing.net/users/versioning. I personally recommend “staggered”.
You need to remove it from Syncthing only on the computer which displays the error. Then disconnect and reconnect your devices, which will trigger an Add Folder pop-up. You can then add the folder again.