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Broken files after Dropbox Backup auto-upgrade that filled the hard drive.
Hi,
Yesterday, the Dropbox app on my Mac auto-updated and presented a dialog saying it needed to temporarily disable and then re-enable the Backup. I agreed, and it turned out that meant downloading all the folders I had selected as "online only." This quickly filled my hard drive space and caused my computer to freeze.
After restarting, Dropbox seems to think that everything is in order, but the thing is, some files that it managed to move to a new location (e.g., from ~/Dropbox/Mac (2)/Documents to ~/Documents) are binary broken. They do not open, nor can I move them. I receive an error in Finder: "The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code 0)."
On the Dropbox.com web interface, the backup does not contain these broken files. They do not appear from "Show Deleted Files," nor can I see them being removed using the "Rewind" feature. Also, I cannot find them using the search field.
Any hints on whether I can still recover these files are greatly appreciated.
Thanks! René
15 Replies
- Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Do any of the folders have a syncing icon on them, indicating where these files might be, or do you believe they are in the Backup folders?
I'm sorry but I just understood from your previous response that the new folders that are included in the Backup feature should not have sync icons any more. And I can confirm that to be true.
All the broken files I'm referring to are in ~/Documents or ~/Movies.
Here's a recap of what happened:
- I used Dropbox Backup for years for Documents and Movies. Dropbox Backup feature held these folders in /Dropbox folder and these files had sync icons. To save local drive space, I selected most of the folders and files as "offline only".
- Two days ago Dropbox app showed me a popup saying the Backup feature is changing and that the folders will be moved to their native location at ~/Documents, ~/Movies. And that to continue, Dropbox needs to disable and the re-enable the Backup feature.
- Dropbox then started downloading all the "offline only" files and folders which filled my drive and caused the computer to freeze.
- After restarting, Dropbox seemed to "think" that all the work nescessary was done.
- The result is that some files and folders have been moved successfully from Dropbox/Mac/Movies to ~/Movies. Some files are not and still reside in Dropbox/Mac/Movies. And some files were moved but the target files in ~/Movies are broken (Mac can't open them) and they are also unfortunately gone from Dropbox/Mac/Movies. Also they are gone from dropbox.com.
I could resolve the issue if I could get them back to dropbox.com somehow but they do not appear anywhere: by search, by selecting "show delete files" nor by Rewind feature.
- Jay
Thanks for the info, have you tried contacting the support team for them to investigate this in more detail on their end?
No, I haven't
- Jay
In that case, it would be best to contact them at this stage in order to assist further on their end regarding this matter, using the link from my previous comment.
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