Couldn’t communicate with a helper application - Desktop client

Hello Walter, thanks for your reply.

You are correct, I only have this issue with online-only files. And, from what I can surmise, the issue only affects these weighty, QuickTime files- as lighter online files (Excel spreadsheets, Power Point presentations, even lighter image files) do not seem to present this problem and seem to sync up issue-free.

I have also singled the video files as "available offline" in my computer yet that action does not seem to always work, or positively affect the synching of the files (ie, it's not "a given").

The baffling thing is the "couldn't communicate with a helper application" message happens in a random fashion. It "comes and goes". I'll be able to sync a file, or two, and then the message will pop up again for hours on end... and, suddenly, the platform will allow me to download another file or two, for the problem to arise again. It's like a never-ending cycle.

As of this moment, as I'm writing this reply, the platform is allowing me to download a file. But I expect to be able to sync this file & perhaps one more before the warning pops up again. What I'm trying to say is that synching is not automatic, not a given.

Just so you know, I'm being careful to not run out of space in my hard drive so I download one file at a time, back it up to an external drive, then delete the original file and try to sync another. Yes, it's painfully slow going as I make sure to always have plenty of room in my computer's HD. So HD space is NOT an issue.

What worries me is the randomness of the issue, and that if I were on a rush to meet a deadline I could not be sure to meet my commitments on time. As it happens, I'm doing this on my own time to back up my files (and free-up online space). But this issue makes it extremely frustrating and is a warning for planning future projects.

I'm a long-time user of Dropbox and have never had an issue like this before.

Hello Walter,

The issue happened again. I was able to download one file only (the one I mentioned in my previous reply) and then the error message popped up again. As a test I tried downloading a bunch of lighter, single online files, even whole folders, and I had no problem synching them whatsoever. The issue seems to stem from large video files.

I am already in contact with the Support team but have not had a significant response. Hopefully I'll get a more specific reply soon. In the meantime I'll have to live with the "hit & miss" randomness.

Anyhoooo--- thanks so much for your concern & for getting back to me. Regards.

Hi Walter, here's my ticket #:

#23090621

Regards,

Thank you Walter, I hope Support can find the answer for me.

Just a thought, do you think it's possible for Dropbox to bring back the option of deleting a file in your computer, besides deleting the files everywhere?

Regards.

Diego.