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WhiteErinM's avatar
WhiteErinM
Explorer | Level 3
8 years ago
Solved

How to "start all over" with Dropbox?

I have been experiencing sync errors on one out of the three computers where I use Dropbox. I feel I have spent quite enough time on the sync errors, and all I want to do at this point is start all o...
Delete
sync
Mark's avatar
Mark
Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
8 years ago
To do a complete restart on this machine personally I would:

-Unlink the current account https://www.dropbox.com/help/mobile/unlink-relink-computer-mobile
-Delete ALL files and folders relating to Dropbox (including your own data - move it to another directory if you want)
-Uninstall Dropbox via here so it has all gone https://www.dropbox.com/help/desktop-web/advanced-reinstall
-Reboot machine
-Do an *advanced reinstall* as per the uninstall link
-Let everything redownload.
  • WhiteErinM's avatar
    WhiteErinM
    Explorer | Level 3
    8 years ago

    Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, the very same files that are causing the sync errors cannot be deleted "because they are in use by another program".  I have googled these file names and they appear to be related to Windows indexing. So I turned off indexing, but no love - still cannot delete them, and therefore cannot delete the Dropbox folder. I cannot even rename the Dropbox folder - same error "in use by another program".  Yes, I am logged in to Windows as admin.

     

    This is probably not so much a Dropbox problem as it is a Windows problem. But the bottom line is, unless I want endless "cannot sync" happening, I guess I cannot use Dropbox on this computer any more :( 

    • Mark's avatar
      Mark
      Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
      8 years ago
      Have you contacted Microsoft support to ask how to disable the indexing?
      • WhiteErinM's avatar
        WhiteErinM
        Explorer | Level 3
        8 years ago

        Yes, I have disabled it and rebooted, and it still won't let me delete these files or rename the Dropbox folder. I can't imagine what other application or service could be using them. I feel like I've spent too much time on this, and I should just drop-kick the laptop into the ocean and get a new one LOL 

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