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WilliamLow's avatar
WilliamLow
Helpful | Level 5
8 years ago
Solved

Selective Sync Conflict mess!

Hello,  I just did a fresh OS install on my Mac, with my Dropbox folder on an external drive (my startup disk is too small to hold this data). I thought that I setup my Dropbox correctly, pointing t...
desktop
sync
  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    8 years ago
    Hi William, unfortunately there’s no way of merging the folders into one using Dropbox, since there isn’t a way of knowing which folder/file has the most up-to-date information in it, or instead older files that do have important data.
     
    This can only be checked manually by yourself since only you know which files need to be kept or discarded.
     
    The reason for these extra folders is that previous you had folders which were selectively ‘unsynced’ already according to the desktop app. This should delete the local copy of the folders on that drive.
     
    However, it seems that the folders were either recreated by some app, or the folders weren’t deleted in the first place. They would’ve had a gray minus symbol showing that they weren’t syncing to the site.
     
    When connecting the Dropbox account to the external drive after the reinstall, either these folders were then allowed to sync to the drive (i.e. all folders had a check next to them), and then this would create the selective sync conflicts. 
     
    This is done avoid data loss, since as I mentioned, only you know which files should remain or not.
     
     
    Hope this helps to clarify matters!
     
Jane's avatar
Jane
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
7 years ago
Hey SxFtSxInch, sorry to hear you’re feeling this way; I ran a search on our system & I could see that you’ve chatted in to my colleague, where you’ve made some progress together, so it would be best to gather all relevant details under the same email chain for convenience’ sake. 
 
While I’ve now made sure to include a copy of your comments & I’ve increased your support priority internally, I remain at your entire disposal should you need more help in any way. Thanks! 
WilliamLow's avatar
WilliamLow
Helpful | Level 5
7 years ago

Last year, I started this original thread and realized that this issue is still a problem, so I am going to offer my solution, which is FAR from perfect!

1. I shut down all computers that use Dropbox except for one which has lots of extra disk space. This is used as my "master" dropbox storage 

2. I used a folder synchronizer app (in this case, SoftoBe's FoldersSynchronizer but there are others out there) to synchronize my Dropbox folder with the Selective Sync Conflict folder. Both folders are now the same. 

3. I delete the Selective Sync Conflict folder

4. If you have additional Sync Conflict folder, continue steps 2 and 3 until those folders are gone. Give Dropbox enough time to sync this to the cloud.

5. Open one computer at a time, giving it time enough to sync. If you see any new Selective Sync Conflict folders, use steps 2 and 3 to clear out those folders.

This is definitely a nerve-wracking process, especially the part when I delete the Sync Conflict Folder. Don't do this without plenty of backups on hand.

If this is a really bad process, please let me know. I hate giving out bad advice!

  • Michael L.96's avatar
    Michael L.96
    Helpful | Level 7
    7 years ago

    Unfortunately this is the ONLY way to deal with Dropbox now. I ESPECIALLY like the part about "Don't do this without plenty of backups on hand."!!!  Isn't that what Dropbox is supposed to do?

    It's so bad I don't even trust Dropbox any more.  I have NEVER created "folders with duplicate names!!!"  as the help page suggests.  This is total BS.  I just reformatted my main computer, hoping to be rid of these selective sync conflicts once and for all, but they are back with a vengeance and seem like they are never going away.  I am simply syncing and unsyncing various folders in my Dropbox, and ALWAYS waiting until the process finishes before doing it again.  Lo and behold, little presents from Dropbox in my sync folder with that familiar tag: SELECTIVE SYNC CONFLICT... I have complained before and always get a generic response with that useless link explaining about the conflicts.  Either Dropbox doesn't care or they can't fix it and won't admit it.  Believe me I have been VERY patient and tried to figure this out.

     

    When you reformat your computer and get selective sync conflicts the FIRST TIME YOU RUN a selective sync in Dropbox, I don't know what else to do.

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