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Forum Discussion
stuartcalder
2 months agoNew member | Level 1
Unable to make all my files available offline onto new Mac
I've got a new iMac after the old one has just given up the ghost. All my files are fortunately backed up on Dropbox. My back-up drive was unfortunately corrupted. I've installed Dropbox on the new computer and all my files now appear but with "zero bytes".
But there's a problem. I can download each file onto the hard drive one at a time by opening and closing it, but this is impossibly time consuming to do for every single file!
I have gone to Dropbox Preferences, then clicked Sync and then checked Available Offline - but still all my "zero bytes" files remain on line and don't download until I click on them.
I'm sure there's a simple solution. Please can someone advise me how to find it? Thanks.
- janicetaylorNew member | Level 1
I will definitely save this information till the time when/if my storage capacity becomes limited. It's comforting to know there is a good alternative option.
Thank you!
- janicetaylorNew member | Level 1
This is great information. I will keep it in my "back pocket" until the need presents to free up storage on my Mac. It is comforting to know, thank you!
- janicetaylorNew member | Level 1
Thank you for your reply. I see "Dropbox 216.4.7292 Up to Date" when I hover on the icon in the menu bar
- Jay
Dropbox Staff
Hi janicetaylor, are you able to right right a file or folder in the Dropbox folder, to see if the Dropbox context menu items appear there?
- janicetaylorNew member | Level 1
Yes, the context menu items appear on right-clicking a file or folder, as in the attached screenshot. The file has zero bytes unless opened, after which it posts the file size.
- stuartcalderNew member | Level 1
Under Preferences I clicked Selective sync to select all the folders. Then I clicked Available offline. Here are the screenshots -
- Jay
Dropbox Staff
Hi stuartcalder, could you locate the Dropbox folder in Finder itself, and then right click it and choose the option to make the files local?
- stuartcalderNew member | Level 1
Eureka! Thanks for the tip.
- stuartcalderNew member | Level 1
I selected the whole Dropbox folder and made it available off line. I have now deselected it and pressed update, then later gone back and reselected it and pressed update but my files are still reading zero bytes.
With your second recommendation, I don't quite understand how moving these zero-bytes files to another location on my computer and then back into the Dropbox folder will download them. Please can you explain? Thanks.- Nancy
Dropbox Staff
Hey stuartcalder! Hope you don’t mind if I jump in.
Can you clarify what you mean when saying that you’ve deselected the Dropbox folder and pressed “Update”?
If you can send me a screenshot of where you’re clicking exactly, that’d be great so that I can have a visual, too.
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hey there stuartcalder - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.
Did you try selecting your whole Dropbox folder and making it available offline and/or online-only and vice-versa to see if it makes any difference?
Otherwise, you can try copying or moving those zero-bytes files to another location and then back into your Dropbox folder.
In any case, please keep us posted, Stuart.
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