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spilly82's avatar
spilly82
Explorer | Level 4
2 months ago

Dropbox Sync errors STILL on Windows Search folder

This is a repost of an issue I posted 7 months ago, when it first got on my nerves.
"Dropbox Sync errors on Windows Search folder "

The reply I got just fobbed me off, saying others haven't reported it - which may be true, but it doesn't answer the question, or address the issue.   So not a good reply, was it?

This post askes the same question again, clearly indicates the cause of the problem and suggests a solution.
Please note the issue does not rely on any product or service other than Windows Search, the DropBox app and the Dropbox sync process. 

The problem occurs because Dropbox wrongly treats all data in the Dropbox tree as owned by <username>. It does not allow for folders temporarily created and owned by SYSTEM processes, such as Windows Search.

Evidence I have relocated all <username> data files to a separate Data Drive D:, just as OEMs have done since Win XP.
This is my Dropbox folder path and its contents (on a Win 11 box, tho' this is irrelevant)

D:\Users\<username>\DropBox      'owner <username>
    Folder1...                   'owner <username>
  Folder2...                  'owner <username>  
  Search                      'owner SYSTEM
      Data                     'owner SYSTEM
            Temp                 'owner SYSTEM
                 USGTHRSVC       'Read Permission is denied to Administrators

The Dropbox System Tray window currently reports 46 Dropbox created issues... 
the Fix button does nothing to help, as all the error files are System files, not accessible to a normal Admin user

Suggested Solution
I suggest Sync should ignore any folder owned by SYSTEM, and this issue will disappear.

NB It seems wrong in principle to copy SYSTEM owned files to any external system apart from a full imaging process initiated by SYSTEM. 

The above is 100% reproducible - assuming appropriate valid relocation of the DropBox folder

Please test for yourselves and report back here.
I await an update of the Dropbox app. I am using 211.4.6008

Spilly82

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Hey spilly82, thanks for posting here!

     

    I hear you, and I definitely want to check why this might be happening. 

     

    Do you think you'd be able to send over a couple of screenshots, in order for us to have a visual too? Feel free to cover any sensitive information there. 

     

    Let me know more, and we'll take it from there!

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