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I need Dropbox files redistributed between two drives, due to the lack of space.
Whatever is you subscription [mine 2Tb] you may think the [File System] in two way: [DISK] I have all my files on MY MAIN PC that are managed to Cloud + other BKP PCs by Dropbox. Only BKP PC get ...
Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorHey Alain Church, welcome to our Community!
Let's clarify a couple of things to make sure we're on the same page.
As a first step, do you wish to keep all of your Dropbox files locally on the device, or separate them between two of your hard drives?
You also mentioned a syncing issue due to hard drive space availability. Have you already tried making some of your files "online-only"? If so, did you face any issues while doing so?
Lastly, can you let me know what your end goal is? Do you wish to have all of your files available offline but worry in regards to the device's storage space?
Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!
Hello Megan
Thanks for you fast answer.
I first try to answer your last question.
Megan wrote:
can you let me know what your end goal is?
.
Let's make some assumptions:
Files will never be considered "properties of Cloud's App"
= that's the reason I've chosen Dropbox many years ago and I keep using it.
All Files are "property of Main-PC" and MUST be present also on BKP-PC disks
Dropbox is a simplifying Software to manage this situation,
and this job has been done for many years:
* as "Bkp&Sync" between them
* as "Cloud Share" for Laptop, Android-Devices, and other SpecificTasked-PCs
That cannot be changed, ...but... if you prefer _I DONT WANT TO_.
From where I seat there are two choices for the future:
A) KEEP USING DROPBOX AS IT IS
> Buy TWO huge Disk 4Tb MVME that will host the present Dropbox-Folder
> both for Main-PC & BKP-PC ...... 2x 500€ = 1.000€ [5x yearly Dropbox subscription]
B) Dropbox developers start to thing in a more adequate way for the present age:
> two instance in hardware are managed as two folders are managed at the moment
______________________________________________________________
I answer here all your other questions:
1) 'till last month a single 1Tb disk was enough to host CURRENT IN USE files,
present in "Photo-Folder" + "Business-Folder"
> that situation is changing because of what happening in "Current Photos":
+ New Cameras increased up to double the space required for a single shot...
+ I doubled the number of shots per session!
> to cover immediately the issue I've bought a 2Tb NVME
- that will allow me to test the increasing space needs for Current Photo
- maintain the actual setting with both Principal Folders on the same disk
> if that Photo Famine Of Space continue
- I will have to Keep the two folders in separated HDW
- More Photos = more BusinessFiles .... Just in case it would become true
2) in regards of the "Online Only" option
* I use that in other devices but it's not an option for Main-PC & BKP-PC
* If I use it on Current Files it would means they are "Dropbox property"
* Current Files reside ON MY DISK,
- Network or not, Power or not, Disaster or not
- I have contingency for all of that
* Non Current Files are been moved OUT of Dropbox juridiction!!!!!!
- I use for that HDD 8Tb that will be stored in safe and Nas Accessed via WEB
3) >Syncing issue regard the BKP-PC
* instead of a full 1Tb NVME, BKP-PC had 800GB available + another 500G NVME !!
* I would never doubted Dropbox unable to manage a so quite common situationDo you wish to have all of your files available offline
N E V E R !!!
I do decide how to manage them.
I will never depend on the WEB to be able to edit one of my Pictures!!!!
( I hope to have given you the info you expected to receive, if not just ask! )
__________________________________________________________
Rich
The important issue "what Dropbox is able to do" has been mentioned?
The Issue is about to keep product feature "up to the task" in changing ages where Still Photo are getting from 1x4M to 2x36M and may arrive to 4x80M, plus 8x Video in only 2 years !!!
> if you adapt to what is existing ... the product will age faster ...
and will get discarded 'cause you will be looking for using other solutions less painstakingly
( it will not be up to the task in a short "tech evolution time" )
_________________________________________________
NOTHING WAS CHANGED IN MAIN PC But...
I started to use it and now Dropbox is showing something strange:
Main-PC is locked in a loop... 24H is in this state with the same numbers!!
I see some file syncing and I ask me WHY nothing changed !!!
Reinstalled Dropbox twice and twice the same issue as after reboot :-(- Nancy
Hi from me as well, Alain Church.
Thanks for the additional details you’ve provided. Your feedback is much appreciated and I’ve passed it along to our team.
Now, as for the app’s continuous syncing, were there any Dropbox/OS updates on your computer, right before the desktop app started syncing your files out of the blue?
I’d also like to know the current app version that your Dropbox app is running.
Let me know, and we’ll take it from there.
Hello Nancy .
Thanks for your answer.
Trying to answer you + adding some finding + discovering Dropbox stupid issues
* Updates: None for what I know.
I was just able to Re-Start the Main-PC yesterday, from the previous crash.
Having now diagnosed the USB-PORT-HDW issue. Removed the connected device. Used a USB cable to test it... result: plug anything in that port and you get a BSOD.
When I rebooted and entered the PC, I've got the first Dropbox warning: "not enough space" Quite surprised I went to settings and provided to put 60G "online" for letting him work.
That warning was a big surprise to me:
----> nothing was wrong before it crashed!
In any case, that raised the first issue in the OP:
I need two disks to do what I was doing before one 1Tb § no reason given §
* Existing version, no idea! but please look at the bottom of this reply.
When your reply was notified I was already uninstalling it for the third time. Downloading it from WEB
> NO MICROSOFT STORE INSTALL
__________________________________________________________
For the First time I've got a lot of issues installing
- some quite stupid as you will see below :-(
_________________________________________________________________________
* First my finding for <maybe> a reason to understand Syncing issue...
... on Main-PC [T24 / TwenyFour] vs BKP-PC [Q12 & Qanto]
Dropbox continued correctly to operate from BKP-PC for several days keeping updated local files in Sync with the Dropbox-CloudSO
No idea why because it was a first time:
.. a lot of "conflicted files" were present in MAIN-PC Drobox!!!
[deleted them all - while I was Already uninstalling]
_____________WARNING STUPID ISSUES AHEAD ______________________
Note: I'm a long time user.
I've reinstalled Dropbox several time... Never encountered them!
Title: DROPBOX FOLDER NAME
Usually when you reinstall Dropbox, it will recognize its own folder,
accept it as it is and proceed or ask you if it will have to "Merge".
Not This Time
____Let's start from the beginning.___
The folder location has become > E: < all ORIGINAL files are stored on Disk
* Removed "save offline"
WARNING ---> MAIN CRAP AHEAD <-----
* Removed "Windows integration"
THAT WAS CAUSING THE SYNC LOOP
I'LL NEVER USE SOFTWARE WRITTEN FOR MS ONEDRIVE EVER AGAIN
[Just to inform you]
...If you insist using MS garbage instead of your fully secure software ...
>>>>I will find another solution and leave DROPBOX TO HIS FATE <<<<<
I cannot put in danger my business files
And I get [again] the same Warning
I "choose folders" reducing the Space Needed ... by putting 60G in "offline" mode
______________________________________________________________________
____ first silly message_____
🤢
______ Why "RENAME" instead of "MERGE" or NOTHING at all ________
as it was expected _____ and the normal behavior in previous re-install???What's that!!!!!
( ok ... found the culprit: a utility was using per usual a Dropbox sub-sub-subfolder to keep updated settings)
As I am an experience PC Manager ...
I used ResMon > Handles search > ID the Process + terminated it
Via FileExplorer I renamed it DROPBOX_OLD
Now I need the files in the version already on the disk -- How to do it 😇 ---
SOLUTION
* Kill the Dropbox APP after the full Setting and before it start Syncing
* Move all the DROPBOX_OLD contents to the new created folder
this way:
* Launch DROPBOX AGAIN
* Enjoy a fully operating Dropbox as it would had been the "MERGE" option
<<>>SMILE AT THE STUPIDITIES YOU WERE FORCED TO GOBBLE DOWN<<>>
And LO ... they keep coming in full moron's behavior!!
WHY I SAY SO?
In 2025 Dropbox developers keep using a fixed error's window, not resizable !!!
... and containing unusable garbage
[yes, garbage]
- you can't even understand the file name with sync error in what folder is located!
[if you click on the error message it will open a FileExplore that bring you to "MyPC"]
I've no idea why a so beautiful piece of software...
>that helped me for more then 10 years without big faults<
...is starting collecting "Stupid Attitudes" and "Moron's Behaviors"
-__ in 2025 this is the 5th IMPORTANT Issue I've suffered - Just in 7 months __-
( let me know how more I can help you )
_____________________________ another stupid thing __________
PS: PLEASE ... Were I can find the software version...
usually it's located in the help. Not here.
