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DutchWim
1 month agoNew member | Level 2
I'm getting an error when the Dropbox app starts up on Windows 11
Device
(Lenovo laptop)
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
(Windows 11.)
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
(latest)
Question or Issue
After booting the PC the dropbox App refuses to start and displays a window with the message "Couldn't start dropbox". The dropbox icon in the taskbar disapears and my files in the dropbox folder are inaccessible by Word, Excel etc. I did the "Advanced reinstall of Dropbox" as can be found in the fora but no results. I am using Dropbox for many years without any problems.
Below the error report generated by Dropbox. The very last record shows FileNotFoundError but which file is not mentioned. I am really stocked but need a working Dropbox system. Hope I can find some help here.
Date: 3-12-2026
After action: advanced reinstall
Error report:
bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 237.4.5655
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 88
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: (content removed by me)
pid: 8816
cwd: 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Update\\1.3.1053.1'
real_path='C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Update\\1.3.1053.1'
mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: None
appdata: 'C:\\Users\\admin\\AppData\\Local\\Dropbox\\instance1'
real_path='C:\\Users\\admin\\AppData\\Local\\Dropbox\\instance1'
mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
dropbox_path: None
not found
parent not found
sys_executable: 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Client\\Dropbox.exe'
real_path='C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Client\\Dropbox.exe'
mode=0o100777 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
trace.__file__: 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Client\\237.4.5655\\python-packages.zip\\dropbox\\client\\ui\\common\\boot_error.pyc'
real_path='C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Client\\237.4.5655\\python-packages.zip\\dropbox\\client\\ui\\common\\boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
TMP: C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp
TEMP: C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp
tempdir: 'C:\\Users\\admin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp'
real_path='C:\\Users\\admin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp'
mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 6857, in _setup_root_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/helpers.py", line 199, in create_root_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 1044, in result
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/manager.py", line 382, in create_root
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/handlers/windows/cloud_files.py", line 299, in register
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/handlers/windows/cloud_files.py", line 601, in _register
FileNotFoundError: [WinError -2147024894] The system cannot find the file specified
Hi Jay,
Just to let you know that everything is working fine now.
I reinstalled the desktop app again and during the installation process i now checked the check mark "Opt out from windows updates".
I do not understand (yet) why but it seems that this solved my problem.
Regrads
Wim
5 Replies
- Jay1 month ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi DutchWim, thanks for joining the Community!
When performing the advanced reinstallation of the Dropbox desktop application, could you try temporarily disabling your security software or antivirus during the process to see if this helps?
Also, try using the offline installer for the app as well.
Keep me updated with any progress!
- DutchWim1 month agoNew member | Level 2
Hi Jay,
Thanks for your quick response.
I disabled the security software (Windows privacy & security)
I ran the offline installer and see in the system tray the Dropbox icon (gray, starting)
I got:
- Welcome screen
- Sign in
- Welcome back
- Keep basic plan
- Happy back
- Advanced settings
- Dropbox folder D:
- Done
- Then again, the same screen, couldn’t start Dropbox etc etc
- Gray dropbox icon disappears from system tray
- Files in the dropbox folder are inaccessible
Attached for your info the error report of my previous attempts
To me it seems that the dropbox app somehow needs another file(s) but no clue which one
Regards,
Wim
- DutchWim1 month agoNew member | Level 2
Hi Jay,
I did some additional test.
- In explorer on the D-drive I renamed the Dropbox map to Dropbox-After-Crash
- I ran again the offline installer.
- Same sequence of events as before and the same results.
- I noticed that a new map with the name Dropbox was created on de D-drive. The map is empty
Files in the Dropbox-After-Crash are all not accessible by their application, e.g. a the pdf file reader reported “An unknownerror occurred while accessing … then the filename” when trying to open that pdf file
I noticed that the map Dropbox-After-Crash still shows the dropbox icon in front of the map name
Wim
- DutchWim1 month agoNew member | Level 2
Hi Jay,
Just to let you know that everything is working fine now.
I reinstalled the desktop app again and during the installation process i now checked the check mark "Opt out from windows updates".
I do not understand (yet) why but it seems that this solved my problem.
Regrads
Wim
- Walter1 month ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
We're happy to hear it's sorted now and thanks for the update as well, Wim. Let us know if anything else comes up!
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