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Linux - Unable to change Dropbox directory
I'm using Fedora Workstation 25 with GNOME.
Trying to change the Dropbox directory results in the utterly useless message "Unexpected errors occurred. Your Dropbox is ok!".
Steps to recreate problem:
- Dropbox directory is currently ~/Dropbox
- Start Dropbox application by running ~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd
- Right click sys tray icon and select Preferences.
- Click "Move…" button under Account > Location
- Select directory /local on which my user has write permissions.
- The message "Unexpected errors occurred. Your Dropbox is ok!" appears.
Observations:
- The directory /local/Dropbox is sucesfully created.
- One of the directories in ~/Dropbox is created in /local/Dropbox/ It's empty. Deleting that directory from ~/Dropbox before attempting the move doesn't help.
- Selecting other directories on which my user has write permissions results in the same behaviour.
- Permissions and ownership of my Dropbox directory and user's home directory are OK. (Troubleshooting advice for Linux at https://help.dropbox.com/desktop-web/move-dropbox-folder is pooly written. sudo is not needed on all those commands. "Internet menu" is not a thing in all (any?) desktop environments.)
- There's a log file in ~/.dropbox/logs/1 but it's a binary blob so useless without something to make it human readable and I can't locate such a thing.
- Deleting all my files from ~/Dropbox/ waiting for sync to complete and then attempting the move doesn't help.
- When attemping the move after deleting all my files from ~/Dropbox/ /local/Dropbox/.dropbox.cache/ is succesfully created. It's empty.
- Pausing syncing before attempting the move doesn't help.
- There don't seem to be any options that can be passed to ~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd to get more info. (Adding --help prevents it running!)
I was having this same issue. I found a fix in creating a Dropbox folder in my home directory prior to connecting my account. This caused the installer to throw an error about a Dropbox folder already existing that prompted me to either delete the Dropbox folder or select a different location. Eureka! (for me at least...)
Guys solved, and the solution was the easiest and logic.
I expose my situation:
sda1 300GB --> /
sda5 8TB --> /home
As I explained, I wanted to install Dropbox below /home directory, but playing as "root" user, by default, it forced the installation on /root
So I just installed the daemon using the user who owns the home directory I want and it works properly, just remember to add the "user" to the root group.
If you need more details, don't hesitate to ask.
wrote:I was having this same issue. I found a fix in creating a Dropbox folder in my home directory prior to connecting my account. This caused the installer to throw an error about a Dropbox folder already existing that prompted me to either delete the Dropbox folder or select a different location. Eureka! (for me at least...)
This didn't work for me, but I did find a similar solution! I created a "work" dropbox account and set up a fresh installation of dropbox with that account, which places the "work" Dropbox folder in the defaut ~/Dropbox. I then deleted everything in ~/.dropbox* (with rm -rf ~/.dropbox* ), reinstalled dropbox and set it up using my personal account. Now since the folder in ~/Dropbox already contains the dropbox for the work account, I got the prompt that allowed me to either delete the Dropbox folder or select a different location for my personal account. Somehow this worked when simply moving the folder within dropbox wouldn't... I hope this helps somebody! (using Fedora 27 btw)
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I finally tracked down the access issues. Even though I had chosen "NOT" to install fedora 26 in LVM mode it did just that. Soon as realised my HDD was not part of the LV enviroment - Partioned a spare 2TB USB HDD into 2x1TB partions added 1xITB into the LV, Home then had +1TB of free space. .. ( Informed dropbox support of my testing and final solution, their reply was not a thank you, but a warning not to use a USB drive.... humm ) FYI, using a partition on an internal sata drive without any issues.
- Jane
Dropbox Staff
- I ran into the same issue as everyone but I was able to find a fix. I had a folder shared to me in Dropbox that I was only given read access to. Once I used selective sync to uncheck this folder I was able to move to an external USB then just went back in and checked that one folder again. You can see in the selective sync window a different icon on the folder if you don't have the proper permissions to it.
I was having this same issue. I found a fix in creating a Dropbox folder in my home directory prior to connecting my account. This caused the installer to throw an error about a Dropbox folder already existing that prompted me to either delete the Dropbox folder or select a different location. Eureka! (for me at least...)
That's the same workaround we had to implement at my job, where I help support many Linux users on a network file system. So far it's worked for everyone who has tried it.
Hello fellows:)
My question is about Linux OS (Debian in this case) and I'm trying to figured out how to change the default directory (that right now is root ˜ )
I followed this official guide: https://www.dropbox.com/install-linux
And downloaded the dropbox.py to handle it. It works everything.
Now the issue: how can I move everything to "/home/user"? Symlinks is not a solution because I set home directories to a raid partition of 8TB, so I need it there. Actually root is only 300GB and I have more data than that.
I've been looking for a relaiable solution but nothing..
Please help <3
Thanks in advance
- Jane
wait please:D explain it better, every step!!
- Hello Jane,
thanks but seems that neither Mike could solve it at all.
