My Windows desktop app hasn't worked since I've left China and I can't uninstall it either.

Thanks for posting this on our forum, jstroming.

Can you clarify what issue you were experiencing exactly, while you were located in China? Was your desktop app unable to connect to our servers perhaps? 

If yes, I'd like a screenshot of what you're seeing at the moment, when using the Dropbox app on your computer. 

Feel free to also send me a screenshot of what happens when trying to uninstall the app, and I’ll have a look. 

Keep me updated.

So...it's gotten interesting. I was able to fully uninstall (remove registry entries & Dropbox/Update folders as mentioned in a thread) then reinstall the most recent stable version. It installed fine, but during the Indexing the software crashed, and I was unable to open the software again (even after restart). Interestingly, when I disconnected from the internet the software booted up (obviously the "Starting" looped, as there was no internet).

I tried the full un-install process & reinstall process again and am getting an Error -1073741819 during install now. I have tried multiple times, with both the most recent stable (offline) version, the current online version, as well as with an older stable (offline) version. All three are having the same Error -1073741819 during install. It seems like the software is loaded, however, because when I shut off the internet and reboot the software I can get the "starting" loop sequence. But the minute I plug into the internet it crashes.

I am going to try installing the offline version with no internet and see if I can at least get it installed. I read in another thread that if I pause the software during indexing it may allow the indexing to happen uninterrupted, so that is my goal. But the software is crashing so quickly I can't pause it in time.

Another update, I was able to disconnect from internet and fully install the software. The second I connect to the internet the software crashes. I've also tried moving my DropBox folder (it is big, over 500GB) thinking maybe it's crashing when trying to index that folder, and it still keeps crashing anytime connected to the internet.

Also, I have no antivirus or anti-malware software running, I un-installed it all when I started having issues.

Hi again, jstroming. Can you attempt an advanced reinstall next and let me know if the Dropbox app still crashes?

I have been following this exactly for every reinstall, except the final bullet point (11):

"Since your original Dropbox folder is still on your computer at this point, if you don’t want to create a new one, click Advanced Settings during the download prompts..."

I never get this far because it doesn't finish the install process.

Here is my exact uninstall/reinstall process:

1> Use the clean un-install program ("DropboxUninstaller.exe") from the program files directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\Dropbox\Client)

2> Reboot after uninstall

3> Follow the Advanced Install guidelines.

I have tried reinstalling with both the online installer and offline installer with internet connected and also with internet disconnected. Install completes successfully when computer does not have internet, but the minute internet is connected Dropbox crashes. If the computer has internet during install I can never get it to install correctly without receiving the "Error -1073741819" message.

Hey jstroming​, thanks for updating us! 

It seems that our team will need to take a closer look into this.

Since I can see that you have already submitted a ticket about this, the best course of action would be to await the agent working on your case to send you further info regarding this.

From my side, I just went ahead and added an internal note with your comments, in order to ensure that the agent is aware of them.

Thank you!