Re: How can I safely uninstall and reinstall the desktop app without losing files?

Bewildered_Bobby, if you weren’t asked for an admin password while reinstalling the Dropbox app, you don’t need to worry; this means you’re already an admin on your computer and the Dropbox app was automatically installed with admin rights, so this is expected behavior. 

To make sure everything’s running properly though, I’d like you to open your local Dropbox folder and right click on your files/folders; do you see any Dropbox options if you do this? 

Can you see syncing icons next to your files, too?

Hi Nancy: You wrote - "To make sure everything’s running properly though, I’d like you to open your local Dropbox folder and right click on your files/folders; do you see any Dropbox options if you do this? Can you see syncing icons next to your files, too?

On the local HD under PROGRAM FILES (X86) there is a fldr DROPBOX with 2 fldrs underneath - CLIENT and UPDATE.  Underneath each of these 2 fldrs are other NUMBERED fldrs but nothing recognizable. Plz advise what is wrong. Thanx.

Still Bewildered Bob

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Bewildered_Bobby wrote:

On the local HD under PROGRAM FILES (X86) there is a fldr DROPBOX ...

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That's the Dropbox program folder. Nancy was referring to the Dropbox folder where your files are stored. This is, by default, C:\Users\[your_username]\Dropbox.

Rick: right-clicking on one of the fldrs shown shows  a dropdown menu with several Dropbox specific entries: "copy Dropbox link", "view on Dropbox.com", "don't sync to Dropbox.com".

Does this mean that it has been installed correctly assuming that I have admin credentials even 'tho there was no request for admin password ?  Thanx.

Hey Bewildered_Bobby, it sounds the app is indeed installed to your device, yes. 

If you don't face any palpable issues, then it means it's already installed with admin privileges. 

Hi Megan: Thanx for the quick reply. But Nancy also wrote - "Can you see syncing icons next to your files, too?"  Since syncing icons are NOT visible can I assume that "syncing" is optional which may explain absence of syncing icons since my desktop is only device in use ?

Hey Bewildered_Bobby, could you send us a screenshot of how your files inside your Dropbox folder look like at the moment including the app's status as shown in your system tray? 

Hi Walter: icon in system tray is a red square with white '1'.

Requested screen show shd be below (hopefully large enuff to be understood). If too small how can i make it larger ?

Bewildered Bob

H again Bewildered_Bobby, thanks for the screenshot!

From your screenshot I see that you have gray cloud icons on your files, this is one of the Dropbox sync icons that indicates that your files are in "online-only" state.

That means that they are present in your Dropbox folder, but are not taking up physical space on your hard drive.

If you simply double-click them, they should download and get a green check mark on them instead. Can you check and confirm?

Thanks for your reply, Bobby.

Is everything working okay now?

Hi Hannah: Thanx for asking.  DropBox.com appears to be working as advertised but I still have more online learning to do. There is plenty of help avail (especially you wonderful staffers at DropBox) so I'm confident abt becoming more productive soon.

Less Bewildered Bob