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rjsnow
2 years agoNew member | Level 1
The desktop app on Windows isn't starting up, why?
I purchased a new computer and am running Windows. When I start my computer a box pops up that says "Dropbox Can't Open". It gives the error message of C:Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\dropbox_error-r3btez.txt
I checked my firewall security and it is allowing Dropbox. I have talked to Geek Squad and they could not find the issue. Any suggestions on what the issue is and what I can do to fix it would be appreciated.
14 Replies
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- Jay2 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi rjsnow, thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Could you copy and paste the contents of that txt file in your next reply in order to see what could be causing the startup issue of the Dropbox desktop application?
This will help me to assist further!
- rjsnow2 years agoNew member | Level 1
Thanks for getting back to me. Here is the content of the txt file:
bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox bn.VERSION: 210.4.4854 bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 76 bn.is_frozen: True machine_id: ddf52890-497c-43cd-9520-0b88f40f1d80 pid: 15972 cwd: 'C:\\Windows\\System32' real_path='C:\\Windows\\System32' mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0 parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0 HOME: None appdata: 'C:\\Users\\rjsno\\AppData\\Local\\Dropbox\\instance1' real_path='C:\\Users\\rjsno\\AppData\\Local\\Dropbox\\instance1' not found parent not found dropbox_path: None not found parent not found sys_executable: 'C:\\Users\\Owner\\AppData\\Roaming\\Dropbox\\bin\\Dropbox.exe' real_path='C:\\Users\\Owner\\AppData\\Roaming\\Dropbox\\bin\\Dropbox.exe' mode=0o100777 uid=0 gid=0 parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0 trace.__file__: 'C:\\Users\\Owner\\AppData\\Roaming\\Dropbox\\bin\\210.4.4854\\python-packages.zip\\dropbox\\client\\ui\\common\\boot_error.pyc' real_path='C:\\Users\\Owner\\AppData\\Roaming\\Dropbox\\bin\\210.4.4854\\python-packages.zip\\dropbox\\client\\ui\\common\\boot_error.pyc' not found parent not found TMP: C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp TEMP: C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp tempdir: 'C:\\Users\\Owner\\AppData\\Local\\Temp' real_path='C:\\Users\\Owner\\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 8500, in main_startup File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 2737, in initialize File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 1755, in startup_low File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 1368, in safe_makedirs File "desktop/dropbox/fsutil.py", line 709, in safe_makedirs File "desktop/dropbox/overrides.py", line 144, in makedirs File "desktop/dropbox/overrides.py", line 144, in makedirs File "desktop/dropbox/overrides.py", line 144, in makedirs [Previous line repeated 1 more time] File "desktop/dropbox/overrides.py", line 157, in makedirs PermissionError: [WinError 5] Access is denied: 'C:\\Users\\rjsno'
- Jay2 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Have you changed the username on your computer on the new machine?
- rjsnow2 years agoNew member | Level 1
I am not sure. I just had Geek Squad transfer everything to this one, so I didn't think I did. Is there a way to find out? I still have my old computer.
- Jay2 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
If you're not on a Dropbox Basic plan with more than 3 devices connected, could you try an advanced reinstall of the app using the steps in this link?
- rjsnow2 years agoNew member | Level 1
I could not find Dropbox in any of the files you mentioned. I am not sure it is on my computer at all. I did unistall my app. I checked for the files in the instructions and could not find any of them, so I restarted my computer and reinstalled the app, but when I clicked on open after the install, I got the same message that I could not open Dropbox with the same issue showing as originally.
- Megan2 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey rjsnow, sorry to hear about that!
Often, the antivirus (not only your firewall) or security software on your computer will block Dropbox from completing the install or startup process. To see if this is the issue, follow these steps:
Temporarily disable any antivirus or security programs on your computer. Reinstall the Dropbox application using our offline installer.
If you still get the same result let me know. Thanks! - rjsnow2 years agoNew member | Level 1
Hi Megan,
My computer no longer gets the error message! When I go to my app, it does show a file Dropbox file. When I click on it, it has two items - (1) The Dropbox app logo and (2) Dropbox Website. When I click on the app logo, I get a small circle on my screen for a few seconds, and then it goes away and nothing happens. When I click on Dropbox Website, the Dropbox site does open. Is this what is supposed to happen?
- Megan2 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey rjsnow, good thing that the error is gone!
Now onto the app itself. It shouldn't behave like that.
Can you clarify if you're clicking on the little Dropbox icon on your taskbar, next to your WiFi?
Also, it might sound trivial but have you tried restarting your device at all? - rjsnow2 years agoNew member | Level 1
Hi Megan,
I do not have any icon near my Wi-Fi symbol. I have to click on my start icon and go to all apps and find Dropbox in there. I did pin the Dropbox icon to my task bar, but when I click that, nothing happens. Also, I have restarted my device since I installed it.
Ron
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