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Tried to move main Dropbox folder but now Dropbox seems confused
I run my Windows (Win10 in this case) systems in multi-boot mode. Typically three instances of Windows on each computer. This provides quick recovery capability when Windows issues arise that need plenty of time to troubleshoot. Have been using Basic Dropbox quite successfully (i.e., no problems) for a while now. However, when I tried to move the Dropbox folder it has become completely dysfunctional.
I do understand that moving it when booted under one instance of Windows would not be recognized by the other instances and some correction would be in order. However, none of the instances work correctly any more. It also seems to have gotten into a state where it thinks I'm using more computers and is insisting on upgrading to a version that accommodates more computers. In my present situation upgrading is the last thing I'd want to do. Knowing that it can function properly in my environment would be an essential aspect of choosing to upgrade. Given that at present I do not need any more devices I'm not anxious to upgrade now.
Is there a solution that would allow me to continue using Dropbox or should I be looking for a better solution?
However, multi-boot is still a problem.
And it always will be. Dropbox is not designed to work in a multi-boot environment, at least not in the way you're using it. Multi-boot is fine, as long as each OS has it's own installation of Dropbox, each with its own separate Dropbox folder. The Dropbox folder should not be shared between installations.
Whatever I did seems to now cause the Dropbox running on some partitions to think they are running on a different device even though it is the same computer
Dropbox may say devices but what it really means is installations. If you have a multi-boot system with installations of Windows and each of those has its own installation of Dropbox, then Dropbox will see that as three separate devices. It has always been this way.
You can manage your linked "devices" from your Security page.
... and for that matter the very same Dropbox folder.
This is just asking for problems. Each installation should have its own Dropbox folder. You shouldn't be sharing the Dropbox folder between installations. The database that Dropbox uses to track changes is located outside of the Dropbox folder. If changes are made in one instance of Dropbox, the other instances won't be aware of those changes and this could result in sync issues or even lost data.
This is especially true is you use Selective Sync. If you use Selective Sync to remove a folder in one instance, the other instances will just see it as a deleted folder and then sync that deletion, resulting in the folder being deleted from your account and all other devices.
3 Replies
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hey aeneas - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.
Can you please clarify if you moved your Dropbox folder as outlined here or in another way perhaps?
Also, how many linked devices do you have at the moment as shown in your security page?
Let us know more information and we'll take it from there.
I moved it using cut/paste in File Explorer. I have since then noticed that Dropbox has its' own method for changing the location of the dropbox folder. I've done that and it seemed to work as expected.
However, multi-boot is still a problem. I have only 3 devices (i.e., Windows computers). This is not new. I've always setup my Windows computers to use multi-boot. This is coming up on 3 decades now. In that, much longer than I've been using Dropbox but up till now this has not been a problem. Whatever I did seems to now cause the Dropbox running on some partitions to think they are running on a different device even though it is the same computer and for that matter the very same Dropbox folder.
- Rich
Super User II
However, multi-boot is still a problem.
And it always will be. Dropbox is not designed to work in a multi-boot environment, at least not in the way you're using it. Multi-boot is fine, as long as each OS has it's own installation of Dropbox, each with its own separate Dropbox folder. The Dropbox folder should not be shared between installations.
Whatever I did seems to now cause the Dropbox running on some partitions to think they are running on a different device even though it is the same computer
Dropbox may say devices but what it really means is installations. If you have a multi-boot system with installations of Windows and each of those has its own installation of Dropbox, then Dropbox will see that as three separate devices. It has always been this way.
You can manage your linked "devices" from your Security page.
... and for that matter the very same Dropbox folder.
This is just asking for problems. Each installation should have its own Dropbox folder. You shouldn't be sharing the Dropbox folder between installations. The database that Dropbox uses to track changes is located outside of the Dropbox folder. If changes are made in one instance of Dropbox, the other instances won't be aware of those changes and this could result in sync issues or even lost data.
This is especially true is you use Selective Sync. If you use Selective Sync to remove a folder in one instance, the other instances will just see it as a deleted folder and then sync that deletion, resulting in the folder being deleted from your account and all other devices.
