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Can't start Dropbox because of permission error

Can't start Dropbox because of permission error

ameliebouan
Helpful | Level 6
Go to solution

Hi!

I have two profiles on my Mac: one for my personal use, and one for my professional use. The profile for personal use has admin rights, the profile for professional use does not (but I could set it so it did). It's the profiles you see and can log into when you turn the Mac on. 

I have installed the Dropbox app with both my Dropbox accounts (which are linked together) on my personal profile (the one with admin rights). It has been succesfully working for over two years.

I am now trying to install the Dropbox app on my professional profile on Mac (the one without admin rights), but I get this message error: Can't start Dropbox because of permission error.

I have tried two troubleshooting processes here on the Dropbox community, but non have worked (please see below). 

Can you please help me? I really need this to work for my job.

Thank you very much in advance!

Amélie

 

__

METHODS TRIED TO SOLVE THE ISSUE:

1. Method one

This often happens with users who may have migrated old data and settings from another Mac to their current computer.

Operating system permissions prevent files from being viewed or edited by unauthorized logins. Permissions can be set any number of ways and can be restored manually through a fairly simple process. Please note that it is very important to follow these steps specifically as failure to do so may result in other issues. On a Mac OS X you can do the following:

1) Make sure the Dropbox desktop application is running

2) Click on the Dropbox icon in your menu bar and then click on the gear in the Notifications panel

3) Select 'Preferences'

4) Click on the 'Account' tab

5) Hold down the 'Option' key

6) Click on the 'Fix Permissions' button (make sure you're still holding down the 'Option' key.

This will allow Dropbox access to your home folder, Dropbox folder, and any required settings.

 

2. Method two

1) Select your home directory (the folder named after your computer's login) and press Command-I to "Get Info"
2) Scroll down to the "Sharing & Permissions" section at the bottom of the Get Info window
3) If everything is grayed out, click on the gold lock at the bottom right of the window. You'll be prompted for your login password. You'll need admin access to edit the permissions. If you are unable to unlock these privileges, talk to your system administrator to give you access to this folder.
4) Your name should already be on the list of sharing and permissions. If you aren't listed, then add yourself by clicking the + button.
5) Once your user is added, click your name and then click the gear menu at the bottom middle of the window, and choose "Make me the owner". If this option is grayed out you can skip to step 6.
6) Click the gear again and choose "Apply to enclosed items".

 

__

ERROR INFO

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 108.4.453
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 46
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: d6bd0a9a-82d1-5e9d-8e28-fb03b9a018a1
pid: 4238
ppid: 1
uid: 502
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='Work', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Work', pw_dir='/Users/work', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='Work', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Work', pw_dir='/Users/work', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
euid: 502
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'ameliebouan', '_serialnumberd'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'ameliebouan', '_serialnumberd'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=80
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=80
HOME: '/Users/work'
appdata: '/Users/pro/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/pro/.dropbox/instance1'
not found
parent not found
dropbox_path: '/Users/pro/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/pro/Dropbox'
not found
parent not found
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/qk/8grpgjr52nx_zy2rmtkwfzg40000gp/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/qk/8grpgjr52nx_zy2rmtkwfzg40000gp/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 1269, in safe_makedirs
File "os.pyc", line 213, in makedirs
File "os.pyc", line 213, in makedirs
File "os.pyc", line 223, in makedirs
PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/Users/pro'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 7774, in main_startup
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 2951, in run
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 1715, in startup_low
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 1296, in safe_makedirs
File "os.pyc", line 213, in makedirs
File "os.pyc", line 213, in makedirs
File "os.pyc", line 223, in makedirs
PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/Users/pro'

25 Replies 25

Megan
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution
Hi @Kirk D.1, let's see what we can do! 

Can you perform an Advanced re-install using these steps? 

That should do the trick. 

Let me know of any updates.
 

Megan
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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Kirk D.1
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution

sounds easier to uninstall and do a clean reinstall

harwooje
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution

Here's the report (I can't find a way to submit a ticket):

 

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 133.3.4076
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 51
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 081a9da6-7071-5407-898f-125db7a7cd27
pid: 949
ppid: 1
uid: 504
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='johnharwood', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=504, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='John Harwood', pw_dir='/Users/johnharwood', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='johnharwood', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=504, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='John Harwood', pw_dir='/Users/johnharwood', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
euid: 504
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'jamfmanage', 'vuadmin', '_mdatp', 'iriscenter'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'jamfmanage', 'vuadmin', '_mdatp', 'iriscenter'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/johnharwood'
appdata: '/Users/johnharwood/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/johnharwood/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=504 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/johnharwood/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/johnharwood/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/d6/3w_sd13s1751wmln8_jg2khm0000gr/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/d6/3w_sd13s1751wmln8_jg2khm0000gr/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 808, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6497, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 307, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6030, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5954, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 226, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 280, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 222, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 152, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 217, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 579, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 130, in __init__
File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> Opening dst |>> open syscall |>> Permission denied"

 

 

 

Megan
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution
Hi @harwooje, I hope you're doing well! 

Can you also follow the steps provided in my reply above, in order to perform an advanced re-install? 

Keep me posted on the results!

Megan
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


Heart Did this post help you? If so, give it a Like below to let us know.
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harwooje
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution

harwooje
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution

I found a link -- my comment is below your post -- "harwooje" -- thanks

Noorpaly
New member | Level 2
Go to solution
شكرا لك ولجهدك المبذول من أجلي ارجو ان تكلل بنجاح

ScottC
New member | Level 2
Go to solution

I have tried doing this 

 

sudo mv ~/.dropbox ~/.Trash/dropbox.old

 

And when I signed into dropbox again I got the same error.

 

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 134.4.4115
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 51
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 2662740a-36c2-592a-b880-c850d7544834
pid: 1162
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='scott', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Scott G Cain', pw_dir='/Users/scott', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='scott', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Scott G Cain', pw_dir='/Users/scott', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'scott', '_xcsbuildagent', '_xcscredserver'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'scott', '_xcsbuildagent', '_xcscredserver'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/scott'
appdata: '/Users/scott/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/scott/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/scott/Dropbox (Personal)'
real_path='/Users/scott/Dropbox (Personal)'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/5k/08d5ty891hn_v0c9dwjqfcsw0000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/5k/08d5ty891hn_v0c9dwjqfcsw0000gn/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 816, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6537, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 313, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6070, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5994, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 226, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 278, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 245, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 152, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 209, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 512, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 133, in __init__
File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> fchflags syscall: _set_hidden |>> Permission denied"

Walter
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution
Hey @ScottC, sorry to jump in, but have you granted Dropbox full disk access as outlined here?

Walter
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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ScottC
New member | Level 2
Go to solution

That seems to have done it, thank you so much!

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