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thumbs.db and desktop.ini files cause uploads to fail

thumbs.db and desktop.ini files cause uploads to fail

PoweredByLinux
Helpful | Level 5

I see part of this is a known, old issue: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-files-folders/Thumbs-db-files-stops-uploading-process/m-p/17...

But since its reply/solution was ludicrous, i.e., that one should delete files named thumbs.db prior to uploading, I thought I'd bring it up again. Plus, the same thing happens with files named 'desktop.ini'

I did not read the thread linked to in that old thread's so-called solution. Why not? Because I DON'T CARE what Dropbox's reason is!

What I do care about is that I'm paying GOOD MONEY for this service. I also care that I have hundreds of thousands of files, spread across thousands of sub-directories on assorted computers and devices.

Being a Linux-only person, and really good at shell scripting, I'm perfectly capable of writing a script to recursively find, and delete [rename, move, etc.], all files named 'thumbs.db' and 'desktop.ini' [with all variations of case, since *nix is -truly- case sensitive]. But I WON'T do that.

Whatever asinine reason Dropbox has for not accepting thumbs.db and desktop.ini files, doesn't make -my- thumbs.db and desktop.ini files expendable. They cannot arbitrarily be deleted just because a service I'm PAYING for has deemed them forbidden.

Assuming Dropbox uses files named 'thumbs.db' and desktop.ini as part of its processing, and doesn't want conflicts with customers' files with the same name, what they should do is change the name of THEIR file. Instead of the common 'thumbs.db' and 'desktop.ini' use something unique to Dropbox, like dropbox_0123456789_abcdefg.db [in other words, something so unusual, so bizarrely unique, the odds of a customer ever having a like-named file are infinitesimal]. Better that odd chance of a one-in-a-billion occurrence than forcing PAYING CUSTOMERS to delete files before uploading.

What about users who aren't very computer savvy? What if they have no idea how to write a script to automate deletion/renaming? What if, like me, they have hundreds of thousands of files? And, like me, their thumbs.db and desktop.ini files aren't expendable?

Dropbox needs to fix this.

I can't imagine by what 'logic' they decided that making millions of people plod through their files, deleting those with certain names--even if they're needed--before uploading, made better sense than THEM using a unique name! My time is valuable. Will DB reimburse me for time used shuffling files around so they'll upload?

Latest Update
Megan
Dropbox Staff

This idea has been closed due to inactivity and can no longer be voted for.

 

If you have a similar idea please share it with us here.

Status changed to: Closed
4 Comments
Walter
Dropbox Staff

Hi @PoweredByLinux; thanks for using Dropbox!

 

This idea is going to need a bit more support before we scan hare your suggestion with the team. 
 
I've updated the status to encourage more users to back you up!
Status changed to: Gathering Support
landisirvin
New member | Level 2

So I'm a basic file user, and my database that I'd like to copy for DropBox storage includes about 51k files (52gb), of which 1.3k files are thumbs.db, or something else that is prohibited from uploading to DropBox.

 

I don't have the expertise of the OP, and I just want to be able to copy my database for safekeeping.

 

So, I'd like to have this situation looked at.  I also pay good money, on a yearly basis; and would definitely appreciate the ability to "drag and drop" files from a hard drive to DropBox for cloud storage, without the hassles of worrying about what types of files are acceptable to my paid storage.

 

Many Thanks!

OldJazzPadre
Explorer | Level 4

Agree with the above posters. Although I'm backing up old Windows files, I never know which files Dropbox won't accept (other than .ini and thumbs.db files) so it makes me a bit nervous since we can't see exactly which files are NOT going to get uploaded without a lot of manual work.  This should and could be fixed easily on Dropbox's side. Thanks!

Megan
Dropbox Staff

This idea has been closed due to inactivity and can no longer be voted for.

 

If you have a similar idea please share it with us here.

Status changed to: Closed
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2 votes received Status: Closed