"Couldn't open Dropbox" error when trying to start Dropbox on my Mac, any help?

[Margaret10]

I get this message every time I start my desk top imac - can somebody help please

[Здравко]

Hi @Margaret10,

Somebody might help you, when you post the text file content, pointed by the blue link, just like mentioned in the message itself. 😉

[Margaret10]

Thank you - I will try that 

[Margaret10]

Hi - I get this message each time I try to open dropbox when I start my desktop imac computer.   Another user has suggested I include this information as well:

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox

bn.VERSION: 104.4.175

bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 44

bn.is_frozen: True

machine_id: 22387a5a-e131-582a-8661-829ac6b3b80a

pid: 4388

ppid: 1

uid: 502

user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='Margaret2', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='MargaretCorkeran2', pw_dir='/Users/Margaret', pw_shell='/bin/bash')

effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='Margaret2', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='MargaretCorkeran2', pw_dir='/Users/Margaret', 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', 'Margaret2', '_pcastlibrary', '_xgridcontroller', '_xgridagent'])

effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'Margaret2', '_pcastlibrary', '_xgridcontroller', '_xgridagent'])

DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None

cwd: '/'

     real_path='/'

            mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

     parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

HOME: '/Users/Margaret'

appdata: '/Users/Margaret/.dropbox/instance1'

         real_path='/Users/Margaret/.dropbox/instance1'

                mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20

         parent mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20

dropbox_path: '/Users/Margaret/Dropbox'

              real_path='/Users/Margaret/Dropbox'

                    mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20

              parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20

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/jr/wg_ldvn173sdtk2bnlbs3sg80000gp/T'

         real_path='/private/var/folders/jr/wg_ldvn173sdtk2bnlbs3sg80000gp/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 792, in wrapper

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6541, in finish_dropbox_boot

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6005, in _init_components_for_account

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5956, in create_sync_engine

  File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 269, in make_sync_engine

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 379, in __init__

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 220, in __init__

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 574, in _init_new_engine_locked

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 150, in __init__

  File "extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 84, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__

nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> Opening dst |>> open syscall |>> Permission denied"

[Здравко]

Hi @Margaret10,

Take a look here. It's very similar to your case. 😉

Hope this helps.

[Margaret10]

Thank you - I have tried that - I have tried to uninstall and install again but I still get the same message "couldn't open dropbox"

I have saved all the info from dropbox just in case I lose it.   

[Walter]

Hi @Margaret10; thanks for joining our Community!

Could you please perform the following and let me know how it goes? 

First, please save and quit all programs accessing files in the Dropbox folder, then, follow these instructions:

1. Open your Terminal app (Located at /Applications/Utilities/Terminal)

2. Copy and paste the following line (highlighted below) into the Terminal and press ENTER. PLEASE make sure you copy and paste this command (don't type it by hand), as getting it wrong could cause some harm. You'll be prompted for your computer's admin password (not your Dropbox password) after entering the first command. Keep in mind that the password field in the terminal will remain blank as you type your password. After you type it, just press ENTER. You'll know that these instructions complete normally once the initial line of text (called prompt) comes up again:

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

Please note that once the prompt displays, the instruction completed the requested task. If the command returns an error, or does not respond after an hour, you may want to try restarting your computer and trying this step again.

3. Restart Dropbox from the Application folder, then please sign in and apply any Selective Sync settings you may have had prior to this reset during the sign in process. Your account will take a few moments to reindex the files and sync any pending changes.

If Dropbox still doesn't start then please copy and send me the result from the Terminal commands and any error messages shown there. Alternatively, if it's easier you can also take a screenshot and attach it to your reply.

Thanks a bunch, Margaret. 

[Margaret10]

Hi - i have uninstalled and re-installed Dropbox but I still can't open it on my desktop imac  Can anyone help please

[Daphne]

Hey @Margaret10!

If you haven't already, please try performing an advanced reinstall of the desktop app to see if that does the trick.

Let me know how it goes!