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Forum Discussion
Desktop Application Will Not Allow Existing Dropbox Folder to Be Used. Error: "The folder already contains a Dropbox directory."
I have been a happy user of Dropbox for years. Until recently . . .
Dropbox recently quit working properly. The latest issue today was that it failed to load the "platform plugin windows." The ...
You should not select the Dropbox folder but the folder you wish Dropbox to be placed in. Then it will be installed in that folder.
If its on a 2nd drive and not in a folder, simply select the Drive in the chooser window.
At least this is what I am thinking based upon your post. I made this same issue at first when trying to move Dropbox all those years ago.
The installer will let you choose the location. It on the last screen before it closes under the advanced settings. Many users myself included think Dropbox was already being installed in the default location at this point in the process but it was still waiting.
Thanks, Rich, for the follow up. I apologize for my brusque comment earlier.
I've been using external media for a long time, so I wanted to make sure others knew it was possible and that Dropbox will generally work fine. Are there any risks? Yes. But the software can "support" it. The only issue I've run into is the unrelated problem that prompted me to start this thread in the first place.
I haven't tried creating a new dropbox or moving a dropbox for a while, so maybe my approach is a "workaround" as you call it. I'm still curious, though, why Dropbox has an FAQ that specifically says you can have a dropbox on external media. Let us know what you find out.
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It seems there are a few different aspects users should be aware of:
1. Moving a dropbox to external media, using the dropbox app. The error message you flagged would suggest that this operation is not supported, at least not in all cases. I agree with you there, although I haven't personally tried moving my dropbox with the app recently.
2. Storing a dropbox on external media. For example, on initial setup will Dropbox allow me to create the initial dropbox on external media? The FAQ would seem to suggest that this is possible, but we'll have to confirm.
3. Mapping a container to a drive letter. This clearly works and has never been an issue for me. Dropbox doesn't care whether the container is on my hard drive, an external drive, a thumb drive, or my phone. You might be right that this approach is a "workaround". The software can certainly handle it, although it might not be a good solution for some people.
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BTW, is anyone else experiencing terrible lag when typing a comment here in the forum? Also, I cannot paste any text in the comment box. Is that normal?
