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markpeers's avatar
markpeers
Helpful | Level 5
7 years ago

Desktop client won't uninstall Windows 10

Hi, I have a problem with the desktop app on Windows 10. The app will not run so I tried to re-install, the installer fails with error 2. I then tried to uninstall and the uninstaller fails with the message "dropbox failed to uninstall". I have looked for similar problems and tried the various solutions but nothing fixes the problem on my machine.

Any further ideas would be very welcome.

Thanks

Mark

Setting up the apps
  • markpeers's avatar
    markpeers
    7 years ago

    Thanks for the help guys, I got there in the end but it was far from straight forward. I followed the advanced uninstall but that left two files in the client folder (DropboxExt.22.0.dll and DropboxExt64.22.0.dll) that refused to delete. I kept getting 'access denied'. I eventually deleted them by starting Windows 10 in Safe Mode. (Now that's not easy in Win 10!).

    With the files removed I ran the offline installer again, same problem, install failed.

    Next I seached the registry and removed all references to Dropbox. Restarted Windows and ran the online installer.

    Success, I now have a working Dropbox client on my laptop!!

  • markpeers's avatar
    markpeers
    Helpful | Level 5
    7 years ago

    Thanks for the help guys, I got there in the end but it was far from straight forward. I followed the advanced uninstall but that left two files in the client folder (DropboxExt.22.0.dll and DropboxExt64.22.0.dll) that refused to delete. I kept getting 'access denied'. I eventually deleted them by starting Windows 10 in Safe Mode. (Now that's not easy in Win 10!).

    With the files removed I ran the offline installer again, same problem, install failed.

    Next I seached the registry and removed all references to Dropbox. Restarted Windows and ran the online installer.

    Success, I now have a working Dropbox client on my laptop!!

      • Ross_S's avatar
        Ross_S
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        7 years ago

        I hate to suggest it, but....

         

         Have you tried restarting?

         

        ... I know that can be the worst "advice" to hear, however I think it's very possible that some part of the install process didn't completly disengage - for want of a better word - and this could be impeeding the uninstall.

         

        The Advanced Reinstall instructions above are also an excellent suggestion if it's not as simple as the above.

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