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Forum Discussion
Keep getting an error there's already a Dropbox folder, when moving it to another external drive
I've been following the instructions here:
https://help.dropbox.com/installs/move-dropbox-folder
But after a number of GB have been transferred, I keep getting this error message, wh...
Nancy
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffWelcome back to our forum, william1111! Hope you’re doing well.
Can you clarify what you mean when saying that the folder keeps changing each time? Are you trying to move your Dropbox folder to different locations/directories on your external drive and the error about the .DS_Store file keeps showing?
If yes, I’d like a screenshot of it, as well as one more screenshot showing the target location you’re selecting when moving your Dropbox folder.
Let me know when you’re ready.
Thanks, Nancy!
And sorry, I should have been clearer—I mean that the error keeps referring to a .DS_Store file that already exists, but each error reports it being in a different sub-folder inside the new Dropbox folder. Oddly enough, even when showing hidden files, I'm unable to find any .DS_Store file in the folder to which the error refers (although I can see many in other folders, of course).
The current directory is: /Volumes/THUNDERBOLT/Dropbox
The target directory is: /Volumes/TEMP/Dropbox
I'm not sure what you mean by "a screenshot showing the target location" I'm selecting—would this be it?
Also attaching screenshots of a couple of the errors.
I so appreciate your help!
One other thing—strangely, I can find the .DS_Store file using Finder search...
But I cannot see it in the folder itself using Finder, even when showing hidden files (and able to see .DS_Store files in other folders).
And as you can see from the search results, the file wasn't there before I began the move of the folder—it says it was modified within a minute of being created.
It appears that Dropbox is trying to move the file twice, or that a .DS_Store file is being created when other files are being transferred.
I suppose I could go through and delete every .DS_Store file in my (current) Dropbox folder.
Side question: should Dropbox be set to sync or to pause syncing when moving the folder?
Sorry—one last note: the .DS_Store files seem to be causing the problem are also the ones that appear to be most recently updated. I wonder if that's at all meaningful?
- Nancy
Thanks for all the info you’ve shared! I did a quick search in the meantime, and from what I could find, . DS_Store is a file that stores custom attributes of its containing folder, such as folder view options, icon positions, and other visual information on your computer.
After looking at your target directory though, I can see that there’s already a Dropbox folder showing under /Volumes/THUNDERBOLT/Dropbox/. If you go to this directory /Volumes/THUNDERBOLT/, do you see an existing Dropbox folder by any chance?
