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This folder already contains a Dropbox directory. (Dropbox 3.03 on Fedora 21 (x64)
Is this some kind of a joke? I keep my dropbox folder on a separate partition to simply redirect the dropbox daemon to that location and not have to go through the whole download process all over aga...
- Uninstall Dropbox if it's installed. Rename your existing Dropbox folder to Dropbox_OLD or similar. Reinstall Dropbox and select the location that you want for the Dropbox folder. Keep in mind that external drives are NOT recommended as data loss can occur under the right conditions. When the installation is finished, Dropbox will immediately start to sync. Pause syncing or exit Dropbox. Move the content of Dropbox_OLD into the newly created Dropbox folder. When the move is complete, and not before, resume syncing or re-launch Dropbox.
At this point Dropbox will begin indexing all of your files. This process will take a while, especially with 700GB of data to go through. During this time it may say that files are uploading or downloading, but it's only transferring comparison data and any changes that it find. be patient and LET IT WORK.
My local Dropbox folder is in separated partition (non OS).
I just recently change to different OS and I can't make my Dropbox to be synced with the folder. It gives me "This folder already contains a Dropbox directory." error.
Making new folder is not practical as my current account has large files in it.
Any workaround?
There's no solution. None of the competitors have a solution either. Amazing!
So dropbox where is your reply? Too hard?
I just had the same issue. My Dropbox folder is located in an external USB Hard Drive, I bought a new Notebook, installed the Dropbox app but could not sync the folders because it says "This folder already contains a Dropbox".
Do you know whether there is a solution for tha or not? If not I'm gonna cancel immediately my subscription.George R., is there any workaround for that?
it is horrible. what's worse is that it allowed you to select an existing dropbox folder on windows7 and it doesn't work on win 8.1
Same problem. Can't believe there's no solution. I signed up for Dropbox because I thought it would be more convenient but it's turning into an even bigger headache than just carrying an external drive with me. Canceling my account.
1. exit dropbox
2. rename rejected folder to anything (e.g. add 1 character to end)
3. start dropbox
4. move folder to new drive/location, ok to move everything
5. exit dropbox
6. delete newly created folder
7. rename original folder back to original name
8. start dropbox, wait for sync, check and delete selective sync conflicts
I am a rather new user of Dropbox, and I just encountered the same issue, which resulted in a very negative user experience for me.
I bought a new PC and installed the old HD containing my Dropbox folder in the new system. Upon installation I was unable to simply choose my old folder for Dropbox Desktop again - instead of that I had to move my data back and forth through my whole system.
The complete procedure took me several hours over two evenings, instead of a simple mouseclick on my old dropbox folder during the installation. A function to turn of sync completely is also missing, everytime I restart dropbox / my PC the software started syncing to the wrong folder again. I had to remove and reinstall the software several times, to delete files that have been downloaded to wrong folders already, and all this left me with a very bad impression and the concern that I probably even lost data during the messed up setup process.
I normally don't make such statements, but I wont extend my subscription for this service unless this is fixed soon(TM). I update my PC system regularly, and this kind of unnecessary obstacles is a no-go for me. I mean...the software even realizes that there is an existing Dropbox folder, why can't I simply choose it during the setup? oO
Have a good day!
