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Forum Discussion
Linking reinstallation to existing folders in File Explorer
I was having some issues with Dropbox on my laptop so uninstalled and am now re-installing, But it is creating totally new folders on my Laptop. As there is about 950GB there (and we have very slow broadband in Suffolk UK) it will take a week or two to synchronise. How can I get the new installation to sync with the files already there?
Roderick R. wrote:
I download Dropbox from https://www.dropbox.com/en_GB which then downloads a file called Dropboxinstaller.exe from https://dl-web.dropbox.com into my firefox download folder. I then click "Save File" as, apart from "Cancel" that is the only option, and that's it. The program then downloads onto my C: drive ... and starts synchronising before I have a chance to do anything.
You're not installing Dropbox. All that's doing is downloading the install file to you comptuer. You then have to run that file to start the installation process, where you'll have an Advanced Options link that will allow you to choose the location for your Dropbox folder.
- Rich
Super User II
During the installation there's an Advanced Options link. if you click that you can specify the location for your Dropbox folder. Be sure to select the folder ABOVE Dropbox, or you'll end up creating a Dropbox within your Dropbox. If it tells you that the location already contains a Dropbox folder, then follow these steps.
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 if you have a lot of data to go through (and 950 GB is A LOT of data to index). 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. The index process has to finish before Dropbox will work. If you stop it or uninstall and reinstall again, it will just start over from the beginning. Be patient and LET IT WORK.This worked for me! Thanks. :)
Thanks for the advice, however I don't get the option when installing to select any location.
I've saved the "Old" dropbox on the drive I want to use but when I download Dropbox everything happens automatically!
I download Dropbox from https://www.dropbox.com/en_GB which then downloads a file called Dropboxinstaller.exe from https://dl-web.dropbox.com into my firefox download folder. I then click "Save File" as, apart from "Cancel" that is the only option, and that's it. The program then downloads onto my C: drive (which doesn't have enough room for all the files stored on Dropbox) and starts synchronising before I have a chance to do anything. At no stage did I get the option to "select the location that you want for the Dropbox folder" I've uninstalled and reinstalled several times but just can't get it to locate in the D: drive where I have to "Old" dropbox folders.
If it is not possible to designate the location during installation, is there some way I can drag it in File Explorer? I've tried but without success so far.
- Rich
Roderick R. wrote:
I download Dropbox from https://www.dropbox.com/en_GB which then downloads a file called Dropboxinstaller.exe from https://dl-web.dropbox.com into my firefox download folder. I then click "Save File" as, apart from "Cancel" that is the only option, and that's it. The program then downloads onto my C: drive ... and starts synchronising before I have a chance to do anything.
You're not installing Dropbox. All that's doing is downloading the install file to you comptuer. You then have to run that file to start the installation process, where you'll have an Advanced Options link that will allow you to choose the location for your Dropbox folder.
