I have a "ghost" folder which keeps re-appearing no matter how many times it is deleted. Any clues?
Hey, is the folder you are trying to delete empty or does it contain any files? Usually this happens because a piece of software on a computer that the folder is shared on is trying to access it, and is recreating it when someone else deletes it.If there is a file in there, looking at the 'previous versions' will tell you which machine the culprit is. If you don't have a file in there, add a test one, delete the folder again and when it reappears, you'll be able to solve the mystery! Deleting the folder on the rogue machine will fix it permanently.
hey, where is the folder - is it in your top-level directory? and where are you deleting it, on web or on the desktop client?
Hmm, so is it right at the top? Right when you open your Dropbox? Or is it a folder within a folder?Also, if you are a Dropbox for Business customer, you might want to check to make sure that the folder isn't a "team folder" i.e. something that is shared with everyone in your team. I don't think you can delete that.
Sorry, yes it's a folder within a folder. And we are a business customer. We don't use team folders but the main folder that this folder is filed under, is "shared" ... should I try unsharing the main folder, then try and delete?
Can I also add that I have previously been able to delete other folders, within this same main folder, without unsharing ... so not sure what is so special about this one! Our dropbox went haywire the other day and created doubles of folders, that didn't match. Very frustrating.
Thanks Holly. Will try when I get to the office tomorrow. There are also sub-folders within the folder, but they do not contain any documents. I think I know which machine is doing it though so will give it a go.
I am having the same issue, can you tell me if this was solved?
I am having this problem also. Has anyone found a way forward?
Nope ... I posted the original query and none of their suggestions deleted the folder. It is still there. I still can't see why someone from "Dropbox" can't access it and delete it, when they can see everything else that is going on.
hey, if you file a ticket at dropbox.com/support we can take a deeper look at the issue.
SOLVED: Just had a persistant set of three folders that kept re-appearing after deleting locally (on my linux machine). I "Launched the Dropbox website" and after a while - not the first look in the folder! - I found a single file - with a very long file name. (The names were file names I had chosen). Once I saw these, deleted each file, then deleted the directorys one by one. Virtually straight away the locally synced versions disapeered off my linux machine :-)
Solved.
I just posted a ticket to support. But, I believe I fixed my own issue.
I have a folder shared with just over a dozen other people. We had a resilient "Dec 6 pm" folder that wouldn't delete. I could remove it from a web browser, from the desktop client, or within folder on both PC & Mac. I even tried deleting it with my mobile app on iPhone and iPads. Nothing.
In re-reading the thread a few considerations - rogue machines & a glitch with file recovery technology.
Holly's post gave me the idea, except you can't right click and view "previous versions" of a folder. You can however reveal "deleted" contents file and folder alike by clicking the garbage bin icon on the top.
Doing so will let you see your ghosting folder just before it adds itself again. You can then right click it and "permanently delete".
So far so good. I'm still going to follow through with my ticket as I'm curious if the error is with one my shared users' computers or a glitch on dropbox's end. I'm leaning to the latter as "permanently deleting" appears to have worked.
Unsolved.
Attached is the email from Dropbox Support. I've resigned to the fact it's not worth the effort!
Quote:
Thanks for contacting us.
I understand you are experiencing issues with a file reappearing after deletion and would also like to know if its possible for us on our end to delete the file in question.
While we have access to your account information, your folders and files are private and we can't make changes to them other than restoration events.
Reappearing files and folders usually occur because one or more of the computers that are synced are still accessing the folders. If you delete them, an application on another computer recreates them to continue working on the files.
To solve this issue, you should delete the file or folder from the Dropbox folder on the computer that's recreating the file. You can see which computer has re-added the file by going to the website and checking previous versions of the file.
The instructions for checking a file's version history can be viewed here:
https://www.dropbox.com/help/11
Please note that you can only view the previous version of files not folders. If you have a reappearing folder, you'll need to open the folder until you locate a file, so that you can view the previous version of the file within the folder.
I hope this information helps.
I had a haunted set of empty folders. On a whim, I deleted them on my iPhone and now they're really gone. Who knew?
Best,
Jenny
I had this problem all day today. I finally renamed the folder then tried deleting it again. It worked and hasn't shown it's face again.
i have at least a hundred empty folders in my bookmarks and the Bookmarks whole folder is bouncing as tho it is unfolding then folding up again. when i try to delete a folder it actally adds one.,,,HELP!
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