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Move Dropbox folder to removable drive?

I have an Intel Compute Stick with very little storage on the device itself. I tried to move my Dropbox folder to a microSD card installed in my Intel Compute Stick but I got an error message from Dropbox because the microSD card is removable. Is there any way of overriding this, so that I can put my Dropbox folder on my microSD card?

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adam l.22

I had been searching and I found this. Just did it and it works perfectly. http://copytaste.com/io8211xb

Dropbox on a Thumb Drive

1. You can have your Dropbox folder on removable media (a flash/thumb drive) on Windows. If you have a flash/thumb drive, you will first need to mount it. This is done by:

a. Control panel --> Administrative Tools --> Computer Management --> Storage --> Disk Management
b. Right click on the flash/thumb drive, select Change Drive Letter and Paths…
c. Select add, then select Mount in the following empty NTFS folder, browse to your C:, select New Folder…
d. Name the folder "DB Mount", click OK, click OK, click OK. Close Computer Management.
e. You can now access your flash/thumb drive through its removable storage location (drive letter) or through the mounted location (C: DB Mount). Dropbox requires a local drive (the mounted volume).

2. Download Dropbox at: https://www.dropbox.com/install (You will have to signup for an account if you don't already have one).

3. If you have a flash/thumb drive, install Dropbox to the mounted drive in C:, named DB Mount. Select the this as the location for your Dropbox directory.

All comments

Peter M.102

I'm in a very similar situation. From what I've seen on these forums, Dropbox will prevent you from using any type of "removable" storage.

David S.266

I was able to move my Dropbox to an external hard drive, a USB Western Digital Passport Ultra, 2TB. What doesn't work is a MicroSD card. In order to avoid problems:

1. In 'Preferences' in the Windows Dropbox desktop program, set Dropbox NOT to start with Windows. This allows the USB external hard drive to start when you start your Windows computer and then be recognized by Windows. Start Dropbox manually.

2. If you are concerned about overwriting or losing files, Dropbox offers an add-on under which deleted files and versions are kept for 1 year.

3. Boxcryptor works well as a front-end to encrypt files in Dropbox on the fly, even encrypting file names. Once Dropbox is up and running, I start my Boxcryptor and Windows sees the Boxcryptor-encrypted files in Dropbox as local files on drive X:

Abdul A.3

I also have the similar problem. I want to move my dropbox folder to my Flash drive from preference but simply it doesn't support it

Ebbe J.

I Have the same problem with my Acer 2 in 1. I use it when I travel to share pics. All drives except the C-drive is is theoretically removable - so why pick on flash drives - the main drive in my netbook is a flash drive.

It really ought to be up to us users, as long as we have been warned. I have dropbox on my pc at home which is my main repository - just need to be able to upload pictures and send links to other people so they can view them while I m still on the road.

Maybe I am using the wrong tool? Any suggestions?

RAMY M.

I have this problem

adam l.22

I had been searching and I found this. Just did it and it works perfectly. http://copytaste.com/io8211xb

Dropbox on a Thumb Drive

1. You can have your Dropbox folder on removable media (a flash/thumb drive) on Windows. If you have a flash/thumb drive, you will first need to mount it. This is done by:

2. Download Dropbox at: https://www.dropbox.com/install (You will have to signup for an account if you don't already have one).

3. If you have a flash/thumb drive, install Dropbox to the mounted drive in C:, named DB Mount. Select the this as the location for your Dropbox directory.

russ c.3

thank you Adam! if you are ever in CT i'll buy you a beer!

Kelly C.21

Thanks Adam I - worked for an SD card as well

Amber H.6

Thank you, Adam. It worked perfectly for an SD card in a 2-in-1.

Rich

Remember, Dropbox does not support external, networked or removable drives. While it can work, data loss has been known to occur when storing your Dropbox folder on such a drive. Make sure you have a good backup of your data because if it happens to you, Dropbox will not be able to help you.

MICHAEL T.81

adam l. Thank you!!

Worked like a charm

Jonathan G.4

Adam, thanks - worked a treat!

Folks, remember to pause syncing in the Dropbox app if you ever even consider removing your card from the PC.

Mike Z.7

Adam,

Thank you very much!
This helped me out with my limited storage problem om my C-drive.

Praharsh B.

thank you adam....it worked.

Alexis G.1

Beware. Even when you can use this mount trick to cheat Dropbox and move the content to an external drive, this is NOT supported by Dropbox and you can eventually have issues with your files or content.

Have good backups of your data. 2 or 3 copies.

Krisztina G.

I have the same problem and I'm before Adam's mount cheat. Because of I'm afraid of data loss I have a question: data loss could occur only on that device I used this trick or it would affect my whole dropbox cloud storage so that my other devices on which I have dropbox would have data losses too?

Mark

data loss could occur only on that device I used this trick or it would affect my whole dropbox cloud storage so that my other devices on which I have dropbox would have data losses too?

As Dropbox is linked to all other devices the data loss replicates across the cloud and then all other linked devices. In some cases it will also remove the data from the disconnected drive when/if its reconnected.

Alexis G.1

Mark is right.

Years ago when I was a newbie with Dropbox, I installed a Non-Supported Portable Dropbox app for testing in my wife profile in my computer. Something happens and I lost about 27,000 files.

Thanks God Support help me reverting back the event so I get my files back. I never ever used non supported solutions in my life since this scenario.

External drives and Network shares are not supported.

The good news is some NAS devices like Synology includes the Dropbox app so you can sync your NAS servers with Dropbox as well. A great solution for home network and even small to medium business.

Krisztina G.

Thanks for the answers! I decided I won't risk it.

Felipe L.4

Does anybody know a way to make sure the external drive is mounted *before* Dropbox starts in windows? This probably will make it more secure. Can I somehow stop dropbox from starting until it is sure the drive is mounted? I think this should be possible...

Beltway B.

This method works great !

If you are dealing with life critical data, you should NEVER depend on any single source including your own hard drive. Any source can fail or corrupt data. ALWAYS back critical data to another source ALWAYS.

Alexis G.1

@Beltway:

You are 100% right. All critical, sensitive and important data must be backed up at least twice. A good rule to follow is the backup 3,2,1 rule:

3 copies

2 mediums

1 offsite

Dropbox is not a backup solution. I backup my Dropbox content in 2-3 Bluray disks, HDD and NAS drive.

If I delete a file by error, I can recover very easy from www.Dropbox.com, but if I notice the file lost, file change or damage after some time and Dropbox cannot recover my files, I can recover from my HDD backup.

With today viruses, it's better to play safe.

Paulo R.3

Thank you Adam for sharing the information with us.

Thank you all other folks for the alerts. I imagine all data lost problems can occur only if we remove the SSD from the computer.

I have a Surface Pro 4 with a small HD and bought a 200 GB Micro SSD Card just for Dropbox.

I will backup everything in Dropbox to an external drive, will purchase Dropbox Extended Version History (1 year recovery) and then move Dropbox to SSD and not move the SSD from the computer.

Alexis G.1

@Paulo.

You can backup your Surface Pro using Veeam Endpoint Backup free in order to protect your data and Dropbox docs from Malware Ransomware

Trever M.

Frankly, this should be a no-brainer feature. If I choose to use "external media" for drop-box it's incumbent on ***ME*** the user.

In my case, I use a Microsoft Surface Pro. The drive in it is only 256GB. I have a 200GB SDCard, which never leaves the computer.

I have tried to use the create a folder, and mount into the folder as a way to bypass this, but I also use this drive to redirect downloads, documents, desktop, etc. and it hasn't been stable for this, so instead I use \ for those, and would like to do the same for a folder called \username\Dropbox just like I have for \username\Desktop or \username\Videos.

It should be a simple checkbox, where I deliberately select to use an external drive and accept the risks associated, rather than being forced into using my C: drive.

It's not uncommon nowadays to have users with computers that have a limited SSD drive for their boot, programs, etc. and a \ that is a microSD card for their file share data, of which DropBox would be included.

If I can't get DropBox to work for me in this very basic way, I will find an alternative that works for me. Not that DB is going to miss my 99$ a year, but I am sure that users like me make up 1 - 2 % of potential users, which is an income stream they are missing out on.

Varad P.

Unfortunately I get a message that "This folder is on a device that does not have enough free space"...

Any workaround?

Alejandro M.

"This folder is on a device that does not have enough free space"...
Having this exact issue too when using the 'mount' trick.

Paulo R.3

@Adam I

Again, thank you very much. I am still using and working the great solution you proposed. I never plugged out the SD card. I know that if I do it, Dropbox will present several problems I had in the past.

@Alexis G

I will try Veeam backup. Thanks for the tip.

Dave W.10

Adam I.,

I am a little late to the discussion, but your finding was spot on for an new X1Yoga I am using. 256GB M2 and 256GB SDXC and the mount folder is working perfectly. Thank you again for sharing that.

Server_Align

@adam l.February 04, 2016 12:03

RE "I had been searching and I found this. Just did it and it works perfectly.http://copytaste.com/io8211xb"

I have performed that trick, and attempted to cause a data loss event, it simply wouldnt happen, the application hangs if the folder is missing, so if the drive is removed the "dropbox" is reported as missing and the app faults out.

Its not so stupid as to say "Wow he's lost his entire dropbox folder, I better delete all his cloud files also!"

You can also simply fake a drive letter (see SUBST) and assign the dropbox folder there, shut dropbox down, then remove that fake drive and put the external in at the same spot, move the dropbox folder onto it and then start dropbox back up. It doesnt care less once running if its on an external.

Same effect, remove the drive the dropbox folder goes bye bye and the app faults out.

You really have to go out of your way to cause a data loss, such as remove the drive and have a network path with a identical located dropbox folder already sitting on that drive letter under it with an identical dropbox folder on it to causing the app to think you just emptied the folder.