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Dropbox desktop app won't load anymore on Windows 10

My desk top Windows 10 Dropbox app worked okay until 10 July. It is version 100.4.409. It now says it won' t load because it needs a QT plug in. I have tried uninstalling the app but it won't uninstall. I tried reinstalling the app but that didn't work and I get the message "the installer encountered error message 2.

Does anyone know how I can fix this please?

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unknown

Hello again @Jane42

Ok. Lets go back to square one, un-installing and re-installing the app. In your first reply/original inquiry, you said that you couldn't un-install and re-install the app for some reason. Have your tried a Forced Un-install (please note that a forced un-install is different than a regular un-install)? If not please follow the steps on this page https://appuals.com/how-to-uninstall-programs-on-windows-10-that-wont-uninstall/. I hope this helps!

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unknown

@Jane42

Happy to help!

Jane42

Thanks Patrick. I've now resolved the sync issues. Thanks very much indeed for your help in solving this problem

Jane42

Thanks Caspar but the previous solution has worked.

Jane42

Thanks Patrick that did the trick and I was able to uninstall and reinstall Dropbox which now loads. Hurrah! Unfortanately it now won't sync. When I added my PC DESKTOP-HOO9CSU it seems to think this is different from the previous one and now extra files on my PC have weird names like "money (DESKTOP-HOO9CSU's conflicted copy 2020-07-14)" which haven't synced to my phone or Ipad. Should I delete the old unsynced files on the website? Or should I delete all the files on my PC (having saved them somewhere else first!) and then put them back in again?

ITConsultingAfrica

I would also try an advanced reinstall as per this article: https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/desktop/advanced-reinstall

Regards

Casper

unknown

Hello again @Jane42

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Jane42

Thanks very much for this advice Patrick. Sorry for the delay in replying but it took me quite a while to get through all the proposed steps (as detailed below) but no joy I'm afraid. I still get the error message. Maybe Windows Support could help me to uninstall and reinstall Dropbox to the current version?

I ran the troubleshooter but it didn't show any problems. Then i went though the 7 steps shown in https://windowsreport.com/dropbox-keeps-crashing/

1. I initially switched about AVG free anit virus software and then uninstalled it. Error message still showed after rebooting.

2. I do not have TuneUp Utilities installed.

3. I tried to run the command prompt suggested but got a message that access is denied and it failed to process 1 file.

4. I ran the SFC tool. It found some corrupt files and repaired them. Error message still showed after rebooting.

5. I ran the system restore tool. it only had one restore point, 12 July, and that is after the problems with Dropbox arose. but I ran it anyway but it couldn't complete it because "System service exception".

6. I don't want to try the UWP version, i want the current version to work.

7. Troubleshooter didn't show up any problems.

8. i have checked with ZoneAlarm (free version) which provides my firewall and the Dropbox program is a trusted one and not blocked. I don't use the Windows Defender Firewall

unknown

Hello again @Jane42

I just got off of a Chat with Microsoft Support and they told me the following steps should fix the problem:

Go to Settings.
Head over to Updates & Security > Troubleshoot.
Select Windows Store Apps, and go to Run the Troubleshooter.
Follow further on-screen instructions and let the process finish.
Restart your computer.

If the following doesn't work go to https://windowsreport.com/dropbox-keeps-crashing/ and follow the other steps provided to fix the error. I hope this helps!

Jane42

Thanks very much Patrick 65

200713 screenshot.png

unknown

Hello @Jane42

Could you happen to share a screenshot of the error you are recieving? Once you have provided a screenshot I will look into the error more thoroughly and try to find a solution. Thanks!

Jane42

Yes I have restarted my PC a number of times and this problem has been occurring since 10 July. I am on the May 19 version of Windows 10 (1903) so the problem can't be a Windows update. It's frustrating that i can't uninstall and reinstall Dropbox to the latest version (and I don't know why) because that usually fixes the problem.

unknown

Hello again @Jane42

Have you tried re-starting your computer? I don't think that this is a Dropbox error but instead a Windows error/problem. I found a thread on Microsoft that may be of help to you, https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-performance/qt-platform-plugin-issue-what-is-this-is-it-self/aa351756-eb09-491c-aebc-9058ca69c0a4. I hope this helps!

Jane42

Thanks I found that string (which is 5 years old) but didn't find it helpful. I don't have any environemntal variables set and I can't find the AppData\Roaming\Dropbox\bin\plugins\platform file also mentioned. So I am hoping that after 5 years an up to date solution can be found

unknown

Hello @Jane42

I have done some searching through past Dropbox Forum questions and found a solution on how to fix this QT error. Go to, https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-installs-integrations/Qt-platform-windows-failed-to-start/td-p/91545#M53129 and follow the instructions provided by the Accepted Solution. I hope this helps!