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I need Dropbox files redistributed between two drives, due to the lack of space.

Whatever is you subscription [mine 2Tb] you may think the [File System] in two way:

[DISK] I have all my files on MY MAIN PC
that are managed to Cloud + other BKP PCs by Dropbox. Only BKP PC get ALL FILES.
Not much you change in your way of working with or without Dropbox working, Network available or not. ( at list ... in a temporary range of activities and time)

[CLOUD] I have all my files in the Cloud
each of my Device decide what to keep on its disk and what not useful.

I'm on the first lot:
So far one single 1Tb data disk was enough to be managed by Dropbox,
I have 3 other for other uses on the MAIN-PC.
B U T ... Now I need to add one of them to Dropbox !!

Big issue start with big folders and ONLY 1Tb Disks!!
It's when you start spanning Folders over different disks!!!

To Make It Simple:

I cant find a way to ask Dropbox:
To get and to Clouds the contents of DiskOne-Business + DiskTwo-Photos
( or the folders from two different drives - and replicate it on the BKP-PC)

> being a photographer I need direct access from any devices for both that craps.
NOTE: All the old/historical files are moved out !!!
( I do it time by time, moving to 8Tb HDD - HDiskPhoto-History, HDiskBusiness-BKP )

BTW: I discovered another Issues 4 days ago!
'cause NOW I'm running on the BKP-PC. Main-PC Crashed.
Everything was fine 'till Dropbox stopped Syncing my files!!

"not enough space in your disk!"

OK, whattttagattttamalllllow !!!!
I looked for a fast solution....
...while I was fully completely taken in the diagnostics of the main PC not booting W10 anymore...
[Update: discovered a crappy USB port went AWOL. Now it must not be used to avoid BSOD)

When I will revert to the Main-PC,
it will be a double issue on both BKP-PC & Main-PC:

I THRUSTED COMPLETELY DROPBOX

Instead I will need to add more HDW to do its job ........... UH ??

>while the current 4x 1Tb NVME are perfectly fine for my use,
and incorporate a safety path for cache and temporary files 🤬
Should I buy a 4Tb NVME for all my PC???

My laptop has 3x 500Mb ... and now ???

( to solve it temporarily on the Main-PC > a 2TB Samsung 990 EVO PRO is on the way )

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Comments

Megan

Hey @Alain Church, welcome to our Community!

Let's clarify a couple of things to make sure we're on the same page.

As a first step, do you wish to keep all of your Dropbox files locally on the device, or separate them between two of your hard drives?

You also mentioned a syncing issue due to hard drive space availability. Have you already tried making some of your files "online-only"? If so, did you face any issues while doing so?

Lastly, can you let me know what your end goal is? Do you wish to have all of your files available offline but worry in regards to the device's storage space?

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

Rich

Alain Church wrote:
I cant find a way to ask Dropbox:
To get and to Clouds the contents of DiskOne-Business + DiskTwo-Photos

That's not something that Dropbox can do. You can only have one Dropbox folder on your computer. It's not possible to have Dropbox sync to two different locations.

It does have the ability to back up multiple external drives, but this isn't the same as the sync process and is used purely for backups.

Alain Church

Hello @Megan

Thanks for you fast answer.

I first try to answer your last question

Megan wrote:

can you let me know what your end goal is?

Let's make some assumptions:
Files will never be considered "properties of Cloud's App"
= that's the reason I've chosen Dropbox many years ago and I keep using it.

All Files are "property of Main-PC" and MUST be present also on BKP-PC disks

Dropbox is a simplifying Software to manage this situation,
and this job has been done for many years:
* as "Bkp&Sync" between them
* as "Cloud Share" for Laptop, Android-Devices, and other SpecificTasked-PCs

That cannot be changed, ...but... if you prefer _I DONT WANT TO_.

From where I seat there are two choices for the future:

A) KEEP USING DROPBOX AS IT IS
> Buy TWO huge Disk 4Tb MVME that will host the present Dropbox-Folder
> both for Main-PC & BKP-PC ...... 2x 500€ = 1.000€ [5x yearly Dropbox subscription]

Dropbox developers start to thing in a more adequate way for the present age:
> two instance in hardware are managed as two folders are managed at the moment

______________________________________________________________

I answer here all your other questions:

1) 'till last month a single 1Tb disk was enough to host CURRENT IN USE files,
present in "Photo-Folder" + "Business-Folder"

> that situation is changing because of what happening in "Current Photos":
+ New Cameras increased up to double the space required for a single shot...
+ I doubled the number of shots per session!
> to cover immediately the issue I've bought a 2Tb NVME
- that will allow me to test the increasing space needs for Current Photo
- maintain the actual setting with both Principal Folders on the same disk

> if that Photo Famine Of Space continue
- I will have to Keep the two folders in separated HDW
- More Photos = more BusinessFiles .... Just in case it would become true

2) in regards of the "Online Only" option

* I use that in other devices but it's not an option for Main-PC & BKP-PC
* If I use it on Current Files it would means they are "Dropbox property"
* Current Files reside ON MY DISK,
- Network or not, Power or not, Disaster or not
- I have contingency for all of that
* Non Current Files are been moved OUT of Dropbox juridiction!!!!!!
- I use for that HDD 8Tb that will be stored in safe and Nas Accessed via WEB

3) >Syncing issue regard the BKP-PC

* instead of a full 1Tb NVME, BKP-PC had 800GB available + another 500G NVME !!
* I would never doubted Dropbox unable to manage a so quite common situation

Megan wrote:
Do you wish to have all of your files available offline

N E V E R !!!

I do decide how to manage them.
I will never depend on the WEB to be able to edit one of my Pictures!!!!

( I hope to have given you the info you expected to receive, if not just ask! )

__________________________________________________________

@Rich
The important issue "what Dropbox is able to do" has been mentioned?

The Issue is about to keep product feature "up to the task" in changing ages where Still Photo are getting from 1x4M to 2x36M and may arrive to 4x80M, plus 8x Video in only 2 years !!!

> if you adapt to what is existing ... the product will age faster ...
and will get discarded 'cause you will be looking for using other solutions less painstakingly

( it will not be up to the task in a short "tech evolution time" )

_________________________________________________

NOTHING WAS CHANGED IN MAIN PC But...

I started to use it and now Dropbox is showing something strange:

Main-PC is locked in a loop... 24H is in this state with the same numbers!!

I see some file syncing and I ask me WHY nothing changed !!!

Reinstalled Dropbox twice and twice the same issue as after reboot :-(

Nancy

Hi from me as well, @Alain Church.

Thanks for the additional details you’ve provided. Your feedback is much appreciated and I’ve passed it along to our team.

Now, as for the app’s continuous syncing, were there any Dropbox/OS updates on your computer, right before the desktop app started syncing your files out of the blue?

I’d also like to know the current app version that your Dropbox app is running.

Let me know, and we’ll take it from there.

Alain Church

Hello @Nancy .
Thanks for your answer.
Trying to answer you + adding some finding + discovering Dropbox stupid issues

* Updates: None for what I know.

I was just able to Re-Start the Main-PC yesterday, from the previous crash.
Having now diagnosed the USB-PORT-HDW issue. Removed the connected device. Used a USB cable to test it... result: plug anything in that port and you get a BSOD.

When I rebooted and entered the PC, I've got the first Dropbox warning: "not enough space" Quite surprised I went to settings and provided to put 60G "online" for letting him work.

That warning was a big surprise to me:
----> nothing was wrong before it crashed!
In any case, that raised the first issue in the OP:
I need two disks to do what I was doing before one 1Tb § no reason given §

* Existing version, no idea! but please look at the bottom of this reply.

When your reply was notified I was already uninstalling it for the third time. Downloading it from WEB
> NO MICROSOFT STORE INSTALL

__________________________________________________________

For the First time I've got a lot of issues installing
- some quite stupid as you will see below :-(

_________________________________________________________________________

* First my finding for <maybe> a reason to understand Syncing issue...
... on Main-PC [T24 / TwenyFour] vs BKP-PC [Q12 & Qanto]

Dropbox continued correctly to operate from BKP-PC for several days keeping updated local files in Sync with the Dropbox-Cloud

SO

No idea why because it was a first time:
.. a lot of "conflicted files" were present in MAIN-PC Drobox!!!

[deleted them all - while I was Already uninstalling]

_____________WARNING STUPID ISSUES AHEAD ______________________

Note: I'm a long time user.
I've reinstalled Dropbox several time... Never encountered them!

Title: DROPBOX FOLDER NAME

Usually when you reinstall Dropbox, it will recognize its own folder,
accept it as it is and proceed or ask you if it will have to "Merge".
Not This Time
____Let's start from the beginning.___

The folder location has become > E: < all ORIGINAL files are stored on Disk

* Removed "save offline"

WARNING ---> MAIN CRAP AHEAD <-----

* Removed "Windows integration"

THAT WAS CAUSING THE SYNC LOOP

I'LL NEVER USE SOFTWARE WRITTEN FOR MS ONEDRIVE EVER AGAIN
[Just to inform you]
...If you insist using MS garbage instead of your fully secure software ...
>>>>I will find another solution and leave DROPBOX TO HIS FATE <<<<<

I cannot put in danger my business files

And I get [again] the same Warning

I "choose folders" reducing the Space Needed ... by putting 60G in "offline" mode

______________________________________________________________________

____ first silly message_____

🤢

______ Why "RENAME" instead of "MERGE" or NOTHING at all ________

as it was expected _____ and the normal behavior in previous re-install???

What's that!!!!!

( ok ... found the culprit: a utility was using per usual a Dropbox sub-sub-subfolder to keep updated settings)
As I am an experience PC Manager ...
I used ResMon > Handles search > ID the Process + terminated it
Via FileExplorer I renamed it DROPBOX_OLD

Now I need the files in the version already on the disk -- How to do it 😇 ---

SOLUTION

* Kill the Dropbox APP after the full Setting and before it start Syncing
* Move all the DROPBOX_OLD contents to the new created folder
this way:

* Launch DROPBOX AGAIN

* Enjoy a fully operating Dropbox as it would had been the "MERGE" option

<<>>SMILE AT THE STUPIDITIES YOU WERE FORCED TO GOBBLE DOWN<<>>

And LO ... they keep coming in full moron's behavior!!

WHY I SAY SO?

In 2025 Dropbox developers keep using a fixed error's window, not resizable !!!
... and containing unusable garbage
[yes, garbage]
- you can't even understand the file name with sync error in what folder is located!

[if you click on the error message it will open a FileExplore that bring you to "MyPC"]

I've no idea why a so beautiful piece of software...
>that helped me for more then 10 years without big faults<
...is starting collecting "Stupid Attitudes" and "Moron's Behaviors"

-__ in 2025 this is the 5th IMPORTANT Issue I've suffered - Just in 7 months __-

( let me know how more I can help you )

_____________________________ another stupid thing __________

PS: PLEASE ... Were I can find the software version...
usually it's located in the help. Not here.

Jay

Hi @Alain Church, thanks for the information.

You can find the latest stable build of the Dropbox desktop application from this page.

Alain Church

Hello @Jay

Thanks, but I dont need that info.

I've downloaded directly from Dropbox.com the installer

And have already installed it

( may be you've not read my long reply, uh ? )

Alain Church

And again something wrong !!!

Jay

Thanks for the image, in order to look into this matter in more detail, I'd recommend contacting the support team directly for them to investigate further.

Alain Church

Thanks @Jay

I opened a Ticket referring my report&finding posted here previously.

Jay

Thanks for the ticket ID, I've gone ahead and prioritized that request to expedite matters on your behalf.

In the meantime, if there's anything else we can assist with, feel free to reply back here.

NemoBee

I highly recommend you create a new ticket with the support team minus the nonsense and meaningless text because this will not help them resolve your issue(s)

Alain Church

I contacted the support and received a standard answer:
"Please Rewind back"

I did that... BUT ... instead of ameliorating
... it completely damaged my Thunderbird Data base...

I lost some FIFTEEN THOUSAND mails ☹

NOTE:
Thunderbird host business/private mails from 1995 in separated mails-folder

but but but . I solved it . but but but

Some a chanced event happened ... LUCKY ME ...
my SSD Laptop Disk USB containing Dropbox Folder,
got physically disconnected mid-July without me perceiving it!!!!

When I discovered that I jumped table high happy and that happened two days ago
SO ... I proceeded this way.

The SSD disk stayed not connected to the Laptop,
but I connected it to BKP-PC USB
>>>because here it's not actively seen by Dropbox's BKP-PC

Operating from BKP-PC:

> This way I was able to copy OLD LAPTOP **/Dropbox/Thunderbird under BKP Backup folders 😇

* Copy BKP-PC Current **/Dropbox/ >in BKP Thunderbird disks
* Deleted Current **/Dropbox/Thunderbird completely cleaning it!!!

Operating from MAIN-PC:
When Later .. I booted Main-PC and left it working I discovered that after 10 minutes
!! **/Dropbox/Thunderbird folder WAS not emptied by Dropbox !!!!

Unheartened ... I resolved to act manually:
So I deleted also from MAIN-PC Dropbox: Completely Cleaning _Thunderbird Folder 😰

Then ... connecting via USB the Laptop SSD to Main-PC ...
I was sure Dropbox dont see it also here and coudnt mangle it ..
From it I copied all _Thunderbird contents into Dropbox Main-PC folder.

After giving it 20 minutes to complete the Dropbox Syncs,
I started Thunderbird..
... and HAPPILY ALL FOLDERS AND ALL MY OLD E-MAILS WHERE THERE!

Thanks to my luck, while all old mails archives was recovered,
Dropbox still garbled the situation :-(

These one in red are not part of the LAPTOP-PC Archives :-(

... and Main-PC [T24] Dropbox Thunderbird's folders should have nothing inside remaining after being completely cleaned.

As you see it seems T24 conflicted with itself !! [ MAIN-PC =T24=TwenyFour ]

______________________OK_________BUT__________________

WHY I'M WRITING HERE?
JUST TO COMPLAINS ?

N O !

Because:
being unable to use my e-mails System, I was not able to comunicate with the ticket people!!!

SO THEY CLOSED THAT TICKET !!!

BUT I have to tell them:
The issues are all on the DROPBOX SIDE
...and even REWIND KEEP GARBLING THE ISSUE.

Lucky I was to have an unexpected backup of few weeks.

Last "official backup" was from January, and that would have meant:
I can recover older mails, and thunderbird would download subsequent mails
BUT
definitively loosing ALL THE SENT MAILS IN THAT PERIOD!!!

>>LESSON LEARNED<<

A) DO NOT THRUST DROPBOX

Restart doing a LOCAL BKP D A I L Y ... OLD METHOD

C) ... as you where doing before paying 200€ per year.

If you can /may please send this as a follow-up to the Ticket-support People!!

Alain Church

This is NOT a Solution... !!!
I cannot accept that as an answer, that's just "stating" how this release is working.

Nothing that can solve the issue;

Even with a 2Tb disk... And one single Dropbox Main Folder ...
that solve nothing.

What is need is two Dropbox instances running side by side of two different Main Folders.

First > will manage Dropbox1 Main folder on Disk1
Second > manage Dropbox2 Main Folder on Disk2

If you dont tell them ...
.... the Dev people will never realize how simple is to implement that!!!

Note: all browsers do exactly that 🤷

( forcing solution down to the throat of Customers .. has never been acceptable )

Rich

Alain Church wrote:
What is need is two Dropbox instances running side by side of two different Main Folders.

That feature does not exist. Dropbox can only sync a single Dropbox folder.

If this is something you wish to see changed, I'd suggest that you create a new post in the Ideas section of the Community, or upvote an existing idea if one already exists.

Hannah

Hey @Alain Church, I just sent you an email, so we can continue investigating your issue internally.

Thanks.