How can I prevent dropbox from automatically updating itself? The new dropbox 3 has a very anti-windows-7 UI that I don't like, so I reinstalled 2.10. How do I stop dropbox from continually installing v3?
Hi Fabrizio
It took me a while to realize that {YourPathToDropBox} doesnt mean to the bin installation...it means the place where dropbox stores your stuff. Lightbulb !
Hi Peter.
Thank you for your answer.
I knew that was a path. As I said I can't apparently find in my Dropbox 3.4.6 fresh install over which I installed 3.6.9 an exe file bringing name "dropbox-upgrade-*.exe" or similar.
This is full search in my disk C: in my Win XP Pro system with search string "dropbox" :
Here I am again.
I uninstalled Dropbox from my system and deleted from disk any file reference to Dropbox but not my local files.
I installed Dropbox 3.6.9
I desabled two tasks :
C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\DropboxUpdateTaskMachineCore
C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\DropboxUpdateTaskMachineUA
I desabled two service in Win XP Services :
Servizio Aggiornamento Dropbox (dbupdate)
Servizio Aggiornamento Dropbox (dbupdatem)
I unticked in my Win XP registry :
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current\Version\Run\Dropbox
Task Scheduler \ DropboxUpdateTaskMachineCore.job
I also added in secpol.msc 4 lines set as forbidden operations:
C:\Programmi\Dropbox\Update\1.3.27.29\DropboxUpdate.exe
C:\Programmi\Dropbox\Update\1.3.27.29\DropboxUpdateBroker.exe
C:\Programmi\Dropbox\Update\1.3.27.29\DropboxUpdateOnDemand.exe
C:\Programmi\Dropbox\Update\DropboxUpdate.exe
I hope this is enough to stop permanently Dropbox autoupdate which is messing up my system with some new bugged crap versions which dont run in my Win XP Pro, such as the recent 3.8.5
Thanks to Stefan F. and sciensys .. for their suggestions.
Hi Fabrizio C.,
"dropbox-upgrade-*.exe" is not an existing file name, it is a wildcard matching all file names beginning with "dropbox-upgrade-" and ending with ".exe". This is to aim all versions setups (dropbox-upgrade-3.6.6.exe, dropbox-upgrade-2.9.1.exe...) which could be downloaded. You can't just browse your directories with secpol.msc, you have to actually type or copy/paste this.
And like _Peter S. _said, {YourPathToDropBox} isn't the installation path, but the data path you choosed when installing Dropbox and which appears in Preferences > Account.
Thanks to Kerio Personal Firewall, which was very helpful to find this *** path !
Hi _Stefan F._
Thank you for your further explaination.
I have searched all my C: disk and I could'nt find any dropbox-upgrade-****.exe file anyway.
That's because before installing Dropbox 3.6.9 (I used Dropbox 3.6.9 Offline Installer.exe file to do that) I have cleaned all existing folders referring to Dropbox.
Thank you again.
Well the craziest part about this is that my update fails EVERY TIME. I'd rather just block it! I'll look at the security policy method...
Has the other shoe dropped? How often does it need it?
https://www.dropbox.com/help/9094
Disabling updates is crazy. Doing that makes you prone to security exploits, all at the cost of a "better UI."
You're better off sticking with updates, or move to another product.
We're capable of installing updates manually. Automatic updates can cause problems in some situations that I won't regurgitate here.
DB isn't exactly dripping in security exploits, btw, is it?
@System Void
You are right, there might be security exploits without a regular upgrade.
Problem is that some updates are not running with my Win XP Pro and old CPU and I have all the time to uninstall DB, clean my system, reinstall the previous working version, reindex all my files.
It takes about 2 hours to do that.
I am planning to shift to other cloud service when the one year contract will expire.
Hi, is there a chance to block updating dropbox in MAC osx.
After you have done all those various things without any progress - such as gone through the registry and done all you possibly could to prevent the spate of dropbox 'failed to update' pop-up windows (eg...5 or 6 minimized notification windows that you see when you eventually come back to your computer after many hours) ..... then you can use 'Process Blocker' for Windows systems. That will sort it out once and for all. Once you install it, you just configure its blocked applications list with 'dropbox-upgrade*.exe' and 'dropboxupdate*.exe'. You can even disable the blocking notification. No more problem.
Why not make a button in Dropbox Preferences so you can tick (auto update or not) ???
Every other application have this feature.
PLEASE
Mac OS X
I absolutely agree that there should be an update mechanism that at least allows users to opt out. For me it's quite horrifying that they just place a hidden backdoor on my computer that allows them to push executable code to my machine at their will without me even knowing.
Ever since I found out that Dropbox downloads new software secretly and without my consent I kind of stopped trusting the company. And after reading that Dropbox actually ignores their user's demands to stop forcing unwanted buggy updates on them I would really like to find a provider that treats their users with basic respect.
Does anybody happen to know an alternative service, maybe even with an open API and 3rd-party clients available? Dropbox-style synchronization to S3/SFTP/SCP would also be an option, as long as there is an easy way for family members without IT background to set it up.
first i uninstall version 3.x then installed 2.10.52 , setup login details, after it started syncing end task with task manager the process: dropbox.exe because it could be already downloading the updates...
complete uninstall dropbox, means after normal uninstallationdelete manually DropBox folders :C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Dropbox\and C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Application Data\Dropbox\end task/reload Explorer.exe, since some files might still be in useor restart your OS if neccesary !!
open notepad and copy this:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun]"DropboxUpdate.exe"="DropboxUpdate.exe""DropboxUpdateBroker.exe"="DropboxUpdateBroker.exe""DropboxUpdateHelper.msi"="DropboxUpdateHelper.msi""DropboxUpdateOnDemand.exe"="DropboxUpdateOnDemand.exe""DropboxUpdateHelper.exe"="DropboxUpdateHelper.exe""dropbox-upgrade-3.10.7.exe"="dropbox-upgrade-3.10.7.exe""dropbox-upgrade-3.10.8.exe"="dropbox-upgrade-3.10.8.exe"
"StefanF"="dropbox-upgrade-*.exe"
save it, then rename the extension from .txt to .reg
doble clic on it, say yes when asked, reboot your system
Now your problem is gone !!
i did in XP PRO SP3, so far it works and no errors.
simple fix and anyone could do it. try it !
Note: i posted 2 other methods that failed, this one is bullet proof..!
I Think I've found a way on windows:
Essentially just make a firewall rule to block all outgoing connections for the following program:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Dropbox\Update\DropboxUpdate.exeI shan't go into detail as the process is pretty explanatory.Hope this helps.
Upvoted Jason's post.
I think this wouldn't be a problem for Dropbox if they didn't keep renaming their client after a new version number (which may alert a properly functioning firewall).
Thanks for all those who helped. Wonder if Dropbox will figure out a way to drive away all loyal users.
For Windows users try this:
Good luck!
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Stefan F. May 26, 2015 17:21
A way to block updates is called "Software Restriction Policies" : see https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457006.aspx#EJAA for Windows XP/2003 or https://technet.microsoft.com/fr-fr/library/hh994597.aspx#BKMK_Path_Rules for later versions. It may not work with basic versions of Windows ("Home", "Starter"...) .
What I did on XP Professional (tried to guess the English because I'm on a French version) :
- Start > Run : secpol.msc- Show/Hide Action Pane- Software Restrictions Policies > Additional Rules- Right click > New Path Rule- Path : {YourPathToDropBox}\ .dropbox.cache\dropbox-upgrade-*.exe- Security : Disallowed
Then when the rule is matched, an event ID 866 with the source "Software Restriction Policies" is written in Windows event log "Application".
For Windows 7 and up users block this:
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Dropbox\Update\DropboxUpdate.exe
[]s
Either delete their updater or I am blocking everything except dropbox.exe (i.e. updater, dropbox_client etc. ) in Comodo firewall (I have set firewall to custom policy and every connection I must approve). Good luck.
I learned of DropboxMacUpdater in the last couple days because Little Snitch has started noting it's trying to call home, when I'm not here.
Meaning it's being automatically blocked. Also meaning the server or port it wants has changed, as I've been allowing Dropbox for as many years as I've used Snitch.
Learning that it's checking for updates once an HOUR is the part that bugs me the most. (see: https://www.dropbox.com/help/9094)
There isn't an application ever that needs an update check more than once a day. In fact, I've used Dropbox for so long I remember when it could sometimes take a week or more for an update to push thru. I also recall when Google had desktop apps that checked for updates so frequently the apps themselves were unusable.
For the lovva mike, please change this thing to only check once a day at most. or allow me to set the interval. This isn't your computer to do with as you like, it's mine.
Yeah, as of today, the same for me. I would have to uninstall Dropbox on my imac. I am deleteing all my dropbox files and moving on to another remote file service. A lot of my ios apps well now break since there will not longer be a dropbox account.
For 30 yrs we nerds live and died to create, offer, and maintaine choice for the user. Nannyware is everywhere now. Oh and g-d forbid a bad update eats your stuff or damages something. Like fb, there is no phone tech support either.
Screw you Dropbox. Greedy evil company.
Nobody decides what gets installed on my computer but me. I have disabled the DropBox app until such time as this is made optional and at the users control. DropBox is a superb product but this is a step in the wrong direction.
Looks like Dropbox is taking the nefarious route of giving themselves the right to sneak whatever they want on your system. Definitely a good time to leave.
Thanks to DropBox's stupidity in this I'll be removing ALL of my clients accounts from DropBox and moving them to other services. I'm perfectly capabable of handling my own updates, without them being forced down my throat. All these moves do is make users stupider about the operation of their systems, making them entirely dependent upon the company to do the right thing - this is a horrible security precendent.
@saiena wrote:If you do not provide a facility for disabling auto-updates of the Mac app, I will plan to cancel my dropbox use. Auto-updates are an unacceptable security risk, because if your update servers are compromised, my workstations will be at risk.
I too came across this feature with the latest update. There are several options you can take but you shouldn't have to. In the meantime I have uninstalled the Dropbox client on my Mac. You can still access it through your browser. It you do uninstall it be aware that uninstalling "DOES NOT" uninstall the autoupdate launch daemon in the library. Another option you can use is, if you have a firewall other than the one Apple provides, create a rule that will block the autoupdate daemon from connecting out. Neither option is really an acceptable solution as autoupdate should have never been added without a way to turn it off. Hope this helps you and I am curious to see if the actually allow this answer to be posted.
