All files downloaded from Dropbox are corrupt

Hi @RuthP, thanks for the info!

Have you tried re-downloading and installing the app again?

All comments

Hi there @RuthP - sorry to hear about this.

Can you please let me know your computer's OS version and the version and status of the desktop app as shown in your menu bar/system tray?

Do you see any syncing icons on the files you're trying to open by the way? If you do, are the files online only or available offline on your computer?

Any additional information or screenshots are more than welcome!

Thanks Walter.

I am using Windows 11.

There is no Dropbox icon in the system tray!

This is the top of my Dropbox folder. The folder was made by dropbox. Screenshot 2023-12-04 204529.png

This screen shot is inside a folder. The top docs are ones I have added in the last few days and they are not on the net, only on my computer.

The files with the little brown square over the word symbol are the corrupt ones, that will not open:

Screenshot 2023-12-04 204932.png

Regards,

Ruth

Those icons are not coming from Dropbox (here's a list of the Dropbox syncing icons) and since you're not running the Dropbox desktop app on your computer, this issue can't be caused by Dropbox @RuthP

Do you happen to be running any 3rd party apps that sync or backup your files perhaps?

Also, can you clarify the process you followed in the first place to move your Dropbox folder to your D drive? Did you use the desktop app at all on your new computer?

Hello Wayne,

Thanks for your reply.

I am running Bitdefender. After a bit of googling, I know that Dropbox and Bitdefender do not always cooperate! I have now white listed Dropbox.

To move your Dropbox folder to my D drive?

1. I uploaded everything from my old Dropbox folder to Dropbox on the web.

2. I then downloaded the Dropbox App. and followed the instructions from Nancy to download my files to my D drive:

After installing the Dropbox app on your new device and logging in, you should see an "Advanced Settings" link (right before you proceed to create the new Dropbox folder to sync your files). By clicking on this option, you can pick where you’d like this Dropbox folder to be located on your computer.

Hope this helps.

Nancy
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support

This is what my D drive currently looks like:

Screenshot 2023-12-05 123548.png

3. If I search for the Dropbox App in the search bar of my computer, it pops up as expected, but if I click on it, the blue just goes round and round!!

Regards,

Ruth

Could you send me a screenshot of the your taskbar as well to see if the Dropbox app's icon is shown there @RuthP? If it's not showing there, it might be hidden.

Also, do you see any syncing icons on the files inside your Dropbox folder?

Here is the clip of my task bar:

Screenshot 2023-12-05 214428.png

I cannot get a clip of what happens when I click on the up arrow near the bottom right. But there is no dropbox icon in there.

I have checked a random selection of files inside dropbox and none have the synced symbol.

Regards,

Ruth

Hi @RuthP, thanks for the info!

Have you tried re-downloading and installing the app again?

Thanks Megan. I have done that and everything is now starting to sync.

Thanks again,

Ruth

Awesome news @RuthP!

If you need anything else, give me a shout! 😎

Hello Megan,

All my files have a grey and white cloud - I know what that means!

Is it possible to make selected folders available offline?

Thanks,

Ruth

Hi @RuthP, the grey and white cloud icons mean that the file/folder you're looking at is online-only.

You can see more about that here.

And yes, you can choose the content you want, and then right click it, and select how you want to sync it: either available offline, or online-only.

Hello Megan,

This morning everything was synched except for two very big folders. That was just going to be a time job.

Now tonight, I am back where I started at the beginning of this thread!

I run two anti virus programs - Bitdefender and Malwarebytes. Bitdefender was causing a hassle and I white listed Dropbox, so I could proceed.

I have no idea if Malwarebytes is causing the next hassle, but from googling, it is possible.

Any ideas please?

Thanks,

Ruth

In that case, you can temporarily disable both of your antivirus programs and try again @RuthP

Let us know of any updates!

Thanks Walter. I have just white listed dropbox on Malwarebytes and everything is the process of synching and I finally have the dropbox app icon in the tray!

Hopefully, this is the end of my troubles!

Ruth