LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] Dropbox continuously syncing on one computer

- Linux - Newbie (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/)

- - Dropbox continuously syncing on one computer (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/dropbox-continuously-syncing-on-one-computer-4175664625/)

Dropbox continuously syncing on one computer

I have Dropbox synced between two computers. On one it works fine. On the other, the little blue dot in the icon in the top tool bar shows that it's constantly turning (and I assume syncing). But there's no big files to sync and all the files are synced properly, so I didn't worry about it. But it's been happening for a week now. Is there anything I should be doing about this or should I let it just keep going? Thanks.

I think I would just stop and then start it back up again. There are some command line options, albeit limited:

Code:

$ dropbox # returns list of commands

$ dropbox status

$ dropbox stop

$ dropbox start

Quote:

Originally Posted by cseanburns (Post 6060501)

I think I would just stop and then start it back up again. There are some command line options, albeit limited:

Code:

$ dropbox # returns list of commands

$ dropbox status

$ dropbox stop

$ dropbox start

I'll try it. Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cseanburns (Post 6060501)

I think I would just stop and then start it back up again. There are some command line options, albeit limited:

Code:

$ dropbox # returns list of commands

$ dropbox status

$ dropbox stop

$ dropbox start

That did it, Sean. That was easy. Thanks!

This issue has come back to life. What happened is the

Code:

$ dropbox stop

and

Code:

$ dropbox start

commands worked, but only temporarily. Eventually the Dropbox icon in the toolbar started spinning again.

Any suggestions?

I'm wondering if you run:

Code:

$ dropbox status

if it will show that it's syncing, updating, etc.

If it is, there might be a troublesome file somewhere.

If not, then you should be able to stop the service and then delete the $HOME/Dropbox/.dropbox-cache directory, and then restart the service. I don't backup that directory to my own external storage but Dropbox syncs fine when I use that external storage to restore my $HOME directory on a new Linux install. Next I might delete $HOME/.dropbox if the previous didn't work.

Let me know how that goes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cseanburns (Post 6065642)

I'm wondering if you run:

Code:

$ dropbox status

Thanks a lot, Sean. I'm not on that computer so I can't test it right away, but is there no issue in deleting that cache directory or the Home/.dropbox? It won't affect functionality? Talking about backing up and restoring sounds a little scary. This is just three computers syncing Dropbox. I keep waiting for a software update to fix it. Anyway, is there any problem with letting the icon in the toolbar spin? It doesn't seem to be using any cpu.

I ran the dropbox status and it says "dropbox upgrading." Looking around I found others struggling with it but in Windows.

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Inst...n-8/td-p/56599

It's okay to delete those directories. Once dropbox is restarted, it'll simply re-index your stuff.

I don't know if that will ultimately solve the problem, though, or just temporarily do so. You could follow the steps in that link you provided via the post here:

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Inst...ht/true#M12506

That person is recommending that you delete those directories, too, but also recommending that you uninstall and reinstall dropbox. That might be the next step.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cseanburns (Post 6066140)

Thanks Sean. I don't know if I'm being lazy, but Dropbox is syncing both ways properly. The upgrading/spinning icon isn't using any CPU or bothering me. Is there any real reason to keep messing with this? (That was not rhetorical.)

Probably okay to just ignore it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cseanburns (Post 6066290)

Probably okay to just ignore it!

I'm going to. Thanks for the confirmation. I'm going to marked this as 'solved.' (Solved by inaction.)