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Forum Discussion

Karl H.4's avatar
Karl H.4
Collaborator | Level 8
5 years ago

Files stuck "downloading", PC not syncing, CPU overloading!

A couple of days ago I noticed that my Dropbox sync was "downloading 11 files" for a long time. I could not figure out which files (because there's apparently no direct way to do so) but I went looki...
Desktop
Sync
View
Windows
  • Karl H.4's avatar
    Karl H.4
    5 years ago
    In case someone in the future is having this problem: the Dropbox team helped me pinpoint the cause. Yahoo Groups recently offered to send a zip file of files from Groups that they were closing down, and I had unzipped this on my PC. However, these files had names ending with spaces, and once those get onto your system, Windows can't delete/move/rename them. Once I deleted them with a shell command, Dropbox stopped trying to sync them.
Karl H.4's avatar
Karl H.4
Collaborator | Level 8

Hi Daphne,

When I got to my other PC later, I was feeling optimistic because all of my file changes had synced.  However, this morning I am "uploading 22 files, downloading 33 files" and Dropbox is still grinding the CPU.  I'm relieved that it's at least syncing again, but something's still wrong.  thanks!

Karl H.4's avatar
Karl H.4
Collaborator | Level 8
5 years ago

Another thing -- I downloaded a file on my other PC last night.  I could see it on this PC this morning, but when I tried to open it, I got a pop-up in the lower right saying something about "Smart Sync download."  The notification briefly showed that I was downloading 34 files instead of 33, and then it finished and I'm back to 33.  What's up with that?  I've never used Smart Sync.

  • Daphne's avatar
    Daphne
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    5 years ago

    Thanks for the updates Karl H.4!

    Can you just clarify for me, did the syncing on your desktop app progress and finally show "up to date", or is it stuck again syncing a number of files?

    Regarding the Smart Sync notification, it sounds like the file that you tried to open was synced to your device as "online only" rather than locally. Did you happen to see the sync icon before opening the file?

    Can you check in the following location if the default for syncing new files on that device is set to "Local" or "Online only":

    1. Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
    2. Click the profile pic/initials icon in the top right of the window.
    3. Choose "Preferences..."
    4. Go to the "Sync" tab.
    5. Check the settings "Sync new files as".

    Keep me posted on your findings!

    • Karl H.4's avatar
      Karl H.4
      Collaborator | Level 8
      5 years ago

      Daphne,

      I am still stuck at "uploading 22 files, downloading 33 files".  It helpfully also tells me "(2+days)".

      thanks

      • Daphne's avatar
        Daphne
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        5 years ago

        Thanks for clarifying Karl H.4!

        I'd like to look into this in more detail with you, so I've reached out to the email linked with your profile here.

        If you'd like to, please check your inbox when you have the chance and we'll take if from there.

        Thanks!

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