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Forum Discussion
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...
- 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.
Daphne
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHey Karl H.4, I hope you're well today!
It seems that the app is trying to sync the files due to the high CPU usage, but is unable to process this. Can you try the following to see if this does the trick:
- Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
- Click the profile pic/initials icon in the top right of the window.
- Choose "Preferences..."
- Go to the "Account" tab.
- While holding the Space bar key, click "Fix Permissions".
If this doesn't resolve the issue, please follow the steps again and instead click "Fix Hardlinks".
You'll get a little prompt when the action has been completed, and the app might need a short time just to apply the change and continue syncing so please allow a short period of time to see if there is progress in the sync status.
Let me know how it goes!
I have the same problem, but your solution does not help.
When I go to the Account Tab, there is no "Fix Permissions" or "Fix Hardlinks" button to click at all. Only and option to unlink the Dropbox from my computer.
- Daphne
Thanks for joining us rpbergman!
Just to double check with you, when you go to the "Account" tab can you try clicking in the blank space in that window and then hold the space bar key to see if the options appear?
You may need to hold down the space bar key for a short amount of time before you see the option. Please be careful not to mistakenly unlink your account.
Can you let me know what the sync status is showing you exactly? Do you not see the number of syncing files decreasing at all?
Also, which version of the desktop app do you currently have installed?
Let me know what you find!
Daphne,
Same problem here. Status icon rollover showed:
Dropbox 95.4.441
Uploading 1 file...
Downloading 12 files (0.0 Kb/sec, 2+ days)
I could not get Dropbox to upload the 1 file or download the 12 files and my CPU was going crazy. I could never find any 'fix links' button under Account.
Here is how I solved it:
Found two folders without green check marks that are part of a higher-level subfolder that is shared. These subfolders were created by the other person I shared with. First, I unshared the higher-level folder that includes the two unsynched folders (I let the other person keep a copy). I then closed DropBox and moved the higher level folder to my Desktop (outside of DropBox). I then re-opened DropBox and after a fairly lengthy process of syncing, it now shows "Up to date" and my CPU is no longer going crazy. Dropbox re-downloaded the folder I had moved to my Desktop. I deleted the folder that Dropbox had downloaded and moved my copy of that folder from Desktop back to where it was in DropBox. After DropBox indexing and re-uploading the contents (about 70 files and subfolders), Dropbox is now "Up to date". I will now re-share the same subfolder and hopefully the problem will not happen again.
I am still with the problems after trying every thing on this post. It´s worst now, I unchecked the folders on selective sync and when I checked then back, they just say "downloading 3000 files" and does not do anything.
It´s only on one of my synced devices, the others works just fine...
Please help.
- I am also having this problem. I have smart sync enabled. There is nothing that appears when I try to hold down the space bar. (Could that be a Mac vs Windows problem??? I'm running Windows 10 on my PC) I'm stuck with Dropbox saying it is downloading 49.853 files, and my CPU is so overwhelmed that it is slowing everything down exponentially and/or making it where the program shows as Not Responding. I've attempted to change the settings and basically make everything Online Only so it would stop attempting to sync files across devices.... That isn't working either.
PLEASE HELP.
