Forum Discussion

prc87

Helpful | Level 6

4 years ago

Help! "Couldn't start Dropbox" error (Mac & Big Sur)

Dropbox won't start on my MacBook Air (13" 2018), with Big Sur 11.3.1.

Have uninstalled dropbox and reinstalled. Same error

Uninstalled again, advanced re-install. Same error

AFAIK, vanilla install, with dropbox folder in default location.

Used to work, but stopped when rebooted laptop after 11.3.1 upgrade

Help!

Error messages:

"Couldn't start dropbox"

"This is usually because of a permissions error. Storing your home folder on a network share can also cause this error."

Contents of error file:

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox

bn.VERSION: 122.4.4867

bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 48

bn.is_frozen: True

machine_id: 664c1217-e060-5667-8990-51d38e73896b

pid: 815

ppid: 1

uid: 502

user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='petercrow', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Peter Crow', pw_dir='/Users/petercrow', pw_shell='/bin/bash')

effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='petercrow', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Peter Crow', pw_dir='/Users/petercrow', pw_shell='/bin/bash')

euid: 502

gid: 20

egid: 20

group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', '_xcsbuildagent', '_serialnumberd', '_xcscredserver'])

effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', '_xcsbuildagent', '_serialnumberd', '_xcscredserver'])

DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None

cwd: '/'

real_path='/'

mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

HOME: '/Users/petercrow'

appdata: '/Users/petercrow/.dropbox/instance1'

real_path='/Users/petercrow/.dropbox/instance1'

mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20

parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20

dropbox_path: '/Users/petercrow/Dropbox'

real_path='/Users/petercrow/Dropbox'

not found

parent mode=0o40777 uid=502 gid=20

sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'

real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'

mode=0o100755 uid=502 gid=20

parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20

trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'

real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'

not found

parent not found

tempdir: '/var/folders/y5/nky42css7sbgmkskdqtx09q80000gp/T'

real_path='/private/var/folders/y5/nky42css7sbgmkskdqtx09q80000gp/T'

mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20

parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20

Traceback (most recent call last):

File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 807, in wrapper

File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6277, in finish_dropbox_boot

File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6497, in on_fresh_link

File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6534, in create_dropbox_folder

File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 1236, in safe_makedirs

File "os.pyc", line 223, in makedirs

PermissionError: [Errno 1] Operation not permitted: '/Users/petercrow/Dropbox'

prc87
4 years ago
Ran these changes, but no different.

Tried once more, after double-checking firewall off.

uninstall DB
reboot
delete DB folders from local storage, and empty bin
reboot
search and delete every 'dropbox' named file in ~/library
reboot
advanced reinstall
reboot
logoff DB on webclient
reboot
start DB
login
accept all vanilla (recommended) options
and it started and seems to be sync-ing correctly.

Not sure what changed this time around, but DB seems to be working again.

Thanks for your help.

Walter
Dropbox Staff
4 years ago
Hey there prc87, thanks for using Dropbox and welcome to our Community!

From what I understand it looks like your Home directory is “locked”. Can you please do the following steps to fix this?

Right-click on your Home folder → /Users/{your username}

Select "Get Info" from the menu

Uncheck the "Locked" checkbox.

If you have certain folders intentionally locked, then after doing the above you can go ahead and re-lock any folders within your Home directory that aren't the Dropbox folder.

Let me know how you get on, Peter!
- prc87
  Helpful | Level 6
  4 years ago
  Thanks Walter
  I checked as you suggested.
  The home directory “locked” status is UNCHECKED. Also, none of the enclosed folders are locked as far as I can tell—and the Dropbox folder has been deleted too, as part of the advanced re-installed.
  
  As a test, I checked the Locked status. Rebooted. Unchecked it. Rebooted. Then tried to open Dropbox. Same error persists, unfortunately
  - Walter
    Dropbox Staff
    4 years ago
    Could you the try disabling any antivirus or firewall you may have and try again prc87?
    
    Otherwise, you could also try the following:
    
    Click on the apple icon in the top left hand corner of your screen.
    
    Select "System Preferences..."
    
    Then "Security & Privacy."
    
    Select the Privacy tab.
    
    Select "Files and Folders."
    
    Under Dropbox, ensure that all the folders are checked.
    
    To make changes, you will need to click on the lock icon, and enter your macOS password.
    
    Now, attempt to restart the Dropbox desktop app.
    
    Let me know if this helped, Peter!
tim_kelley
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago
I just tried this "fix" and it failed. Error message was
bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 124.4.4912
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 48
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 4902f188-79dc-51ef-ab44-66e5c3af45e7
pid: 1361
ppid: 1
uid: 504
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='ctk', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=504, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='C. T. Kelley', pw_dir='/Users/ctk', pw_shell='/bin/tcsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='ctk', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=504, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='C. T. Kelley', pw_dir='/Users/ctk', pw_shell='/bin/tcsh')
euid: 504
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'tim', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd', 'ctk', 'bubba', '_sophos', '_xcsbuildagent'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'tim', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd', 'ctk', 'bubba', '_sophos', '_xcsbuildagent'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/ctk'
appdata: '/Users/ctk/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/ctk/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/ctk/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/ctk/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/9q/sddj5fcj2m729sjf5_hbnxb40000gr/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/9q/sddj5fcj2m729sjf5_hbnxb40000gr/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 821, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6488, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 307, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6017, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5944, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 225, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 275, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 219, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 149, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 223, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 597, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 182, in __init__
File "extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> Opening dst |>> open syscall |>> Permission denied"
- Vaughana
  New member | Level 2
  4 years ago
  Had same problem after installing Big Sur, if you look on hard drive there is a shared folder with a load of junk folders created by the install, deleting these and restarting dropbox forces it to unlink, you then login to dropbox again and synchronise from the cloud again.
LBG01
Explorer | Level 3
4 years ago
Happened after Montery upgrade. Tried this solution, didn't work.

n.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 134.4.4115
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 51
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: ddc1034c-a7af-5798-a128-21dbca2d510b
pid: 1023
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='larrygoldstein', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Larry Goldstein', pw_dir='/Users/larrygoldstein', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='larrygoldstein', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Larry Goldstein', pw_dir='/Users/larrygoldstein', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', '_nsurlstoraged'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', '_nsurlstoraged'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/larrygoldstein'
appdata: '/Users/larrygoldstein/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/larrygoldstein/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/larrygoldstein/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/larrygoldstein/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/cy/_dkr8xkn2b9g86jggm4ck2rw0000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/cy/_dkr8xkn2b9g86jggm4ck2rw0000gn/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 816, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6537, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 313, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6070, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5994, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 226, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 278, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 245, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 152, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 209, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 520, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 188, in __init__
File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> fchflags syscall: _set_hidden |>> Permission denied"
- Megan
  Dropbox Staff
  4 years ago
  Hi LBG01, happy November 1st!
  
  Would you mind trying these steps, and performing an Advanced re-install?
  
  That should do the trick.
  
  Keep me posted on the results.
- LBG01
  Explorer | Level 3
  4 years ago
  I already tried this- twice. Same problem.
  - Megan
    Dropbox Staff
    4 years ago
    Would it be possible for me to reach out via email, LBG01?
    
    I'd be happy to see more info on it there.

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Help! "Couldn't start Dropbox" error (Mac & Big Sur)

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