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Forum Discussion
Keep getting an error there's already a Dropbox folder, when moving it to another external drive
I've been following the instructions here:
https://help.dropbox.com/installs/move-dropbox-folder
But after a number of GB have been transferred, I keep getting this error message, which stops the process:
Error moving Dropbox
There's already a copy of /Volume/DRIVE/Dropbox/Folder/.DS_Store here
The message is the same, and it keeps being a .DS_Store file, but the folder changes each time.
I've tried it with Syncing paused and unpaused, but get the same thing.
Any ideas? The only thing I can think of is that I used to have a Dropbox folder on this drive (the target), but for a different computer and installation—and obviously I've deleted that folder, emptied trash, and restarted.
I appreciate any help!
- Nancy
Dropbox Staff
Welcome back to our forum, william1111! Hope you’re doing well.
Can you clarify what you mean when saying that the folder keeps changing each time? Are you trying to move your Dropbox folder to different locations/directories on your external drive and the error about the .DS_Store file keeps showing?
If yes, I’d like a screenshot of it, as well as one more screenshot showing the target location you’re selecting when moving your Dropbox folder.
Let me know when you’re ready.
Thanks, Nancy!
And sorry, I should have been clearer—I mean that the error keeps referring to a .DS_Store file that already exists, but each error reports it being in a different sub-folder inside the new Dropbox folder. Oddly enough, even when showing hidden files, I'm unable to find any .DS_Store file in the folder to which the error refers (although I can see many in other folders, of course).
The current directory is: /Volumes/THUNDERBOLT/Dropbox
The target directory is: /Volumes/TEMP/Dropbox
I'm not sure what you mean by "a screenshot showing the target location" I'm selecting—would this be it?
Also attaching screenshots of a couple of the errors.
I so appreciate your help!
One other thing—strangely, I can find the .DS_Store file using Finder search...
But I cannot see it in the folder itself using Finder, even when showing hidden files (and able to see .DS_Store files in other folders).
And as you can see from the search results, the file wasn't there before I began the move of the folder—it says it was modified within a minute of being created.
It appears that Dropbox is trying to move the file twice, or that a .DS_Store file is being created when other files are being transferred.
I suppose I could go through and delete every .DS_Store file in my (current) Dropbox folder.
Side question: should Dropbox be set to sync or to pause syncing when moving the folder?
