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Forum Discussion
Kester
9 years agoCollaborator | Level 8
Windows 7 Event Viewer Error "Failed to connect to the driver: (-2147024894)"
Onthe last few startups of my Windows 7 desktop, the EventViewer has shown the following error and subsequent information logs as the error is corrected by Windows: Record Number: X 95916 Log T...
- 8 years ago
Hi everyone!
Sorry for the delay here -- I usually hang out on the client builds forum and missed this.
This error is expected and harmless. We are optimistically checking for features currently in development and logging an error when we don't find them enabled. We shouldn't be logging it as an error, however, perhaps as an Informational-level event and I'll make sure we clean this up in a future release.
If you're suspicious that this has been causing instability -- this hasn't really changed since last summer so it's probably not the droids you are looking for (combined with the fact that the error is indicative of things not happening, rather than things happening that are potentially destabilizing).
-Ben
- 8 years agoHi all,First: Many apologies for the delay in jumping in here, I wanted to make sure I had a concrete update for you all.So, for context: What is Dbxsvc? :I've added a section to the help center article: https://help.dropbox.com/desktop-web/smart-sync (I say section, it's more of a note at the bottom under the driver FAQ).The file dbxsvc.exe is a file that we use to install the Smart Sync driver. Should you not be a business user, or not have Smart Sync, then this file will never start operating. It is, however, created at install for all users so if you are not a Smart Sync this file will still appear there.I see we have a number of pretty interesting, creative suggestions on how to disable, coupled with queries if it's safe to disable it. I'm of course not going to endorse a process that disables part of our software, should a feature or functionality cause user pain then we would want to know. Fixability and timeframes can vary depending on the in-depth technical nature of the problem.Should you decide to disable it with one of the solutions here, it will prevent the smart sync feature from working in some cases. We need the service to update the driver, as well as to establish new driver<->client connections. This is the services current functionality. Additional functionality could be added over time. My main concern around anyone disabling it is that in the future you may need this process, Smart Sync won't work correctly, you can reach out to support but this custom change you've made will be hard for us to diagnose as the root cause of whatever issue you experience.Why is it failing to connect / what's going wrong?:It should be failing to connect. This is by design, the actual issue you’re facing is due to the frequency we're writing to the logs. To address any concerns around error with the application, these errors are in no way indicative of a software issue and do not point to any issues with backing up you data. Because it fails to connect, Windows treats this as a trigger to write to the log. Your data is safe, this process is just used to install a driver. As covered in the above section we expect it to do what you are seeing.With that in mind, we understand that some of you do wish to see this behaviour.Why aren't we fixing this?:We are, we take our user feedback very seriously and we have spent many hours working on this. As fixes have many dependencies, and are just one components of a version release, I'm always reluctant to jump onto a thread and give a firm release date for a fix as these are regularly subject to change.You may have noticed that we took the original connection attempt frequency down from every 1 second to every minute. This was an improvement we took onboard based on the feedback you've supplied here and also via other channels. Our new release, 31.3.15, has further improved this, the process will run 3 times daily. This should reduce the errors written to the logs and not clutter the report.The new beta version is the first to include a fix:
Kester
Collaborator | Level 8
Thanks Boomer, so it's nothing I've done - hopefully the next update (or at least one soon) will sort the problem. I say problem but everything is working so I can put up with the little red error symbol in the Event Viewer for a while longer.
Kester
9 years agoCollaborator | Level 8
This is not yet resolved - I was emailed by the forum and asked if the problem has been solved. As yet it hasn't but I am now in contact with Theo who is a member of the Dropbox support team. I would be interested to hear if any other forum members have experienced the same problem and, ifso, if it originates from the last full week of October. Unless the Dropbox user checks the Event Viewer, he or she will not be aware if the problem exists as Windows recovers the situation almost immediately and Dropbox behaves normally throughout the session.
- Maze9 years agoExplorer | Level 3
Hello,
I have the same problem and it started about the same time as you reported.
- Kester9 years agoCollaborator | Level 8
Thanks Maze, that's useful information I can pass on to Theo when he next emails me. It looks more like the Dropbox update may have caused the problem.
- Maze9 years agoExplorer | Level 3
By the way, there's a little workaround that worked for me:
1. Disable the Autorun of Dropbox.
2. Create a new scheduled Task that runs after login. File to execute would be "dropbox.exe". No need to provide any arguments.
3. Make sure you set a delay for 15 seconds in the details of the task. Maybe more, could depend on the speed of the machine. I have an SSD installed, maybe this has to be higher for "normal" harddisks.
Fixed.
- rcarmich1548 years agoExplorer | Level 3
I have the same problem, also starting around the end of October/beginning of November. With the added bonus that when I uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox, it now doesn't even show the program, shortcut or run at all no matter how long I wait after startup.
- Kester8 years agoCollaborator | Level 8
Hi rcarmich154,
Is the program in your Program Files folder which in Widows 7 is usually at C:\Program Files\Dropbox\Client\Dropbox.exe (or appropriate filepath for your system)? If it is, does double clicking Dropbox.exe do anything? If it is missing then it would seem not to have installed. If it is there but has not installed correctly (and will not when you retry) then it is possible there may be a problem with your user account similar to that experienced by roberto l.1 - see his solution on page 4 of the thread.
- rcarmich1548 years agoExplorer | Level 3
Kester,
Thanks -- I checked and the program exists. I created another Administrator account, logged into that, uninstalled the version of Dropbox that was there, deleted all files I could find, re-download the Client app from the website, installed it - did not get prompts about adding a shortcut or even a screen to click "finish" on. No shortcut appeared on the desktop, nothing in the tray.
I went to the directory in ProgramFiles and manually attempted to run dropbox.exe (it has a date of 11/7/16 if that is helpful). Program does not run. I'm stumped. It works perfectly on my laptop (Windows 10) but suddenly stopped working on my desktop (Windows 7).
Not sure if it makes a difference that I have the personal version not the business (i.e. paid) version
Rachel
- CC28 years agoExplorer | Level 3
Sounds like this error is deemd to be harmless however its plugging up my event viewer log with an entry every second. I'm currently developing a windows service so It quite annoying and I'm sure its affecting system performance at that frequency. Would be nice to see this fixed meanwhile I'll explore the work around.
Thx CC
- Kester8 years agoCollaborator | Level 8
I posted a reply to this effect earlier but it seems to have gone astray.
mat-glock was not advertising but responding to my remark about my experience with OneDrive. Surely he has a right to do this on this forum - it may be a Dropbox forum but issues with Dropbox will naturally make one consider alternative cloud-based storage solutions. In my case I used OneDrive as an additional means of cloud storage with Dropbox.
I was unlucky and OneDrive let me down several times this year when it went down culminating in a two week loss of service last month. On top of this OneDrive went into continuous synchronisation mode last week, hogged system resources making my computer unusable and forcing me to undertake a forced exit. The few lightweight files I was storing in OneDrive did not explain why OneDrive should be synchronising files for over a half hour before I gave up. But mat-glock was right to express the opinion that OneDrive is popular and effective for the vast majority of users - my experience was obviously not typical but enough to put me off. Unfortunately the Dropbox problem sprang up immediately so another cloud-based storage facility is proving troublesome leading me to consider alternatives.
However, the current problem with Dropbox is not stopping me using the service even though it is a nuisance. I have disabled the DbxSvc service with no problems in my use of Dropbox so CC2 may like to consider that option to allow his or her continued development of the new Windows service without the continuous Dropbox 'information' reports dominating the Event Viewer window.
What is especially annoying is the seemingly disrespectful attitude of Dropbox to their users. This forum has highlighted a problem and I expect the issue has been raised elsewhere too, but they have not had the courtesy to acknowledge the issue here on a forum specifically for their users. They have caused the issue, it was not there a short while back but has occurred after changes they have made. Surely they owe us some sort of comment, an apology and an explanation of what they intend to do to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
- Kester8 years agoCollaborator | Level 8
This is the third attempt I've made to make this post. On the last two occasions my post was added to the end of the thread when I clicked the 'Post' button but were not there the next time I logged in. My posts contained no obnoxious or offensive wording so I am at a loss as to why they were removed. I will try once more:
Firstly, I do not see mat-glock's reply to my earlier successful post as advertising. I explained why I removed OneDrive from my system and mat-glock countered with a very supportive comment for OneDrive. That was fair enough. My own experience of OneDrive is clearly not the same as the vast majority of users world wide. The comments are valid to be included in this forum - it may be a Dropbox forum but if Dropbox users are having problems then it is natural to consider alternatives and experience of such alternatives, good or bad, is appropriate for comment here. My OneDrive experience was sufficient to put me off it - unfortunately the latest OneDrive problem I had more or less coincided with this latest Dropbox issue.
Fortunately the Dropbox problem does not make it unusable - it is a nuisance and quite a serious one considering its impact on the Event Viewer. The Event Viewer is a useful tool but not so when its window is hijacked by continually repeating 'Information' reports relating to the Dropbox service. I just disabled the DbxSvc so that the problem does not manifest in the Event Viewer window any more - this action appears not to have caused any difficulties for me in using Dropbox. This action might well help CC2 continue his or her development of the windows service mentioned.
I am surprised that Dropbox are either not aware or are ignoring this thread. Surely, if they respect their users, they would ensure a representative would post some information here, explain what is being done and give a likely time plan for resolution.
- Wim8 years agoNew member | Level 2
It's not limited to Windows 7, also Windows 10 releases experience this wel known issue.
Beside that it fills our eventlogs on every Windows device running the Dropbox service, it consumes resources and including draining my battery power. Of course this will be low, but still it does.
My criteria is that serious parties, I assume Dropbox is one of them, should solve know issues that consume valuable, technical and operational resources.
- bob_clegg8 years agoExplorer | Level 3
Similar problem Windows 7. But it is continuous. i.e. Application Event log getting hit every second.
I noticed that under services there are two 'Drop box' services.
dbupdate and dbupdateem
dbupdate is set to Automatic and delayed start
dbupdateem is manual.
Both services won't stay started. i.e. They start then stop again.
Don't know if this is expected behaviour but I suspect not.
The application log is rendered pretty much useless by being flooded with these events. I hope a solution is found soon.
Bob
- JCoady8 years agoExplorer | Level 4
Kester's solution (previous page) worked for me:
"If you haven't already disabled DbxSvc, open the Windows Task Manager, open the Services tab, click the 'Services' button and then scroll down to 'DbxSvc' in the 'Services (Local) pane, right click 'DbxSvc', click 'Properties' and choose 'Disabled' in the 'Startup type' dropdown menu then click 'Apply'.
You should still be able to use Dropbox but the Event Viewer continuous logging of the driver problem should cease."
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