I think there is no such person who would not have heard about the wonderful service - dropbox.com. Principles of operation, settings, etc. I won’t quote, since the infostart has already written quite a lot about this. I will tell you how to configure this service as a service on a terminal server (in my example it will be Windows Server 2003 SP2 R2).
We will need:
1. Dropbox distribution - https://www.dropbox.com/downloading?src=index
2. Programs srvany.exe and instsrv.exe, from the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools - http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=17657
Begin:
1. Install the dropbox in Program Files with the /D key - Start-Run-% installation file% /D=C:\Program Files\Dropbox
2. Log in remotely via Remote desktop under an account with administrator rights.
3. Set up dropbox, account, folders for synchronization, etc.
5. Copy the files srvany.exe and instsrv.exe to C:\Program Files\Dropbox
6. Start-Run-"C:\Program Files\Dropbox\instsrv.exe" Dropbox "C:\Program Files\Dropbox\srvany.exe" (copy with quotes)
7. Start-Run- reg ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dropbox\Parameters /v Application /d "C:\Program Files\Dropbox\Dropbox.exe"
8. Start-Run- reg ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dropbox\Parameters /v AppDirectory /d "C:\Program Files\Dropbox"
9. Remove the dropbox shortcut from startup.
10. Move ALL files from C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\DropBox to C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application Data\Dropbox
11. Start-Run-net start Dropbox
PS. At this point, dropbox should work, but I ran into a number of reasons why the service was not working. There were several reasons for this in the form of errors that occurred after the above operations:
1. The contents of the folder can be completely moved by logging in to the local admin, because. dropbox embeds its icons in the shell and to remove it you need to stop explorer.exe
2. Dropbox service started and stopped. After some digging in the registry, I found that the launch paths for the dropbox.exe executable were pointing to C:\Program Files\Dropbox - even though we moved everything to C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application Data\Dropbox! We either fix the path in the registry or copy all the contents to C:\Program Files\Dropbox. Attention! This situation can occur for those who already had dropbox installed, but did not clean the registry from dropbox entries.
3. After the manipulations of the above, the dropbox service finally started, but ... synchronization did not occur. Of course! ... you exclaim, and you will be absolutely right - the installation was performed under the user account and not system, under whose rights the service starts. We change to run on behalf of the user we need (with the rights to start services).
P.P.S. After these manipulations, everything worked and backups on the server are poured into the Internet without user authentication on the server.
We are almost sure that by now you have managed to decide on your addictions regarding cloud platforms. If your sympathies were on the side of Dropbox, then our article will definitely be useful to you. Why, in fact, not Dropbox? This service is full of surprises and options that allow you to perform many actions with files and other data.
In this article, we'll give you 15 tips for working with Dropbox, including how to restore corrected documents, remotely change your desktop wallpaper, download legal torrents (yes, Dropbox takes that into account), and how to make Dropbox a place default for storing photos on your mobile device.
In addition, we will give you a couple of tips on how to increase the level of protection of your account, speed up the sync process, as well as how to sync only certain folders and something else.
1. Sync folders selectively to save space
When you install Dropbox on a new computer, you need to resync all folders and files from your account. This requires a lot of space (especially if there are a lot of files) and time. However, you can choose to sync individual files instead.
1) Right click on the Dropbox icon and select "Settings".
2) Enter the "Account" tab and opposite the "Selective Sync" line, select "Change settings".
3) Check the box of the folder you want to sync and click "Update".
2. Make Dropbox the default folder for your documents
Sometimes it happens that we forget to sync new documents from our computer with those already stored in our Dropbox account. Now, instead of transferring individual documents to Dropbox yourself, you can create a separate folder with documents and transfer everything you need to your account at once. This option is available for Windows and Mac operating systems.
For platform Windows:
1) Open Windows Explorer and right click on "Documents", select "Properties".
2) Click "Add Folder" and select your Dropbox folder.
3) Click Apply, then OK.
For platform Mac:
1) Open a terminal by typing "terminal" or "terminal" in the Spotlight prompt (CMD+space) and press "Enter".
2) Type "cd Dropbox" (if Dropbox is the default location) and press "Enter".
3) Copy and paste the command "ln -s ~/Documents/Documents" and press "Enter".
3. Use the "Favorites" option to get offline access to files
The mobile version of the Dropbox app has an option to access files offline.
By marking a file as "Favorite", you will be able to open it even if you don't have an internet connection. To do this, follow these instructions:
1) Open the Dropbox app and navigate to any file in your account.
2) Click and hold on the file you want to use offline and select "Favorites".
4. How to restore earlier versions of a file
If you made a mistake when making adjustments to a previously saved file, do not rush to get upset: there is a way to extract its original version. So, if after all the changes you made, you came to the conclusion that you want to return to the original, then this option will come in handy for you. Here's what you need to do for this:
1) Go to the official website (make sure you are logged in) and find the file you want to restore the original version.
2) Right-click on the file and select "Previous Versions".
3) Select the desired version and click "Restore".
5. Activate two-factor authentication
In this day and age, a one-step login that relies only on your password and ID is definitely not enough. It is for this reason that many services have offered a two-step authorization system in order to provide their users with better security. Among these services is Dropbox. To enable this option, do the following:
1) Go to this (make sure you are logged in) and under the line "Two-step authentication" click "Enable".
2) Click Get Started and enter your Dropbox password.
3) Select the 2-step authentication method: text messages or mobile app.
If you choose text messages:
1) You will need to enter your mobile phone number and click "Next".
2) Wait to receive a 6-digit code from Dropbox, then enter it in an empty line and click "Next".
3) You will be asked to provide another mobile phone number as a backup. You can do this if you have such a number, otherwise just click "Next".
4) You will now receive a backup code to disable 2-Step Verification. Save it so you don't forget, and click "Enable 2-Step Verification".
If you choose mobile app:
1) On the next page, Dropbox will ask you to download one of their apps and install it on your phone.
2) Once the installation is complete, add a new character and use the barcode scanning app while staying on the current Dropbox page.
3) Or you can do it manually by clicking on "Enter the secret code yourself" and clicking "Next".
4) In this case, type the 6-digit code in the application and, as usual, click "Next".
When this process is complete, you will need to enter the 6-digit passcode for all subsequent logins to your Dropbox account.
6. How to download a torrent remotely
Did you know that you can download a torrent remotely using Dropbox? Most Bitorrent clients have the ability to scan a folder to find a new .torrent file and start another download. This means that if you're on the road and want to torrent something when you get home (make sure it's a legal torrent or Dropbox will warn you about it) all you have to do is download the .torrent file to your phone and save it to Dropbox folder.
1) Create a new folder in your account and name it something like "Torrent".
2) Open your Bitorrent client, go to settings, find the line "Automatically add torrent files to ..", activate this option and link it to the Torrent folder in your Dropbox account.
7. Remove association between Dropbox and unused devices
It happens that you have connected your Dropbox account to several computers or devices, but then stopped using them. We believe it makes sense to break this connection, even for security reasons. And here's how you can do it:
1) Go to this (you must be logged into your account), scroll down the page and next to "Devices" you will see all the devices connected to Dropbox.
2) Find the device you want to disconnect from, click on the "X" button and select "Disconnect".
8. How to revoke access granted to applications
In addition, to disconnect devices and your account, you can also block some applications from accessing Dropbox. You may have given some apps this permission before, but stopped using them over time. So follow these instructions:
1) Go to this one (log in if you haven't done so) and find the "Application Access" category.
2) Find the applications you no longer use and click the "X" button, then "Delete".
9. Chronicle of events
If your company uses Dropbox for work purposes, then you probably have to share a lot of files. Consequently, keeping track of individual files becomes more and more difficult. Luckily, there is an "Event History" option that will help you find out what happened to the files you are interested in. With its help, you can easily find out who and what changed in this particular file.
1) Visit this one (do not forget to login), there you will find a history of all actions with files.
2) Actions can be sorted by date, eg. By the way, all actions taken no later than 6 months ago will be available to you.
10. How to find deleted files or folders
It is not impossible that you can lose a file in the cloud, especially if it is Dropbox, because here you edit, delete and move files directly from a folder on your desktop. In general, if you accidentally delete a file, do not rush to be upset, because it is stored in Dropbox for another 30 days (just in case you need it again). So, to get back a deleted file, you need:
1) Visit this (and be sure to log into your account), find the desired file through the search engine and press "Enter". Don't worry if the file is not found right away - use the advanced search (in the upper right corner).
2) Make sure that on the advanced search page, the options "Files", "Folders" and "Deleted Items" are checked. Now click "Search" and look for the deleted file.
3) When you see your file, it will be greyed out. Right-click on it and select "Restore" twice.
11. How to Save PDF Directly to Dropbox Folder (Mac Only)
If you find something interesting online, you might want to save it as a PDF so you can review it later. Did you know that you can save a PDF directly to your Dropbox folder? This option will allow you to access the PDF file even on your mobile phone.
1) Go to the "/Library" folder.
2) Find the folder "PDF services", if there is no such folder - create it.
3) Make a copy of your Dropbox folder and place it in your PDF Services folder.
4) Visit any web page and press CMD+P, then left click on the PDF drop down menu and select your Dropbox folder.
12. Remotely change the background screen saver on the desktop
It's a shame to lose your entire desktop wallpaper collection when you switch to a new computer or format your PC. If you don't like the idea of moving your wallpapers from your old computer to a removable drive and then to your new computer, then why not create a special folder in Dropbox to store them. What is important, you can change the background of your desktop even remotely.
For platform Windows:
1) In your Dropbox folder, create a separate folder and move all your wallpapers there.
2) Right-click on the desktop and select "Personalize".
3) Click "Desktop Background>View" and select the wallpaper folder you created in Dropbox.
4) Select all your wallpapers and timeout for switching between wallpapers.
5) To remotely change the wallpaper, simply add the wallpaper to the Dropbox folder provided for this on devices connected to the service.
For platform Mac:
1) Create a wallpaper folder in your Dropbox folder and transfer all your wallpapers into it.
2) Right-click on the desktop and select "Change Wallpaper...".
3) Click on the "+" icon and select your wallpaper dropbox folder.
4) Check the box next to "Change wallpaper" and select the timeout for switching the computer between wallpapers.
5) To remotely change your desktop wallpaper, simply add the desired image to the appropriate folder in Dropbox on the device connected to the service.
13. Sync iTunes folder across multiple computers
Agree that constantly transferring the iTunes folder from one device to another is a headache. If you have enough space in your Dropbox folder to hold your large iTunes library, then why not move it to Dropbox and sync it across all your devices?
1) Transfer your iTunes library (Music/iTunes) to your Dropbox folder.
2) Open iTunes by pressing the "Shift" (for Windows) or "Option" (for Mac) button, and a pop-up window will appear on the screen, in which you need to select your library.
3) Select the folder with the library you want to move to Dropbox.
14. How to remove the download speed limit
Did you know that by default the upload speed is limited by the Dropbox app? In other words, when you upload a file to your Dropbox folder, especially if it's large, Dropbox will limit its upload speed. Luckily, this can be changed through the Dropbox settings on your computer.
1) Right-click on the Dropbox icon located on the taskbar, select "Settings".
2) Go to the "Network" tab and next to "Bandwidth" click "Change settings".
3) Under the line "Download speed", select "Unlimited" and click "Update".
Instead of wasting time manually transferring photos from your camera to your Dropbox folder, why not automate the process? In this case, you do not have to worry about your photos being lost due to phone problems. If you want to enable this option, follow the instructions below:
1) Open the Dropbox app on your Android or iOS device.
2) Select "Settings" from the menu.
3) Switch from "Disable uploading photos from camera" to "Enable uploading photos from camera".
Evgeny Krestnikov
The service does not need to be introduced - it allows you to automatically synchronize local files with cloud storage. Describe the process of registering and installing client software, I believe, is also not necessary. The process is simple, well-documented, and there are numerous reviews of Dropbox features available online. Instead, we will focus on less obvious things.
Launching a Second Dropbox Instance
The creators of the service proceeded from the assumption that the user launches only one Dropbox client during a session with the operating system. It’s hard to blame them for this - it’s hard to imagine the situation of simultaneously connecting to the service with another account, and with one it doesn’t make sense at all. Nevertheless, discussions of this issue often arise in the forums, so let's try to figure it out.
The Dropbox client is launched in Windows as a regular user program using a shortcut placed in startup. Simply changing the working directory does nothing, and the only way out here is to make a copy of the shortcut to run it as a different user. An account must first be created through the control panel.
On Windows XP it looks like this
The method has another interesting application: if several people work on the computer with different accounts, then they can use the installed Dropbox instance independently of each other (there is no need to change the properties of the shortcut).
When you try to launch the client program for the first time, it asks you to enter your Dropbox login and password. All setup steps are standard here, but you should pay attention to the choice of the directory for synchronization - by default it will be in the profile of the user on whose behalf you run the client. If this does not suit you, then instead of automatic configuration (Typical), you need to select manual (Advanced) and specify the directory yourself.
As a result of simple manipulations, we got two instances of the Dropbox program, working simultaneously and with different service accounts. There are also two directories for synchronization - in the My Documents folder and on the desktop.
Two Dropbox client instances and two directories on Windows XP There may be nuances with file access rights, but for home users they are not critical, since they work on the system with administrator rights and have full access to the disk. Another issue is autorun. For example, in Windows XP, it was not possible to find a regular way to automatically start the program on behalf of another user using a shortcut. The issue is solved by third-party utilities, of which there are many.
Sync files outside of the Dropbox directory
Dropbox is purely for syncing files over the network and doesn't know anything about app data (unlike some proprietary services like iCloud or Ubuntu One). In addition, it works with a special directory on the local machine and cannot synchronize data outside of this directory. On Linux, the problem is solved by creating a Dropbox folder inside - let's try to do the same on Windows.
Using Dropbox with Symbolic Links in Windows XPThe most interesting question here is how correctly Dropbox for Windows will perceive a soft link, which is an independent object of the file system, somewhat reminiscent of a shortcut. The screenshot shows that everything went well - the program perceives the symlink as a directory and uploads its contents to the server.
You can achieve similar results in other ways - by creating hard links to files or, say, by mounting partitions inside the Dropbox directory. As for these applications, there are also options here: for example, you can make a symbolic link to the Thunderbird profile in the synchronized folder - and a backup copy of your mail will be in the cloud.
Have you got the Blank Screen when you wanted to start using Dropbox?
It is quite frustrating when you actually need to use Dropbox very seriously but can't do that because of some software issues. Like me, you might have faced the same problem. Frankly, I have gone through some official forums in finding the solution, but none of the tips worked for me. So, I found the fix to Dropbox blank login screen issue, and you just need to replicate the same steps at your end to login into Dropbox.
Most of the users are facing the same thing when you try to authenticate Dropbox but get the blank page. I don't know the cause of it, but you can fix it in a few minutes. All you need to perform the following steps to avoid getting the blank sign in screen of Dropbox.
Solved: Dropbox Login Page Blank
Some users are reported that they are getting White Screen while setting up the Dropbox account instead of the Black screen. This fix is for both of them. By doing this, you can sync your Dropbox to the computer in case if you are getting the blank login screen.
Step 1: Firstly, open any web browser and log in to the Dropbox account like you usually do.
Step 2: Now download and install the desktop client by choosing the options menu at the right top corner.
Step 3: Open the Dropbox from the system tray without closing the browser. You will now see the blank login screen.
Step 4: Again choose Dropbox icon in the system tray and close the blank screen that you got in step 3.
Step 5: Finally, all your files will get synced to the computer in the next second.
In this way, you can fix the Dropbox blank login screen issue. Watch this video to understand the tutorial better.
As of August 29, 2016, the Dropbox desktop app no longer supports Windows XP. On August 29, all Dropbox accounts connected to computers running Windows XP were disconnected. Accounts can be signed in again after you upgrade your system to Windows Vista or a later version of Windows.
If you get automatically signed out of Dropbox, please don't worry. Nothing will happen to your Dropbox account, and your files and photos will remain completely safe. You can still sign in or create an account at dropbox.com or any other eligible computer or device .
How will this affect me?
If your computer connected to your Dropbox account was running Windows XP, you'll need to upgrade to Windows Vista or later. To do this, follow the instructions on the Microsoft website.
To find out which version of Windows you have on your computer, check the list of connected devices on your account security page. Hover over icon i in the "Recent Activity" column - the operating system of the corresponding device will be displayed in a tooltip.
What will happen to my files?
Even if you don't update your operating system, nothing will happen to your files in Dropbox and you will still be able to access them from other eligible devices and from dropbox.com .
Why did it happen?
We're constantly updating the Dropbox app to add new features, improve performance, and improve security. New versions of the program often do not work on older operating systems.
As of April 2014, Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP. Our products need to stay up-to-date, which is why we've stopped supporting the Dropbox app for Windows XP PCs.
But what, for example, do users who are unable to update for one reason or another. For example, I'm not comme il faut to buy a new license and transfer a bunch of programs, some of which do not support Windows 7 and higher.
Actually, the 29th of August came and we were thrown out of authorization in the Dropbox program with the message: the system on your computer is not supported, for more details see https://www.dropbox.com/help/9227
So you need to trick Dropbox and make it easy, at least everything worked for me.
In the properties of the shortcut, set the compatibility of the program with Windows 2000:
After you check the box for compatibility, don't forget to exit DropBox using the icon in the System Tray.
We restart the program, log in with our data:
And after that, I unchecked the compatibility checkbox, restarted the computer and the program started correctly.