Dropbox doesn't sync following wicd installation (KDE)

[roshichris]

Hello all.  Congrats on PCLOS 2010, a great job allround.  One problem though -

I found that the default network manager doesn't work very well with my wireless, it keeps dropping the signal.  This is pretty common I think across distros but wicd always solves it.  So I have installed wicd and the problem is gone.

The new problem however is that dropbox no longer automatically syncs.  I have had this problem with other KDE distros after installing dropbox, and never found a solution. I hoped that as PCLOS comes with dropbox bundled this wouldn't happen.
 
As it is it is obviously something to do with my changing network manager that has done it.  I thought it might be because the network daemon wasn't starting the network quick enough before dropboxd starts and   fails to find a network so just sits there unsynced.   

Looking in rc5.d there is no link to dropboxd though so I assume that it is started by kde, in which case it is started well after wicd and so the network should be up by then, right???

Any ideas anyone?

[roshichris]

I think i've 'solved' this, after finding an interesting post on the dropbox forum.  It seems that if I shutdown then turn on my laptop then dropbox syncs fine.  It doesn't sync if I restart it though.

I didnt' realise that there was any difference between shutdown/turn on and restart but it seems that there is. 

[menotu]

Hi roshichris - try this

your problem is network related. dropbox is having trouble doing name resolutions (turning "www.dropbox.com" into an internet address). can you try restarting your network and then also restarting dropbox

Worked for me

[roshichris]

Well yes manually restarting the daemon like that does of course resync dropbox, but doesn't offer a solution to the problem, as dropbox is supposed to sync automatically.  Manually restarting the daemon every boot defeats the object.

No matter though, because as I wrote in my second post, I will just have to remember to turn off/turn on rather than restart.  Do this and db automatically syncs.  I only tend to use restart when I am testing something new anyway (like a new dropbox installation for example!)


incidentally i've tested this on a debian installation and the same applies.  The problem is clearly linked to something to do with the initialization process that doesn't occur with a restart.

[menotu]

What Dropbox posted that advice for me it worked like a charm.

I simply stopped and retarted my network and also closed and restarted Dropbox and have never had a problem since, but of course its your choice to try it or not.

[roshichris]

Maybe i understood your post wrong, I thought you were misunderstanding my problem.

I'm pretty sure i've tried your idea before but i will try again.

[spoovy]

This does indeed appear to work!   That explains my haphazard success with db in the past.

Cheers

[roshichris]

Nope doesn't work for me.  If I restart it doesn't sync, if I shutdown then turn on it does.

I think it may be something to do with dual-boot setups sharing a hostname. 

[menotu]

I think it may be something to do with dual-boot setups sharing a hostname

Yeah, I think you may be right roshichris.

I would try changing the hostname on one (maybe even change both) and give that a whirl. As you know, changing the hostname is very easy so its worth a try.

p.s. have a look in Configure Your Desktop >> Advanced User Settings >> Autostart > you should see that Dropbox is enabled to autostart.