Installation hangs if Dropbox is running

[mastabog]

Hi,

I've been having this problem for a *very* long time but never reported it. When installing or upgrading VirtualBox, the installation hangs before installing the host OS drivers if DropBox is running (DropBox is a web sync application that monitors a folder and syncs with an online drive, www.dropbox.com). As soon as I close DropBox -- either forcefully in task manager or by right clicking its tray icon -- the VirtualBox installation quickly resumes with the usual driver prompts and finishes successfully.

I'm running WinXP Pro SP3, 32bit.

Cheers

[skluz]

Thank you!!! I tried installing 3.2.2 last night and when I returned to my computer today it was still chewing on the install. I tried restarting, closing all other programs that I could think of, but the install was still locking up. I was about to re-download the install and try again when I came across your message. I know this is a Dropbox issue where replacing the network drivers is causing Dropbox to run amuck...but its still great to have a post about it here.

Thanks for saving me a few hours.

Mark.

Mark Skluzacek
Midwest Sports Schedules
http://www.MWSports.net

[mastabog]

I'm not sure it's a DropBox issue. DropBox goes offline as it loses connection with the internet, just as all other networking apps (browser, email, etc) ... there is nothing peculiar there. The VB installation hangs after disabling the network and before inserting the new VB net drivers. DropBox somehow prevents VB to insert the new drivers. I think the VB devs are the right people to investigate the causes since it's VB that is affected and not DropBox. I hope I won't just be sent to report it to DropBox instead ... I have a feeling they'd send me back

Cheers

[mlivshut]

Guys, thank you sooo much for this post. I've upgraded from 3.1.0 to 3.1.4 before smoothly, so figured 3.1.4 to 3.2.2 can't be bad, right?
Didn't even think about that I installed DropBox in the interim.
Not only did VB not install and shut down my networking, I ended up killing the installation process to stop the hanging. This led VB to complain that it couldn't reinstall until the previous install was finished. I played with registry, deleted temp and c:\windows\install files ... no avail. No VB, No Internet and can't reinstall/uninstall. Only a sprinkle of VB entries in the registry were left to mock me.

Only when logged in to the forum from another PC did I see your post ... I still had another problem with error code 1603, but that was solved relatively easier (see http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic. ... 03#p139165)

you guys have saved me some shred of sleep tonight. It's 3:24AM and I know that my VB will actually work and I can actually do *my* job this week.

Thank you!!
Michael Livshutz

[raedaljarrah]

Hi,

I have exactly the same issue and I was going to blame Microsoft Vista host "as we normally do when a software issue happens"
When dropbox was closed the installation attempt completed normally

I am new to VirtualBox and frankly such an issue makes me feel less confident in using this application
However I am just using it as an alternative to MS Virtual PC in a home test environment

Many thanks for this post which solved my problem in minutes

[bash]

in my upgrade to 3.2.4 I had the same problem, I almost gave up on virtual box and thought of moving back to the vmware. Thank you so much for saving me and my virtual machine.
Y.S

[cambre]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I was about to give up. I had two different XP computers that I just couldn't get Virtual Box to install on. Killed Dropbox and the install finished without issue.

P.S. Just created this account for this post. Thanks again!

[hiddenchilli]

Well, right after I ended my Dropbox application the installation continued successfully. Thanks a lot!

[mastabog]

Obviously many people are experiencing this and I'm glad my post helped but it would be nice if the VB devs picked up on this. During the VB installation, before inserting the VB net hooks, it could warn in case it finds the network adapters hooked by other applications.

Another easier solution would be to place a warning on the screen that currently warns the user will remain without network connectivity. Something along the lines of:

The installation may hang after this step if you have low-level network applications running, such as DropBox. You are advised to close all active network applications before continuing.

That would require no development work and would only take a second to implement, but would be extremely helpful for many users.

Cheers

[gp2323]

I just installed 4.0.4 and the above mentioned message did indeed show up. I read it but did think about Dropbox. Plus, being my typical self I quickly "clicked" right through it and sure enough, the installation hung. As Dropbox sits in the background and just works, I didn't think about it. Of course, after terminating Dropbox, the installation continued without issues.

[mikshir]

Good gravy thank you for this. I was trying to follow this post (http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19843) to no avail. Wasted hours and lots of reboots. Then reformatted my query and saw this and it worked instantly. Thanks again.

[morpheusgt]

Thanks man! This is already happening with VB 4.1.4.

I was desperately trying to find a solution, and it was Dropbox!

[alan1029]

Long before I used any Virtual machine I suddenly found that Windows Explorer right Click Context menus fluttered many times a second.
Great difficulty to to view the properties of a File.
AutoRuns showed me that DropBox had planted TEN different hooks into Windows Explorer, so I used the AutoRun Disable option.
Problem ceased.
I then cancelled the AutoRuns disablement and used RevoUninstaller to get rid of DropBox, and have never allowed it back on my system.
NB DropBox was a bit like a rootkit - it connected to their servers and was creating log files by the time the System started to log events.
I had used the Dropbox options to disable automatic startup, so it chose instead to commence before startup ! ! !

[dr_rice]

just go into your hidden icons in the taskbar (bottom right next corner and to the left of your internet connection/battery power/volume control) and end all processes that require internet usage (such as teamviewer, VMWareWorkstation, and dropbox). You should be fine now. If not, go into Windows Task Manager and stop individual processes that use the internet/network. You should be good to go then and the install will finish within seconds. You will also be able to use the programs/applications that you stopped to complete the installation if you just relaunch the applications again.

The original post was helpful, but you need to go further if you are using more applications similar to dropbox.

You've been informed by.....
dr_rice