1. Choose what folder you are going to share, ie I made a separate share named “Dropbox”
2. Remote desktop to your WHS as administrator
3. Get the DropBox installation file from the website (https://www.dropbox.com/downloading) and download or transfer onto the WHS console
4. Install Dropbox and point to the folder you want to share (see step #1)
5. Exit dropbox from the system tray
6. Create the folder C:\Program Files\Dropbox
7. Locate the folder C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Dropbox and then move the entire contents to C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Dropbox\Application Data\Dropbox
8. Now, in the C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Dropbox\Application Data\Dropbox\bin folder, move the entire contents to the C:\Program Files\Dropbox folder
9. What you should have now is the Dropbox executable at C:\Program Files\Dropbox\Dropbox.exe
10. Locate
6. You will need instsrv.exe and srvany.exe from the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit. Download the install file at:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9D467A69-57FF-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD&displaylang=en
7. execute “C:\Program Files\Dropbox\instsrv.exe” Dropbox “C:\Program Files\Dropbox\srvany.exe”
8. execute c:\reg ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dropbox\Parameters /v Application /d “C:\Program Files\Dropbox\Dropbox.exe”
9. execute c:\reg ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dropbox\Parameters /v AppDirectory /d “C:\Program Files\Dropbox”
10. Delete or move the shorcut to Dropbox away from the startfolder (Start -> All Programs -> Startup) on the startmenu.
11. Move the Dropbox folder from C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\ to C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Dropbox\Application Data\
12. execute c:\net start Dropbox
I had done some research and found the instructions to do this either wrong or confusing. Here are the steps I just performed and it seems to be working fine. I assume you know basic stuff like how to remote into WHS, create shares, etc.
- Choose what folder you are going to share, ie I made a separate share named “Dropbox”
- Remote desktop to your WHS as administrator
- Get the DropBox installation file from the website (https://www.dropbox.com/downloading) and download or transfer onto the WHS desktop
- Install Dropbox and point to the folder you want to share (see step #1)
- Exit dropbox from the system tray
- Create the folder C:\Program Files\Dropbox\
- Locate the folder C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Dropbox\ and then move the entire contents to C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Dropbox\Application Data\Dropbox\
- Now, in the C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Dropbox\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\ folder, move the entire contents to the C:\Program Files\Dropbox\ folder
- What you should have now is the Dropbox executable at C:\Program Files\Dropbox\dropbox.exe
- You will need instsrv.exe and srvany.exe from the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit. Download the install file at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9D467A69-57FF-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD&displaylang=en
- Copy the the install file for Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit to your WHS desktop and then install
- Locate the folder C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\ and then copy the files “instsrv.exe” and “srvany.exe” to the C:\Program Files\Dropbox\ folder
- Start > Run “cmd” and then type the following command including closed parentheses: “C:\Program Files\Dropbox\instsrv.exe” Dropbox “C:\Program Files\Dropbox\srvany.exe”
- Start > Run “regedit” and then navigate to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dropbox\ and then right click > New > Key and name the new key “Parameters” without the quotes
- Select the Parameters key and then Right Click > New > String and name the string “Application” without the quotes
- Right Click “Application” and select “Modify” and then type C:\Program Files\Dropbox\dropbox.exe
- Right Click again and select New > String and name this “AppDirectory”
- Right Click “AppDirectory” and select Modify and then type C:\Program Files\Dropbox\
- Start > All Programs > Startup -> delete the Dropbox shortcut
- Start > All Programs > Administrative Tools > Services -> find “Dropbox” and then Right Click > Properties > Log On > select the option for “This Account” and then enter “Administrator” without the quotes as the account and then enter your Administrator password. Select OK to exit out
- Right Click on the Dropbox Service and select “Start”
- If all is well, then you’ll notice that Dropbox is running, restart the WHS and do some tests to make sure. This is probably a fairly generic way to add any application as a service.
