Get More Dropbox Space Free (free, As in Free Beer)

Are you also short on storage in your Dropbox, then this is your guide to more space.

All you need to get 16GB extra is a computer with internet access and time.

What we need to do is:

1. Boot a Linux LiveCD (don't worry, it's easy) on a virtual computer, which we have installed.
2. Create a temporary email address.
3. Sign up for a new Dropbox using your referral link and your temporary email address..
4. Install Dropbox on the virtual machine.
5. Clone the virtual machine.
6. Repeat this 32 times will give you 16 GB additional storage.

The guide consists of 10 steps:

1 to 5 is a one time operation

6 to 10 must be repeated for 500MB extra each.

*** Updated with more text and error fixing ***

1. Go the https://www.dropbox.com/referrals and login.
2. Copy the link and paste it in a simple text file - you are going to use it multiple times.

1. Go to https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads and download VirtualBox.
2. Install VirtualBox, accept all security questions during the install.
3. Start VirtualBox.

1. Go to https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/GetLubu...
2. Download the appropriate ISO for your system (32 or 64 bit). Pay attention on the save location.

We need to prepare our new virtual computer.

1. Since we already startede VirtualBox, make VirtualBox the current window.
2. Click on the blue star icon “New”.
3. Fill in the form like this.
   1. Name: "Dropbox_1" - add a 1 with each iteration.
      
   2. Type: Linux
   3. Version choose Ubuntu and 32 or 64 bit according to your system.
4. Click “Next” five times until your reach the final sceen.
5. Click “Create”.
6. Right click on the machinename “Dropbox_1”.
7. Click on “Settings”.
8. Click on “System” in the left side panel.
9. Click on the tab marked “Processor”.
10. Enable “PAE/NX”.
11. Click on “Storage” in the left side panel.
12. Click on the CD icon below “Controller IDE”.
13. Enable “Live CD/DVD”.
14. Click on the right side CD icon with an arrow.
15. Click on “Choose Virtual Optical Disk File…”.
16. Find and select your downloaded Lubuntu ISO.Click “OK”. Click on the right side CD icon with an arrow.

Time to fire up that slick Linux computer, which I will refer to as the "Guest":

1. In VirtualBox, click “Start” to boot the LubuntuBox.
2. Choose your language.
3. Choose “Try Lubuntu without installing”.

Back on your real computer "Host", we need to create a identity for our imaginary "friend" who is signing up for Dropbox.

1. Go to https://temp-mail.org/en/option/change
2. As a login, type a fictive name and add a number, like “Dropbox_1”.
   1. If you have completed the guide before, change the number accordingly (2, 3, 4, ...).
3. Choose “@dlemail.ru” as a Domian.
4. Click “Save”.
5. Click “Refresh”.
6. This is your temporary inbox, keep it open.

Now we are going to create a Drobox account for our "friend":

1. Open Firefox in the LubuntuBox.
2. Go to Dropbox - using your referral link (IMPORTANT).
3. Sign up for a new Dropbox account using your new temporary mail address.
4. Click “Sign up for free” and you should now be taken to the download page.

"OH NO install programs on Linux, I can't do it...."

Don't worry - it's easy....

1. Open a terminal, much like the commandline in Windows.
2. With the Dropbox download windows open, copy this code snippet, which the following functions:
   1. Change directory to "~" also known as $HOME
   2. Download the Dropbox client
   3. Extract the downloaded tar file
   4. Run the installer.

cd ~ && wget -O - "https://www.dropbox.com/download?plat=lnx.x86" | tar xzf - && ~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd

1. Within the terminal, right click and choose “Paste”.
2. Press ENTER.
3. Wait for the Dropbox client to start.
4. Fill in the user details of your new account.
5. Click “Sign in”.

Now we are almost done....

Back at the "Host" in the webpage with the temporary mail address's inbox.

1. click “Refresh”.
2. Wait for the “Welcome mail” to arrive.
3. Click on the subject to open the mail, this will automatically verify your email.
4. Wait for the verification mail.
5. In your personal Dropbox, check the referral status: https://www.dropbox.com/account#personal

Sometimes the verification needs a little extra push:

1. In the "Welcome mail"
2. Click "Add Files"
3. Login with your new account.
4. Create a folder.
5. Recheck the inbox for verification mail.

Way to go - You did it. You earned yourself 500MB extra Dropbox storage...

"Not enough", I hear you say. Well, by all means, lets get some more....:

1. Close the LubuntuBox.
2. Choose “Power off the machine”.
3. Back in VirtualBox, right click the machinename and choose “Clone”.
4. Edit the name (add a 1 to the trailing number).
5. Re-Initialize the MAC address.
6. Click “Next”.
7. Check “Full clone”.
8. Click “Clone”.
9. Now you have 2 machines in the list.
10. Right click on the old one and choose “Remove”.
11. Click on “Delete all files”.
12. Go back to “Boot the LubuntuBox”