Zotero syncing issue

GubingWang

I am using Koofr to sync Zotero on three devices. On two of the laptops, there is no error message, but on one laptop it shows that I have reached my Zotero quota. I checked that I used about 80% of my Zotero quota and 20% of Koofr. I have tried restarting my laptop and Zotero, but this did not help. Interestingly the server switched back to Zotero after the restart, and I have to set it back to WebDAV again. I would like to ask how to solve this issue.

dstillman

If settings aren't being saved when Zotero closes, there may be a problem with permissions of the prefs.js file in your Zotero profile directory.

GubingWang

Thank you. I think I have found the file, while it cannot be opened - what should I do next? Would it solve the problem if I re-download Zotero?
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u11322833/7zqarbthtuuna6m3w2w4.png
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u11322833/6m9uudo73h7ttnfml5qh.png

dstillman

That's not something you should be trying to open. I'm just saying that something (permissions, security software, etc.) appears to be preventing Zotero from updating it on close.

GubingWang

Okay, how could I resolve the issue? would reinstall Zotero help?

dstillman

That's not something we can help with — this would be some problem outside of Zotero. Reinstalling Zotero won't help.

But your screenshot shows a recent timestamp, suggesting the file was updated a few days ago. Is the timestamp updated now when you change a setting in Zotero and close the app?

GubingWang

Yes, I have highlighted all the files that are updated in the directory:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u11322833/bdudzwqvvb21qkvchpk2.png

What should I do next?

dstillman

To be clear, I was responding specifically to the part about it reverting to "Zotero" from "WebDAV" after a restart. Are you still seeing that? Are you actually clicking Verify Server?

GubingWang

Got it, I am still seeing this after each restart, and I did verify the server.

dstillman

Can you make a screen recording of this happening, upload it somewhere (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), and email a link to support@zotero.org with a link to this thread?

GubingWang

It is interesting that when I restart this time, it stays with WebDAV and there is no warning message on Zotero storage for all the devices. Yet, the papers are still not synced across devices, here I show the screenshots of two devices and the zotero web portal:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u11322833/w4wshykriiypqb5g0hy6.png
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u11322833/9wr4sbwro3zsc52hqql2.png
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u11322833/2oh0upgxl1ycduhmniwh.png

dstillman

Data syncing doesn't have anything to do with WebDAV. For that, see Changes Not Syncing.