Manually copying Zotero database to new computer

jweadge

I have a new MacBook Pro and am trying to move over my Zotero library (6.0.37) to the new Zotero location on the new computer (Zotero 7.0.15). I followed the instructions and copied the entire Zotero folder into the new location and replaced all of the files. However when I start up the Zotero on the new computer, the library is empty. I checked under Advanced settings and the directory is correct, but after multiple restarts it still does not pull up anything.

In the Zotero folder I have the following
cache folder - Jan 9 2025
locate folder - Jan 9 2025
logs folder - Jan 9 2025
pipes folder - Jan 9 2025
storage folder - Jan 9 2025 - Has the folders of the folders and PDFs of all the articles
styles folder - Jan 9 2025
translators folder - Jan 9 2025
Zotero_My Library folder Jan 9 2025 (empty)
zotero.sqlite file - Dec 13, 2024 - 1.1 MB
zotero.sqlite.1.bak - Oct 26, 2024 - 35.1 MB
Zotero.sqlite.bak - Dec 2 2024 - 35.3 MB

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

dstillman

That would be empty on the old computer too. You likely deleted your zotero.sqlite database (e.g., while trying to clear disk space) sometime between December 2 and December 13. (Or, if you actually copied this folder in December, zotero.sqlite might not have been copied for some reason, and Zotero on this computer created a new one.)

Delete the 1.1 MB zotero.sqlite and copy the 35.3 MB zotero.sqlite.bak to zotero.sqlite.

(You can also delete Zotero_My Library. That's not from Zotero.)

jweadge

Thank you. That populated the library again, but I am missing all my notes and highlights in individual PDFs. Is there a way to bring those back? This is not critical, but would be nice to have them there.

dstillman

That would give you all the data in your library as of December 2. If you made changes more recently, they wouldn't be there.

(And, to be clear, this is about data. If you're saying you can't actually open attachment files, that would be a different question.)