Firefox freezing (not responding) after sync starts

ginaburgess
When I first open Zotero. Firefox freezes up and it takes at least 1-2 minutes (sometimes more) for it to unfreeze or respond. I do have the most updated version of Firefox. Is there a fix for this?
Gina
  • adamsmith
    how large is your library? What are your computer's specs?
    Zotero takes a little while to load, but typically that should be seconds, not minutes.
  • ginaburgess
    Great point, Adam.

    The library is huge. We are working on an annotated bibliography of Christian writings 1989-2013. I tried to use a new computer with Zotero, but it wouldn't load so I downloaded the library to a thumbdrive and it is more than 12GB. So I just use my desktop computer only when working on the anna bib.

    Computer:
    Windows 7 64-bit
    256GB hard drive
    4GB Ram
    3.00Ghz CPU

    Gina
  • adamsmith
    How large in terms of items - both top level and total?
    http://www.zotero.org/support/kb/item_count
    If this is indeed huge - i.e. >50k total items - that's likely to be expected. Computer sounds reasonably fast, that shouldn't be the problem.
  • dstillman
    edited July 17, 2013
    Yes, it's over >60K items including a group library, and I see repeated (presumably interrupted) full downloads. But if you have an up-to-date data directory on another computer—meaning a data directory with your personal library and that group—you can easily transfer it to this computer and avoid the huge download. If you do go the download route, you'd likely have to let it go for quite a while. (This will stop being an issue when we switch to a new syncing architecture in Zotero 4.1.)
  • dstillman
    (Unless I'm misunderstanding which computers are involved here. To do what I'm suggesting, you'll need at least one computer set up with your Zotero account that's syncing properly so that you can transfer its data directory to the computer that's freezing.)
  • ginaburgess
    Yes, well, Dan, I did find that very helpful document to transfer the data to another computer. I think something (software program) is preventing it from uploading to my new laptop with Windows 8. However, that, for now, is a side issue.

    On my desktop that has the Windows 7 info above, Firefox is not responding. Is this a sync issue? I began all my research work on my desktop and have synced it frequently, but until just before I upgraded Firefox to the current version I rarely had sync issues. The problem has persisted **after** I upgraded my Firefox browser.

    I was just wondering if this was something that would "go away" soon :) One of my research assistants is having a persistent problem of Firefox freezing, having to close it and reopen it every time Zotero syncs.

    Is it the more than 60K records that is causing this, or Firefox? Is there something we can do to reduce the problem?

    Thank you so much for your prompt attention to this problem. I have always appreciated how careful you guys are to answer quickly with great solutions.

    Gina
  • dstillman
    Is this a sync issue?
    No need to speculate. Just disable auto-sync in the Sync pane of the Zotero preferences.

    I don't actually see any full downloads from your account in the last week, but I see repeated attempts before that.
  • ginaburgess
    Okay, thanks! I appreciate it.
    Gina :)
  • dstillman
    edited July 17, 2013
    (To be clear, I'm just suggesting disabling auto-sync as a troubleshooting step, to determine whether the problem is from syncing. We still recommend keeping it on normally.)
  • ginaburgess
    Oh! Well, disabling the auto sync did help. Both my research assistant and I did not experience the problem after disabling it.
    Gina
  • dstillman
    OK, so that means that you should press the sync icon and try just letting it go for a while, perhaps when you'll be away from your computer for a bit.
  • dstillman
    edited July 17, 2013
    Actually, I see what looks like a successful, non-full sync from your account about 1.5 hours, so the problem may in fact be resolved.

    If there's no delay when you sync, you can turn auto-sync back on.

    If there is a delay, can you provide a Debug ID for a sync attempt that shows it?
  • ginaburgess
    Yes, I synced and walked away. I also unchecked the boxes for adding PDF files, and attached files to the sync. I probably should have done one at a time, though.

    Yes, I'll wait a day and turn auto-sync back on, then send you a Debug do-daddy to you if it happens again.
    Thank you!
    Gina
  • ginaburgess
    Don, I waited a day, and the problem still persists when trying to sync, Firefox still freezes up (not responding).
    Gina
  • ginaburgess
    Here is the
    The Debug ID is D780029260.
    Gina :)
  • dstillman
    OK, so this is a roughly 10-second freeze while Zotero checks for modified files in your large group library. We're in the process of debugging this issue for other people as well. Could you install the latest 4.0 Branch dev XPI and provide another Debug ID for a sync that freezes? It won't fix the issue, but it should give us more info on the problem.

    Also, do you have your Zotero data directory in its default location, or have you moved it somewhere else (network drive, etc.)?
  • ginaburgess
    Dan, I don't know enough to move Zotero anywhere, so it must be in the default location.

    I loaded the 4.0 Branch dev XPI and resynced. It barely had time to freeze before unfreezing. Maybe 3 seconds or so.

    Here is The Debug ID is D2006539804
  • adamsmith
    (you can check the data directory location in the advanced tab of the Zotero preferences under "Files and Folders" but you're right - if you have never heard about this you likely haven't done this).

This is an old discussion that has not been active in a long time. Before commenting here, you should strongly consider starting a new discussion instead. If you think the content of this discussion is still relevant, you can link to it from your new discussion.

Sign In or Register to comment.