Zotero slowing down computer start up

marija.taflaga

I use Zotero on both my personal and work computer. At work the computer is taking 40+ minutes to load my windows profile onto my work computer.

The IT dept thinks the problem is Zotero. They think this because the slow profile problem went away when they removed Zotero from the computer and it returned as soon as I installed Zotero again.

My library is about 2-3GB. I used to use a WebDAV to store my library but I have now switched to using zotero's online paid storage system. The change appeared to make no difference.

Could it be something in the settings that I need to change?

dstillman

This doesn't sound like a Zotero issue at all, just an issue with your work computer setup — it seems like it's not designed for profiles as large as yours is with your Zotero library.

You have two main options:

1) If you have a dedicated computer at work, don't store your Zotero profile on the roaming profile, if possible. (Ask your IT department for help with that if you're unsure.) You can change the location of the Zotero data directory from the Advanced -> Files and Folders pane of the Zotero preferences.

2) Delete the 'storage' directory inside the Zotero data directory and then use Zotero's on-demand download feature to access PDFs. You can set that in the file sync section of the Sync pane of the Zotero preferences (download "as needed"). To be safe, before deleting 'storage' I would recommend doing Reset File Sync History in the Sync -> Reset pane of the Zotero preferences and syncing to make sure that all the files in your local Zotero library have been uploaded to the server. (And to be really safe, I'd recommend moving the 'storage' directory to a temporary backup location outside the roaming profile, on a USB drive, etc., just in case you later find something hadn't uploaded properly.)

aurimas

Edit: basically what Dan said.

Zotero does not automatically start on logon unless you specifically set that up, so the slow down cannot be attributed to Zotero performing some sort of function. If you're using a roaming profile, then having to download 2-3GB library each time you log in would take quite some time. In that case, your IT department could enable profile caching, which would speed this up. Alternatively, you could move your Zotero data directory to a local folder (assuming you have access to one). That would defeat the point of roaming profiles, but if you're only using one computer anyway, it wouldn't matter.