Upgrade StorageFirefox Completely Collapsed Lost Zotero
Could you please show me where the documentation is that I would have to use to get Zotero, the Addins, the extension, the syncing information, and my personal files retrieved so that I can reinstall Zotero and Zotero in Word. I have FireFox 38.0.1 and it crashed leaving me with no option in the message I received but to "refresh Firefox". Hence, I have lost a connection with Zotero and need to get my old files retrieved. Thanks!
Percetta
https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#restoring_your_zotero_library_from_a_backup
Specifically, on reset, Firefox will put your old Firefox profile, including the zotero data folder, in a folder called "old Firefox profile," typically placed on your Desktop. You can treat that like a backup and use it to restore.
Worse case scenario, have I lost all my research bibliographies?
Percetta
Have you found the old Firefox data folder?
As for having lost all of your data: worst case, sure, but that's highly unlikely. (Note that while we can probably get this sorted out for you, if you don't have good, automated, and regular back ups of your harddisk (which includes Zotero) now would be the time to set that up).
To answer your question about the "default folders" I think they are the old and new profile folders for Firefox. One is dated 7/2014 which is when I think I first got Zotero and again 5/31/2015 when Firefox had its big crash.
What should I do with this now? Copy or Import it somewbere?
Then, you need to replace the Zotero data folder created by that new install with the one from the old Firefox profile.
I can try to help you to identify which is which, but you'd need to answer my questions about filepath and file size.
Edit: details of this are under the link. If you don't understand something, try to ask questions about specific steps, those are easiest to answer
How about the in the other folder?
E.g. on Windows, you'd right-click, select "Properties" and it'd be under "Location"
The size of file is: 84 MB
Size on Disk is: 86 MB
Inside of this file are backup copies of zotero sqlite. Do you want me to make a copy of this the Zotero folder before I install?
So here's the sequence
1. Re-install Zotero
2. Open Zotero -- you'll see an empty library -- and find your current data folder: https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#locating_your_zotero_library (see "The easiest and most reliable way..." in the 2nd paragraph). Open it.
3. Close Zotero
4. Make a copy of the Zotero folder in the "Old Firefox Data" folder
5. Use that copy to replace the Zotero data folder you found under 2.)
6. Restart Zotero. You should be back in business.
1. C:\Users\Percetta2\Desktop\Old Firefox Data\zotero
2. C:\Users\Percetta2\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\q0jc7e90.default\zotero
I'm now asking you to replace the 2nd one (your current data directory) with the 1st one (your backed up data directory).
You write that you placed the folder into the other folder. That wouldn't be replacing it. By replacing I mean move the folder from 2.) out of the way and copy the folder from 1.) into its place.
Is that clearer?
At no point should you do anything in Zotero. Once you have identified your current data directory, all of this is happening with Zotero closed.
The above file has the original zotero file in it including the storage file in which I see some of my old document citations, I think. I put the original in there and left the copy of the original in the old file 5/31.
Now the second file that you show; let me see what if I have one and what is in there.
What kind of problem do I have?
I do not want to fill you up now, but I have a syncing problem also that we need to address after this.
That's the folder I'm referring to, even if the filepath is somewhat different from what I have under 2.) above (though that'd be the default).
Describe it in a way that you feel would allow me to do the same thing on my computer.
What I describe definitely works, so somewhere along the way you're misunderstanding something.
Second, I opened Zotero and saw an empty library.
Let me get back to you adam. I want to check something.