Collections lost

Georges Saunier
Dear All,

I'm using Zotero standalone on three differents computers (all three are running Windows 10). All my references are sync online.

I don't know why, but I have lost few collections and references. They simply disapeared from my Zotero's library. This happened in my main computer, online, as well as in my second computer.

As far as I know, the collections and references are still unchanged in my third compurter because I didn't launched Zotero on it since that the problem occured. Hence, this library had not been synchronised on line yet.

According to you, what steps should I follow to recover my libraries on my three computers and online ?

Thank you for your help,

Regards,

GS.
  • adamsmith
    If the third computer has all relevant information in Zotero, the following will work, in precisely this order:
    1. Disconnect the computer from the internet
    2. Start up Zotero
    3. Turn off automatic sync in Zotero
    4. reconnect the internet
    5. Under sync, reset, use "Restore to Server"

    This will overwrite the Zotero library on the server and then on all other synced computers with the version on computer 3.

    If computer 3 is missing other important info, this is going to be trickier.
  • Georges Saunier
    Dear Adam Smith,

    1/ Thank you a lot for your answer. I'm going to try this in the evening.

    2/ Is it possible (or usefull) to backup the zoteros repertories on my third computer before I do anything ? I noticed that there is a zotero.sqlite file in my "C:\Users\gs\AppData\Roaming\Zotero\Zotero\Profiles\pzvv0sw3.default\zotero" repertory. Should I make a copy of this "Profiles" ?

    Again : thank you.

    GS
  • adamsmith
    You should, for good measure, do this both on your 3rd computers and on one of the computers already synced, in (the very unlikely) case something goes wrong, yes.
  • Georges Saunier
    Perfect. I'll let you know about this.
    ...
    GS
  • Georges Saunier
    Dear Adam Smith,

    Everything went well ! All my data has been recovered. Thank you again.

    For detailled steps, I would have wrote :

    1. Disconnect the computer from the internet
    2. Start up Zotero
    3. in Zotero : Edit > Preferences > Sync > Settings > Turn off "sync automatically"
    4. reconnect the internet
    5. in Zotero : Edit > Preferences > Sync > Reset > choose "Restore to Zotero Server" then click the "Reset" button just below. Follow the procedure.

    GS.
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