My library appears completely empty

iastigarraga
By mistake I`ve signed up twice with the same e-mail - and I think also with the same username. Is that possible? How can I know the accounts registered with my e-mail? I`m afraid I’ve got a big problem since I’ve been working with Zotero for the last three weeks and today my library is empty. It doesn`t make any sense to my but I can`t figure out what the problem is.
  • adamsmith
    Zotero won't let you sign up either with the same e-mail or with the same username twice. If your library online is empty, it's likely related to the other error you reported -
    https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/30396/error-report-n-900795971/#Item_0
    http://www.zotero.org/support/kb/changes_not_syncing
  • dstillman
    The Report ID in that other thread isn't valid. Can you try again, and post another Report ID here?
  • iastigarraga
    This is the new Report ID 1252288282
  • dstillman
    There are no Zotero errors in there. What's the problem, exactly?

    http://www.zotero.org/support/reporting_bugs#provide_steps_to_reproduce
  • iastigarraga
    I've just follow the instructions of the link you sent me, and this is the error that appears in the error console

    Components.utils.reportError("gBrowser.addProgressListener was " +

    However, there were a lot of question marks with the following message:

    While registering XPCOM module file:///C:/Users/iastigarraga/AppData/Roaming/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/fpxmr4z3.default-1371722806940/extensions/zoteroWinWordIntegration@zotero.org/components-20.0/zoteroWinWordIntegration.dll, trying to re-register CID '{d10e90bf-773e-4be4-9592-9c138829b8ca}' already registered by file:///C:/Users/iastigarraga/AppData/Roaming/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/fpxmr4z3.default-1371722806940/extensions/zoteroWinWordIntegration@zotero.org/components-21.0/zoteroWinWordIntegration.dll.

    The only difference on those messages was the CID code.

    Let me know if you need information of the beginning of the problem and the steps I took trying to solve them
  • dstillman
    Right, but what's the problem that you're actually facing?
  • iastigarraga
    I`ve been working with Zotero since May 22. The last time I worked with it was last wednesday, and I had over 12 bibliografy references, with a lot of notes. However, my library appears now completely empty, as if was the first time I entered Zotero.

    Everything started yesterday, 06/20, when I opened Firefox and Zotero
    had disappeared from the bottom-right. I don`t remember the order of the steps I took, but I can tell you what I did:
    - I suposed (I don`t remember very well) I tried to log in on the web, and as I couldn`t do it, I registered again with the same e-mail (in fact, I have two answers of Zotero asking me to confirm my e-mail, one of May 22th, and the last one from yesterday.
    - Then I tried to log in, and becouse I couldn`t do it, I sent to Zotero a request to reset my password. Then I received a message to confirm the request by clicking the link they sent me, which I did. But it appeared Zotero's site with a server error message.
    - Meanwhile, I supposed Zotero had dissapeared from Firefox because I had instaled the new version, so I reinstaled an older one (Firefox 20.0). Now, I have Zotero back in Firefox, but my library is empty.
  • dstillman
    You have 6 (parent and child) items in the server library of the account you're logged into right now, which dates to May 22nd, but all those items were created yesterday. You can see those items by viewing your library online.

    I can't tell you what happened to your local library, but see Where did my items go? for tips on where to look.

    I don't know what's in your other account, but you can log in to that one to see what's in the online library there. Obviously if one of the server accounts was correct you could just sync with that one, but you might have had local items that you never synced as well.
  • iastigarraga
    I've checked the link, and to be honest, I`m quite lost and I don`t know if I will be able to do it (there are a lot of steps to make and I`m afraid everything is too techological for me).
    There is another information I`ll like to add: We've tried on three different computers, and nothing. Does this mean that the reason of the problem is not in Firefox, so that I have to check in Zotero?
  • adamsmith
    you've tried what _exactly_ on three computers? Logging in? Opening the Zotero library locally?
  • iastigarraga
    Logging in. I don't know what you mean with 'Zotero library locally'
  • adamsmith
    So the way Zotero works is that it saves all of your data on your local computer and then syncs it to zotero.org.
    When you click on the "Zotero" icon at the bottom right of Firefox you're looking at local data. When you log in at zotero.org you're looking at synced data on the server.
    You really want to make an effort to understand the "where did my items go" link Dan posted. You want to find your local Zotero library and the library doesn't just "vanish" even if you re-install Firefox, so chances are very high that it's somewhere on your computer. If you feel unable to follow those instructions take them to your IT department or ask a tech-savvy friend - understanding this doesn't require familiarity with Zotero.
  • iastigarraga
    edited June 21, 2013
    I'll try it and I'll let you know next week. Thanks
  • iastigarraga
    Hello again:
    The IT department’s staff of my University tried to retrieve the data from my local library and found the file where the data was supposedly saved, but when I access Zotero locally, my library still appears empty.
    These steps were taken:
    1. To locate Zotero.squite file (for your information, they also appear the following files: 'zotero.squlite.1.bak; zotero.sqlite.bak, and zotaro.sqlite-journal).
    2. From firefox, I tried to access my local library by going to: settings-advanced-files and folders-show data directory.
    3. Zotero detects the file zotero.sqlite; however nothing happens.

    Moreover, I am a little surprised by the fact that Zotero supposedly does not allow to open two accounts with the same e-mail, when in the inbox of my email, I see two confirmations of two sign ups, the first one on 22 May, and the other on June 20.

    P.S. If you wish, I could send you an e-mail message with the screen images of both confirmations e-mails and the steps taken trying to retrieve my local library.
  • fcheslack
    The system allows you to request multiple confirmation emails in case one fails to get through, but your single account was created on May 22 and updated on June 20.
  • iastigarraga
    If my account was updated, does that mean that I lost my previous data?
  • fcheslack
    No, that's just an indication of when you requested another activation email and explains why you have two such emails but only a single account. It would in no way affect the data on the server, nor in the sqlite file you recovered.
  • iastigarraga
    Ok. But can anyone explain me why I haven`t solved the problem if I already found the file where the data was supposedly saved, as I explained it in the previous post?
  • adamsmith
    whenever you run Zotero - even when your library is empty, you'll have an sqlite file and I think that's the one you have located. My guess would be that the one you have is quite small? In the vicinity of 1MB?
    See if any of the back-up versions are larger, in which case see here:
    http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#restoring_from_the_last_automatic_backup
    If you re-installed Firefox, there is also a good chance the old database is in a different Firefox profile (on that again, see Dan's where did my items go link).

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