Error starting Zotero

audreykr
Zotero worked for me this morning but no longer. I get the message "There was an error starting Zotero" I see no way to get any more info on the error or how to fix it.

I have removed and reinstalled it twice, rebooting in between and still no luck. I am using Windows, 64bit OS. I tried installing the previous version .08 but have the same problem.

Any other suggestions? Thanks!
  • dstillman
    http://www.zotero.org/support/reporting_bugs#reporting_startup_errors
  • audreykr
    edited July 25, 2013
    Below are all the Error Console messages. Any suggestions?

    Thanks,

    Audrey

    [unrelated messages removed — D.S.]

    Timestamp: 7/25/2013 9:11:25 PM
    Error: [Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80630002 (NS_ERROR_STORAGE_IOERR) [mozIStorageService.openDatabase]" nsresult: "0x80630002 (NS_ERROR_STORAGE_IOERR)" location: "JS frame :: chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/db.js :: :: line 1105" data: no]
    Source File: chrome://zotero/content/xpcom/zotero.js
    Line: 753
  • dstillman
    That's a generic message meaning that Zotero can't access the database. This could be due to security software on your system, a corrupted disk, or some other problem. If you have any security software, try disabling it.

    Have you changed your Zotero data directory from its default location? Say, to a network drive or similar?
  • audreykr
    Next episode.
    I’ve tried a few more things with no real success.

    1. I uninstalled Zotera, rebooted, reinstalled it, as always, selected the default installation. Still got the same error msg.

    2. Then I uninstalled it again and removed all the zotero files and directories I could find on my laptop, rebooted. Downloaded a new version of the installer program, selected standard installation. And I still get the same error message.

    It worked fine yesterday at the office. This is likely the first time I tried to use it outside my office.

    3. So, iI lgged onto the server at work and deleted the Zotero files that were mirrored there. Uninstalled Zotero and reinstalled it with an old exe from the server 3.014
    Default directory: C:\Users\akremer\AppData\Local\Zotero Standalone

    And, lo & behold, it worked momentarily! But when I closed Zotero and tried to reopen it, got the same error message. The problem may be the way my computer is mirrored on the server. I have no control over that, it happens in the background if I have an internet connection, and the helpdesk was closed today.

    Could this be confusing Zotero?

    Any suggestions for a work-around if this is the problem? I can't disable the security software on my work laptop. Anything else I should try?

    Thanks!
    Audrey
  • dstillman
    edited July 29, 2013
    This sounds like an issue with your computer's roaming setup, so I think you'll have to either talk to your IT department or try moving the Zotero data directory to an unmirrored location. Zotero expects the hard drive to act like a normal drive. If that's not the case for some reason, there's not really anything it can do about that.

    In nearly all the reported cases of storage I/O errors in Zotero, people have fixed them by moving the data directory to the local drive. In your setup, that may just mean a different, non-network-linked place on the drive.

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.