Zotero Standalone 4.0.22 very slow to open library in Windows 8.1

andrecs
I have just moved to an ASUS ZENBOOK UX301 and it takes four times more to open a library in Windows 8.1 than it used to take in Windows 7.
Do you think this is a hardware problem, something wrong with Windows or is there a fix?
Many thanks for the help! I really love ZOTERO STANDALONE.
  • adamsmith
    Library is the same size? The time it takes to open depends, of course, on library size.
  • mmurenu
    Hi, Same problem of andrecs.
    I'm ASUS ZENBOOK UX301, Windows 8.1, and a sqlite of 351 MB.
    It takes long to locate items list and filter it (by title, tag,...).
    I'm sure is not an hardware problem, but I'm not sure if my OS is the best to work with zotero.
    Any truck to overcome this problem?
    May be I have to uninstall the 4.0.22 update?
  • andrecs
    Same library that loads very quickly on my old SONY VAIO. Some times when I get " not responding" it says XUL runner is not working or something on that line... Reinstalled Firefox, Reinstalled Zotero Standalone, resyncrhonized...But the problem is still the same.
  • andrecs
    In the VAIO I have 4.0.21.2 and now in the ASUS 4.0.22
  • andrecs
    I have now noticed that I cannot save directly from Firefox to Zotero in this version. It tells me I have to install PDF as a preference, but this is, I think, already done since I did tools->preferences->search-> and got pdftotext and pdfinfo 3.02 installed...
  • adamsmith
    sorry, you need to go more slowly on the actual error: What exactly are you doing and what's the exact error message you're getting?
  • andrecs
    Sorry, Adam
    There are two problems:
    a) Opening in 4.0.22 in the ASUS is very slow. Sometimes it tells (Not Responding). In these cases, if I tell it to close, I get the message "XUL runner not working".
    b) When I try to save a pdf from Firefox (Zotero Standalone 4.0.22 is closed), nothing is saved. And the metadata option box cannot be marked. Firefox says I have to enable pdf on my options in zotero. But I have done what I told before.
    Better now? Sorry for the confused messages.
  • adamsmith
    I understand there are two problems, but I really don't understand b)
    How are you saving a pdf from Firefox? What's the _exact_ error message (in the language it appears if other than English) you're getting.

    And if you're getting a message about having to install pdftools, are you sure you have installed them in the Firefox version, not just in Standalone?
  • andrecs
    I have reinstalled also the Firefox version and got the pdftools required.
    Now both versions of Zotero crash. Standalone says "not responding" and when I try to close it is says " XUL runner not responding".
    Firefox version just says " Firefox not responding" .
    I have noticed that Firefox is also a very new release. Everything came out in Sept 2nd.
  • andrecs
    I have now unistalled everything. I do not know what is happenning as both Zotero in Firefox and Standalone freeze the computer. Please let me know if you have any interest in debugging this.
  • dstillman
    Don't force-quit it when it freezes — just let it go and it will quite likely finish. Since you wiped your database, your client is repeatedly trying to download your full data from the server, and in the current version that can cause it to freeze for a period of time. (Just because it says "Not responding" doesn't mean it's not doing something.)
  • kangzhao
    I am having similar problems. Moved my zotero library (1600 items, mostly pdfs) from a computer with wind 7 to a new one with win 8.1. Installed Zotero Standalone 4.0.22 with the Firefox plugin. However, the library takes 10+ sec to load (with 'loading item list' displayed). This also when I finished a search and cleaned the keywords in the search bar, or when I switch between the 'My library' link and the link for my specific library.

    Have unchecked all boxes in Sync-Settings. Have rebuilt the index (170+ indexed, others unindexed as I didn't install any pdf index tool. Should I even if I don't need search within pdfs very often? ). The zotero.sqlite file is 13MB.

    Debug id D689489373. Thanks!
  • andrecs
    Dan, I have noticed that indeed, if I wait many seconds (perhaps the same as kangzhao has mentioned) things start to move. But, this happens even after I have synched the library the first time. So, from the user point of view, it is a nuisance.
    In my view, the previous versions were much better and faster. If I had a say or the possibility, I would go back to the old version which I will certainly keep without upgrading in the other computers.
  • adamsmith
    old Zotero and Firefox versions are easy to download if that's what you want (searching via google or the forum will get you there quickly), though it'd be better to actually troubleshoot the problem, since eventually you'll need new versions for basic functionality like syncing and translator updates.
    So once you're sure that your Zotero version is fully synced, provide debug output for an action that takes overly long.
    While debugging, it's crucial that you _don't_ try any drastic things yourself, such as re-installing etc. since (as was the case with your last attempt) that may, if anything, create additional problems and make the actual debugging impossible.
    https://www.zotero.org/support/debug_output
  • andrecs
    Sorry for the long delay, Adam. I have reinstalled, turned debug on and hope this will help us!
    The debug is D1125437773
    This was the long time it took to load the items. The same library loads in a fraction of the time (maybe 1/20!) in the old version on a slower computer.
  • andrecs
    One extra note: while Zotero standalone is loading (not responding) Mozilla is also not responding. I cannot even launch it.
  • dstillman
    A couple things to try:

    1) Disable auto-sync, to see if it's specifically the startup sync that's causing this.

    2) If not, reset your columns using the column picker menu in the top-right corner of the middle pane, and then sort by Title. Sorting by different columns (e.g., Creator) could result in different performance.
  • andrecs
    Hi Dan
    I have tried both disabling the auto sync and changing ordering by title. Still extremely slow and Mozilla is locked (cannot launch) meanwhile. Mozilla only launches after Standalone finishes loading...
  • dstillman
    Actually, disregard my previous message asking for another Debug ID. Does this go away if you close the tag selector in the bottom left?
  • dstillman
    Also, can you provide a Report ID (different from a Debug ID)?

    If the problem does go away when you close the tag selector, and comes back when you reopen it, could you go to your profile directory, make copies of prefs.js and localstore.rdf, and then delete the original files and restart Zotero? (Your Firefox preferences and window settings will be reset, though you can copy the original files back after if you want.) I'm curious to know whether the problem goes away after that. I can't reproduce this, so there must be something specific about your setup (and that of the other people who've reported this) that's triggering this.
  • Adam Izdebski
    I would just like to add that I have the same problem on Acer Aspire Switch, and it actually seemed to work well in early September, but when I had to use zotero this week on that computer, it all behaved as described in other e-mails on this page. It would be great if this could be resolved, because otherwise it really makes using zotero on my computer impossible.
    Thanks a lot!
    Adam
  • noksagt
    Close the tag selector. There is a known issue on touch screen devices:
    https://forums.zotero.org/discussion/41024/zotero-becomes-unresponsive-for-a-long-time-on-startup-and-also-during-use/
This discussion has been closed.