reinstalled Zotero, now Zotero cant find any files on local computer

mindlessbuddha
Hello Zotero,

My apologies if there is a post that covers this. I tried to search, but probably didn't search correctly.

I had to reinstall windows 10 due to an update error. In the process, I had to reinstall all extra applications, including Zotero. My files remained, and all my pdfs are in the exact same files and locations on my local drive. nothing moved. When I reinstalled Zotero and updated my library through sync, I can see my library, but now I have to manually search for all my pdfs. I get that error that Zotero cannot find the file. Its really no big deal, as I can easily find the files in a few extra steps, but I'm assuming there is some way for Zotero to re-scan my computer and link the Zotero entries back to the pdfs. Is there?

Really sorry to bother, but I'm always overwhelmed trying to figure out Zotero. I can figure it out with good instructions, if you can direct me to them. Thanks so much.
  • adamsmith
    what's a typical location for one of those files (the full filepaths, i.e. something like C:\Example\File\Path.pdf ?
  • mindlessbuddha
    All my pdf are organized in various folders under

    C:\Users\Mindless\Documents\Academic\Research\....

    from here they are subdivided into many other folders, but they are all in this location and did not move when I reinstalled the system.

    Thanks for any help you can offer.
  • mindlessbuddha
    Like I said, its not a huge inconvenience, as I can hit the locate button when Zotero doesn't find it the first time. But it would be nice not to have to go through the extra steps each time I open a file from Zotero.

    Also, I wonder if there is something I should have done before I reinstalled, like exporting my outlooks settings so I didn't have to set all my email accounts again. I didn't think about that with Zotero. I will next time before ever reinstalling.
  • adamsmith
    Install Zutilo https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/zutilo-utility-for-zotero/ (you can install it in standalone by downloading the .xpi file from mozilla and then installing from tools-->add-ons in Zotero), which will allow you to see where Zotero is looking. I'd suspect there was in fact a change in the filepath, but let's see.
  • mindlessbuddha
    ok, I installed the standalone .xpi file.
  • adamsmith
    In the Zutilo preferences (under the Zotero gears menu), you can add "Copy Attachment Path" to you context menu options. Do that, then right-click on one of the attachments that don't currently open, select copy attachment path and paste it here.
  • mindlessbuddha
    there is nothing to paste. I right clicked on a pdf that wouldn't open, selected "copy attachment paths", and then tried to click and paste it to here. but there is nothing. just the original path I copied to show you the master file. nothing new.
  • adamsmith
    that can't be right. The paths doesn't include, say, a filename? Try that again, please.
  • mindlessbuddha
    Nope. nothing. tried several different files. it seems when I reinstalled my system, it erased any links in Zotero to the files. So when I reinstalled Zotero and then resynced my library from Zotero, I have all the bibliographic information and tags, but it doesnt know where it is on my system. even though I moved nothing. I guess there is no way to have it rescan my folder and match everything up to my Zotero library.
  • mindlessbuddha
    everything else works fine. and once I go through the LOCATE button when it doesn't find it, I can use it again fine. but I have to do that everytime I open something from Zotero for the first time now. ugh
  • adamsmith
    There is no way to scan your folder, but what you're describing simply should not be possible at all. Every link in Zotero points _somewhere_. That location may not exist anymore, but there is no such thing as an empty link.

    Could you
    a) take a screenshot that shows an item with expanded attachments (in the middle pane, the attachment selected, and the right-pane showing, post it to a free image hosting site and link to it from here?

    b) provide debug output for trying to open an attachment from Zotero
    https://www.zotero.org/support/debug_output
  • mindlessbuddha
    I'm posting the pictures in a minute.

    debug ID is D1341300308
  • adamsmith
    @Dan%20Stillman -- could you take a look at the debug, please?
  • mindlessbuddha
    http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/mindlessbuddha/Capture2.jpg
    http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/mindlessbuddha/Capture1.jpg
    http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/mindlessbuddha/Capture.jpg

    you can see from the image of the masterfile, this pdf was added back in march. now, like all my other files, I get the error message. once I locate it, I can open it again. nothing has changed except reinstalling windows and Zotero.

  • dstillman
    edited October 25, 2016
    Attachment file 'C:\Users\[...]\AppData\Roaming\Zotero\Zotero\Profiles\ohoelnlr.default\zotero\storage\5FBWW6M5\Buddhist Christmas.pdf' not found
    What's the current path to that file on your system?
  • adamsmith
    edited October 25, 2016
    ah but those aren't links, they're actual attachments. They never opened the files from
    C:\Users\Mindless\Documents\Academic\Research\....
    but rather the copies in Zotero's data directory that were created when you dragged the files to Zotero in the first place.
    https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data

    You can see if you can find the old Zotero data folder on your harddisk or in an old back-up. If you do, it should be pretty easy to restore the attachments. Otherwise, I unfortunately don't see how that'd work.

    (edit: overlapped with Dan, but what he writes just confirms this).
  • mindlessbuddha
    ok, that makes sense adamsmith. Unfortunately, when I look in windows.old file, there is nothing. my windows reinstall erased everything and only saved old windows file. wtf? I'll just have to relocate everything as I go along. I read the link you posted above about zotero_data, but, this stuff is for people a little more computer oriented. I'm an end user. Some of it sounds foreign to me.

    What is the simplest way to avoid loosing my data directory file again? I regularly back up my document files for work, but just those, as only those are really important. I don't back up application data. would you recommend backing up the whole system? would this be the easiest way to avoid this again. If I'm understanding the zotero_data page, if this happened again, I would go to the backup and locate the data directory file and reinstall to Zotero?

    thanks for your help. I really appreciate you both helping me. cheers.
  • DWL-SDCA
    Windows has built-in automated back-up sofftware that is somewhat better than satisfactory. It meets my needs. These things need no attention after a quick and easy setup. All that you require is an external back-up drive. For about US$100 you can buy a 2T or 3T drive. I've never had a hard drive failure (simple luck) but I have used back-ups of files many times in circumstances similar to yours. If you are like me, the first time you recover a needed version of an important file you will feel splended relief and thank yourself for buying the drive.
  • adamsmith
    yeah, I'd agree that the simplest way is to back-up your entire HD. But if you really don't want to do that, backing up the entire Zotero data folder is the way to go.
    The other thing that'd have prevented this would have been to sync your files to Zotero or a webDAV server.
    https://www.zotero.org/support/sync#file_syncing

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