You can do this using the Linked Attachment Base Directory setting in the Advanced pane of the Zotero preferences. Set that (not the data directory!) to the folder that's containing all your linked files. That will update the paths in Zotero to be relative to that directory. You can then transfer the files however you want — e.g., using an external hard drive, using the network, etc. On the new computer, after either syncing Zotero or manually copying the Zotero data directory, set the Linked Attachment Base Directory to the folder where you've moved the linked files. Zotero will then be able to open the files, even if the absolute path to the files has changed.

what do you mean by "linked directory"? That's not something Zotero knows/defines

There's no such thing as just a "base directory". It's just the Linked Attachment Base Directory. You would want to set ZotFile to move attachments to the directory set as the Linked Attachment Base Directory so that they're stored with relative paths, so that they can be accessed at a different path on another computer. That's the only thing the Linked Attachment Base Directory setting in Zotero does.

(Also, I'm not sure why you want your data directory at the root of the hard drive. That's not really a proper place to store files. I'd recommend leaving it at the default location in your home directory.)

So is this correct?

c:/zotero -> data directory
Zotfile/ Location of Files = i placed it on c drive -> c:/zotero base directory
(dropbox folder) = Linked Attachment Base Directory.

I had my Zotfile/ Location of Files and Linked Attachment Base Directory pointing to the same folder on dropbox and I didnt know that Zotfile/ Location of Files and Linked Attachment Base Directory should be separate.

See below for screenshots. Am I doing something wrong? Still many pdfs missing. Should the path to my folder in dropbox be entered into the Zotero Preferences -> Advanced -> Files and Folders -> Linked Attachment Base Directory OR should it be entered into the Zotfile -> General Settings -> Location of Files? I'm assumingone should point to the dropbox folder,and the other one to my c drive but not the database folder.

Zotfile
General Settings
https://cl.ly/8ade70

Renaming Rules
https://cl.ly/505313

Advanced Settings
https://cl.ly/7d101b



Zotero Preferences
General Settings
https://cl.ly/9f8401

Zotero Preferences Sync
https://cl.ly/0b16a7

Zotero Files and Folders
https://cl.ly/c5dc60

Zotero Advanced General
https://cl.ly/5d85ac

If you take the time to read the Q&A of each thread you'll notice the questions are similar to my own but the answers vary. I wanted to get an answer to my question from each of the threads and then go with the best answer.

My mistake. So, the correct answer is from adamsmith and not dstillman. I will change my settings back to how I had them prior with both pointing at the same dropbox folder.

Ive also moved zotero data directory to default on both pcs.

Why is it that zotero can't find my articles (empty circle symbol)? When I double click on an article it says it can't be found but when i search ill find it in the storage folder where it should be. I did notice an old storage folder on a cloud a while back should i open it and drop it into the current storage folder?

Ive tried using zutilo Both of my computers have the same folder structure setup . What would happen if i made Zotfile -> General Settings -> Location of Files? to be "attached stored copy of files?