File Recovery?
On the zotero app, I went to file synching and clicked "create account" and then once I created my account, zotero restarted with all of my files gone.
Attempting to transfer zotero files to a new computer, I logged into my zotero account on both the old and new computers. The new computer only loaded some old files I didn't realize I had saved from years ago, but the old computer did not load those old files and only showed the original files I was trying to transfer. On the website under my web library, only the old files were shown, not the files I was attempting to transfer. Not wanting to lose the important files by trying to sync with the old files, I just clicked "create account" on the old computer to ensure that they would be saved into a new account. It warned that any files associated with the account I was currently signed into would be lost, but the important files I was attempting to transfer hadn't ever uploaded, so I assumed they would not be erased. When zotero reloaded after signing in with my brand new account that I made through the app where the files were, all the files were gone. Any help would be appreciated.
Attempting to transfer zotero files to a new computer, I logged into my zotero account on both the old and new computers. The new computer only loaded some old files I didn't realize I had saved from years ago, but the old computer did not load those old files and only showed the original files I was trying to transfer. On the website under my web library, only the old files were shown, not the files I was attempting to transfer. Not wanting to lose the important files by trying to sync with the old files, I just clicked "create account" on the old computer to ensure that they would be saved into a new account. It warned that any files associated with the account I was currently signed into would be lost, but the important files I was attempting to transfer hadn't ever uploaded, so I assumed they would not be erased. When zotero reloaded after signing in with my brand new account that I made through the app where the files were, all the files were gone. Any help would be appreciated.
A local Zotero database can only be associated with a single account. If you've previously synced the app with one account and then you try to set up syncing with a second account, Zotero very clearly warns that it will delete all local data. If you say yes, it will do so. The warning tells you to make sure you've uploaded any data before continuing:
"Before continuing, make sure all data and files you wish to keep have been synced with the “_______” account or you have a backup of your Zotero data directory." It warned you about local data. It has nothing to do with what account you're logged into on the website or what has been uploaded.
Switching accounts won't affect any data that's synced, so if the previous account was fully in sync, you can simply switch back to the previous account. Otherwise, you'd need to restore from a backup of your Zotero data directory.
Your only option would be to restore from a backup of your Zotero data directory.
Obviously we don't want this to happen to anyone, but there's really only so much we can do to convey what happens here, and the message is pretty explicit about what it's going to do. The message specifically says to make sure you've synced or have a backup of your data directory. Do you?
You need to restore from a backup of your data directory, which the message says to make sure you have before continuing.
To restore your library, you would need to restore from a backup that you made before you told Zotero to delete your data. The warning told you to make sure you have a backup, so hopefully you do — if so, we can help you restore your data.
If you don't have a backup, I'm afraid your data is gone, and there's nothing we can do to help you. You can set up Zotero with the previous account and sync to pull down whatever data you have in the online library, but that's it.