my files disapearred

jgaffaney
Hi there, I recently was going through my Zotero syncing preferences AND recently got a new laptop, so I don't know which of these things may have contributed to my issue.

Although all of my folders that I created still exist, all of the files within those folders have disappeared - I checked both the online version and the desktop/offline version, and its the same issue in both places. I also checked on my old laptop and the files are somehow now gone from that offline desktop Zotero as well. This is many years worth of files that vanished. Can anyone assist?
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    1) From the looks of it, you used Replace Online Library a few weeks ago — all items in your library were replaced with new versions from January 13, and all older collections and items were deleted. I'd guess that you used export/import to the new computer and then used Replace Online Library. Both of those things would've been wrong. Setting up a new computer simply involves entering your username and password and clicking the sync button.

    2) You currently have a lot of items in the trash. If you want those items, you can restore them.

    Beyond that, you'd have to restore from a version of your Zotero data directory from before you did this, and then use Replace Online Library (which would be the only correct use of it).
  • jgaffaney
    OK thank you for the heads up. How could I go about restoring from a version of my Zotero data directory from before I did this? (And then use Replace Online Library).
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    There are instructions on that page:

    https://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data#restoring_your_zotero_data_from_a_backup1
  • jgaffaney
    Thank you for your help so far. I read through many sections of those directions but I'm still unclear on one thing. I have located my Zotero folder/files on my local computer, but what is in that folder are the 'new' files from after I accidentally did the function of "Replace Online Library", I have no idea how to find the old files - either on the online version or on my actual laptop to restore and override anything new.
  • dstillman Zotero Team
    edited February 2, 2022
    You would need to have made a backup of your data directory before you did this, or still have your older data (unsynced) on another computer.
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