Data directory in wrong location, cannot use zotero application.

katherine_megan
I began moving my zotero data to the cloud since I soon intended to work on multiple devices, but after doing so I got a warning about this corrupting my data, and moved the zotero data back to what I thought was its original place. By mistake, I merged my zotero data to the program file data, and now when I try to open Zotero, it states that the database cannot be opened because it is no longer in the default location (where the program expects the data to be).

By cross-comparing everything with my other device (my laptop), it seems the only file missing from the zotero data file on my current device (my PC) is zotero.sqlite-journal, and I have searched my PC for this particular file but it is nowhere to be found. I initially expected this file to be in the program file data folder (where I moved my zotero data to) but it's not there.

I thought a reasonable solution here would be to uninstall zotero, because then it would be clear what data is my zotero data (remaining files) and zotero program data which would be deleted (I assume). However, I can't even do this because I can't use the application at all due to my data being in the wrong location. Really not sure how to go about fixing this issue.
  • dstillman
    edited September 6, 2022
    zotero.sqlite-journal is automatically created and deleted by Zotero. Don't worry about it.

    If things aren't working, you should move the whole Zotero folder in Program Files and the one in the home folder to the desktop, reinstall Zotero from the download page, create a new empty "Zotero" folder in your home folder, and move zotero.sqlite and 'storage' from the mixed files into there. As long as zotero.sqlite is in the right place, Zotero will start up using that database.
  • katherine_megan
    Can I ask what you mean by 'storage'? I can't find any files or folders with this name.
  • adamsmith
    storage is a folder within the data directory -- it gets created when you save your first attachment, so you wouldn't have it in the data directory created by a fresh install, though it should be in your original one.
  • katherine_megan
    I can't find a 'storage' folder on my laptop either, where Zotero is working correctly. Is it possible it could be under a different name? Could it be within another folder? It is still not working correctly where only the zotero.sqlite is in the Zotero home folder.
  • adamsmith
    it's in the same folder in which you'd find the zotero.sqlite file -- it can't be anywhere else, no, nor would it have another name.
  • katherine_megan
    The only folders I can see are 'locate', 'logs', 'styles', and 'translators'.
  • dstillman
    edited September 6, 2022
    There would be a 'storage' folder if you had ever added attachments, unless you moved it somewhere else.
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