Lost all Zotero data when upgrading to new laptop - Never synced but have all the files - Please hel

DaleG23
Hello.

I recently upgraded to a new laptop but my zotero was never synced.
I copied all the folders within the zotero folder on my laptop twice and have all the data on hand including all documents and file types.

Is there any way to restore all my data without syncing and using any or all of the folders I have?

Thank you for the help.
  • dstillman
    You would need to have copied the entire Zotero data directory, not just the 'storage' subfolders. Your data is stored in the zotero.sqlite file. If you don't copy that, Zotero will create an empty zotero.sqlite file (which will be either 1 MB or 5 MB) and you'll see a blank library.
  • DaleG23
    Hi dstillman,

    Thanks for the help, I do have the zotero.sqlite files on the different back ups, one that is 5MB in one place and another in another place.

    Do I select this file as my 'base directory' or 'data directory lcoation' or how would i be able to backup using one of these folders with the zotero.sqlite file?

    Thank you for the help again
  • dstillman
    edited June 27, 2023
    5 MB is an empty database, though. You would need to have backed up your entire Zotero data directory from the other computer, which would include a zotero.sqlite file larger than 5 MB.
    Do I select this file as my 'base directory' or 'data directory lcoation' or how would i be able to backup using one of these folders with the zotero.sqlite file?
    Neither. Don't touch those settings. You should be using the default data directory location.

    To restore from a backup, you would want to follow the instructions on the page I linked to. But again, they'll only work if you actually backed up your database, and if you only have a 5 MB zotero.sqlite file, I'm afraid you didn't.
  • DaleG23
    Thank you for the help dstillman, I'm hoping i did it correctly and can recover some stuff atleast. Have a great day.
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