Zotero not recognizing data folder in new computer

rodrigobraz
edited 5 days ago
Hi,
I moved to a new computer. Since I kept my data files under C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\Zotero (using Windows), I've copied that folder to the new computer and changed the Data Directory in the Advanced Settings to C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\Zotero. This is consistent with instructions at https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/transferring_a_library.

However, even after restarting Zotero I still don't see my library. What could be wrong?
  • dstillman
    What are the sizes of the zotero.sqlite files in the data directory?
  • rodrigobraz
    Hi. Thanks for the reply, and sorry for the delay, I was traveling.

    zotero.sqlite is 5,056 KB (around 5 MB).

    There are some backup files that are quite larger (30 MB).

    Here's a screenshot with all the files:
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u6418778/zf21salzeznec81gh73u.png
  • adamsmith
    Something looks off about your Zotero data folder (the files with (1) (2) (3) really shouldn't be there) but you should be able to repair this by:
    1. Closing down Zotero
    2. Making a copy of that entire directory and placing it somewhere save
    3. renaming zotero.sqlite to zotero.sqlite.old
    4. renaming zotero (3).sqlite to zotero.sqlite
    5. restarting Zotero

    You will want to figure out where that file duplication comes from. Zotero will automatically create the .bak files, but the (1) (2) files are a file conflict on your system -- this might be caused by placing the Zotero folder in a cloud syncing software, which you should never do.
  • rodrigobraz
    Thank you, that solved the problem.
    I'm syncing my files between multiple computers with Google Drive. I guess Zotero must have been open at more than one computer at once, locking the SQLite file and forcing Google Drive sync to create the duplicates.
    Thanks again.
  • dstillman
    You can't do that.

    https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/data_directory_in_cloud_storage_folder
  • rodrigobraz
    Just for clarification, I am NOT storing the data directory in the cloud.

    I am using Google Drive to sync between local directories in multiple computers.

    I pretty much only ever use Zotero in my work computer. It is my understanding that in this case the file will be copied regularly to the cloud, but not the way around (since it is not updated in the other computers). That should work, right? It has worked for two years at least without corruption until now (I guess I must have opened Zotero in one of the other computers exceptionally).
  • dstillman
    If Google Drive is syncing the data directory folder, you have it in a cloud storage folder. That's what the article is about, and that's what caused all the conflicted files in your data directory and overwrote your database. We won't provide any further support here for any issue as long as you're doing that.
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