all my notes are gone

emilysadams
Please help. Every single one of my text notes (some standalone, some child notes, some attached to pdf) are gone now. I haven't done anything, they're just gone. In my library I can see the first line of text that should start the note page, but when I open the note it is missing, and there is no way to add text anymore. What happened? Can I get them back?
  • dstillman
    1) Make an immediate backup of your entire Zotero data directory, without closing Firefox.

    2) Disable your other Firefox extensions, starting with any here. It's almost certainly just a UI issue.
  • Simon
    Do new notes work? Have you recently installed any new Firefox extensions, themes, or personas?
  • emilysadams
    No, new notes don't work. I cannot get a cursor to appear in the note box. I haven't installed anything, that I know of. I'm not sure when this happened, I suppose I usually accept when I'm prompted to install firefox updates. I'm a total novice, I don't even know what a UI issue is.

    I also have closed firefox a few times since I first noticed this problem. I have old backups (where I exported my library to my desktop). Can this help?
  • ajlyon
    UI is user interface, meaning that the data is probably all there and safe, it just won't show itself to you for some reason.

    There are automated backups that can be used to restore. But still follow Dan's advice and back up the Zotero data directory immediately.

    Then disable your other Firefox extensions, as Dan explained.
  • emilysadams
    Is it exporting my library that I am supposed to be doing? I'm sorry I have so many questions. I do not understand how to properly back up the data directory.
  • ajlyon
    edited December 18, 2010
    Exports are not the way to back up. Just go to the directory (to find it, see http://www.zotero.org/support/zotero_data) and make a copy of it on your desktop, or really anywhere else on your computer.

    If you have not yet done so, disable all of your other Firefox extensions, in "Add-ons" in the "Tools" menu. Restart Firefox and cross your fingers.
  • emilysadams
    Okay, thanks everyone... seems to be resolved. I disabled all the add-ons and nothing seemed to change. But then I purchased more storage because I saw a message saying I had used my limit (even though my profile page only had me at 87%) and I was immediately able to view my notes after that. Was that it, then? I admire you all for understanding how these things work.
  • ajlyon
    I'm glad this is working for you now, although I have no idea how buying storage could have anything to do with what was happening!
  • dstillman
    Was that it, then?
    Buying storage certainly shouldn't have the slightest thing to do with this. But glad to hear it's fixed...

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