The installer was unable to detect any database support in PHP.

[helpwanted2]

Hello I am having trouble installing SMF on my server. When I go to the installer page I get an error stating
"The installer was unable to detect any database support in PHP. Please ask your host to ensure that PHP was compiled with the desired database, or that the proper extension is being loaded."

Any help I have the mysql packages installed but still nothing

More info
Server OS:Debian 8

If you need anymore info ill post it

Thanks

[Colin]

Hello Helpwanted2,

What is the SMF and PHP version that you are using?

[helpwanted2]

Hello Helpwanted2,

What is the SMF and PHP version that you are using?

PHP 7.0.3-5 (cli) ( NTS )

Found by typing "php --version" in the terminal

SMF 2.0.11

[Illori]

SMF 2.0 does not currently support php 7.*. can you downgrade to php 5.*? SMF 2.0 lacks mysqli support that is required for php 7.*.

[helpwanted2]

SMF 2.0 does not currently support php 7.*. can you downgrade to php 5.*? SMF 2.0 lacks mysqli support that is required for php 7.*.

I did that and it worked! but now I have a new problem. I did some ocnfiguration to apache and now I have the following error everytime I go the forum.
"Table 'smf.smf_settings' doesnt exist." I am so damn close to finishing and now everything is going to hell! Please help

[margarett]

Were you able to finish the installation of SMF after you downgraded PHP?

[helpwanted2]

Were you able to finish the installation of SMF after you downgraded PHP?

I never finsihed the installation. I had closed out of it to configure apache.

[vbgamer45]

Delete the smf files and start again would be the safest way.