Simple Machines Community Forum

SMF Support => SMF 2.0.x Support => Topic started by: novic3 on May 17, 2018, 09:45:03 PM

Title: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 17, 2018, 09:45:03 PM
Please forgive me. I understand their is a wiki but I am a computer noob lol

Which version of simple machines is the latest? 2.015?

Do I download zip or gz?

When I upload it to the server do I put it in public html?

Do I upload it as the whole zip and extract on the server or is their a sub-folder to upload?

Thanks
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 17, 2018, 09:50:22 PM
2.0.15 is the latest stable.

Upload the contents of the zip file to public_html if you want your whole site to be your forum. otherwise make a forum folder and upload it there.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 17, 2018, 10:04:20 PM
so do I upload the zip to public_html in my copanel then extract the zip?

In the zip I see the sub folder of smf_2-0-15_install  what do I do with that folder? thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 17, 2018, 10:15:09 PM
Yeah if you can extract the contents via cpanel.
If not just upload all the files via ftp
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 17, 2018, 10:31:22 PM
sorry I was unclear :) Do I upload the zip into the public_html then extract the zip itself within public html and run the installer or do I open the zip on my desktop and ONLY upload the smf_2-0-15_install (6) in the public_html?

Thanks
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 17, 2018, 10:47:12 PM
Upload the contents of  smf_2-0-15_install (6) from your desktop via ftp to the public_html folder
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 17, 2018, 11:10:57 PM
so not the folder itself but all of the subfolders within? then I put all those sub folders in the public_html area on the server?

thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 17, 2018, 11:12:03 PM
correct
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 17, 2018, 11:47:05 PM
ok, I did that but now when I do mydomain/forum/install.php I get a 404 error page. I uploaded the folder into cpanel, then moved it to public_html then I removed the contents from the folder and put it in but no luck :(
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 17, 2018, 11:57:09 PM
What about mydomain.com
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 17, 2018, 11:58:55 PM
sorry what I meant to say is when I do freeadzworld/forum/install.php (my website domain name)  I get a 404 error page. I uploaded the folder into cpanel, then moved it to public_html then I removed the contents from the folder and put it in but no luck :(

I am having trouble with the installer


Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 18, 2018, 12:00:32 AM
Did you put in a folder forum if not don't use it
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 12:07:08 AM
so your saying put a subfolder called "Forum" in my public_html?

thanks
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 18, 2018, 12:12:54 AM
if you want to have domain.com/forum
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 12:39:12 AM
ok I got it to work however it asks for the database prefix. What is that?

sorry for really noob questions lol
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 18, 2018, 01:01:59 AM
leave it as is
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 01:15:35 AM
so you are saying leave the table prefix as "smf_"

(I made a database like the instructions told me)
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 18, 2018, 01:27:39 AM
yes
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 01:44:44 AM
now I get a 502 error

"502 Bad Gateway
The server returned an invalid or incomplete response."

what do I do?

thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Kindred on May 18, 2018, 09:56:45 AM
you need to upload the entire contents of the zip to your target location..  not just subfolders. ALL files and folders.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 11:01:24 AM
I think I did however I get a 502 error. Am I missing a file? if so which one?

thx

UPDATE: now I get

"Critical Error!
Cannot connect to the database server with the supplied data.

If you are not sure about what to type in, please contact your host."
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 12:03:40 PM
I apologize for bumping but here is the diagnostic in the attachment below.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 18, 2018, 12:32:12 PM
You have to create a database user and database using your control panel/cpanel
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 12:36:25 PM
I added that info of the database and user password but I still get errors. What am I doing wrong?

Thank you for your help and time :)
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Illori on May 18, 2018, 12:37:41 PM
you would need to reach out to your host so they can assist you further.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 12:43:13 PM
so its not me at this point but a file permissions issue with the host?

thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Kindred on May 18, 2018, 12:53:03 PM
well, there might be a file permission issue... but the database issue seems to indicate that the values which you put into SMF do not match what your server settings are for the database, database username, database password or database host location...  one or more of those settings would seem to be different from what you are thinking it would be.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 12:58:33 PM
sorry I am a noob I did not type it correctly. I got it to work but now it tells me to type my url

I typed "http://freeadzworld.com/forum" however, I want users to simply type in google or click freeadzworld.com and be able to reach my site which is a default forum.

How do I achieve this?

thx

-d3vcho; Link removed due to security risk
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 02:18:39 PM
sorry to bump again but where do I find my database password? is that my databse user password?

thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: vbgamer45 on May 18, 2018, 02:24:17 PM
yes
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 02:39:47 PM
sorry now I got it installed HOWEVER it is white. How do I fix it?

(see attachment)
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Chen Zhen on May 18, 2018, 03:18:05 PM

You need to use the repair_settings tool to fix your paths.

ref.
https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Repair_settings.php
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Chen Zhen on May 18, 2018, 03:36:45 PM

Specifically your default theme settings.
You can set them within SMF admin if you want:
Admin -> Current Theme
.. and adjust the url's + path in the "Theme URL's and Configuration Settings" at the top.




There may be more that need adjustment which is why I suggested the repair settings method in my previous post.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 03:48:33 PM
Quote from: Chen Zhen on May 18, 2018, 03:36:45 PM

Specifically your default theme settings.
You can set them within SMF admin if you want:
Admin -> Current Theme
.. and adjust the url's + path in the "Theme URL's and Configuration Settings" at the top.




There may be more that need adjustment which is why I suggested the repair settings method in my previous post.

So what do I change the links to? (see attachment)

Thanks for your time

Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Illori on May 18, 2018, 03:59:12 PM
at the bottom of the page should be a reset button, click it. it will do the hard work for you.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 04:01:21 PM
Quote from: Illori on May 18, 2018, 03:59:12 PM
at the bottom of the page should be a reset button, click it. it will do the hard work for you.

sorry but I am having trouble finding the "reset" button? you mean hit the "save" button?

thx :)
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Kindred on May 18, 2018, 04:02:26 PM
you have to RESET all of the URLs to use the correct setting, THEN press save
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: a10 on May 18, 2018, 04:13:01 PM
Example (see attachment).

Quotehowever, I want users to simply type in google or click freeadzworld.com and be able to reach my site which is a default forum.
That can be fixed later (.htaccess redirect), but first I'd think it's best to get the basics to work properly.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Chen Zhen on May 18, 2018, 04:17:41 PM


Admin -> Themes and Layout -> Theme Settings -> Attempt to reset all themes
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Kindred on May 18, 2018, 06:24:26 PM
that only works if the base URL for the forum is already correct - that's why we use repair_settings.php which can fix ALL of the URLs at once
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 09:55:45 PM
Thank you for your help guys I got the theme fixed however, Now I have TWO problems

#1 I don't see the smily faces.

#2 When I hit "http://freeadzworld.com" I only get to my domain parking page the only way I can get to my forum is if I type "http://freeadzworld.com/forum"

How do I fix these issues?

Thank you for your time.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Kindred on May 18, 2018, 10:02:31 PM
The first one is almost definitely still a path problem.   Check the smiley url setting in the admin tools

As for the second...  you will need to set up an htaccess redirect to bounce people to the subdirectory automatically.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 18, 2018, 10:13:38 PM
sorry I am still new. How would I do this? I have no idea how to program.

Thanks
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Chen Zhen on May 19, 2018, 01:05:39 AM
He means you can create a .htaccess file in your public_html path with some rules in it that force a redirect to /forum.

Option1:

ie.
domain park page path: ../public_html
your forum path: ../public_html/forum

then you create a .htaccess file in the public_html folder with the following in it:

RewriteEngine on
RewriteBase /forum

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/forum
RewriteRule .? /forum%{REQUEST_URI} [L]





Option2:

Alternately your CPanel may have an option to add redirects.
look at this video:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=cpanel+create+redirects&oq=cpanel+create+redirects&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.7390j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=1




Option 3:
Manually edit your Apache httpd config file.
Imo you are not ready for this approach and/or do not have access to do so.
Cpanel actually does this for you when using Option 2.

Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 19, 2018, 01:25:59 AM
ok I think I got that part mostly fixed.

I have no idea what apache is and the inner components of the forum

what is the simplest way to fix the smilies?

Should I clear cookies maybe?


thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Illori on May 19, 2018, 06:17:29 AM
you need to run the repair_settings.php file again as already suggested to fix all your URL's and paths.

What is repair_settings.php? (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Repair_settings.php)
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 19, 2018, 12:32:46 PM
ok I uploaded the folder and got it to work. Now what do I do to fix the smilies?

Thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: GigaWatt on May 19, 2018, 01:46:58 PM
Change the required paths/URLs to the adequate ones. Most of the time, the suggested values (below the field in which you're supposed to enter the paths/URLs) are correct. Try with the suggested values (click on them to automatically add them in the field above) and report back.

BTW, Apache is a HTTP server.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 19, 2018, 03:45:38 PM
Quote from: GigaWatt on May 19, 2018, 01:46:58 PM
Change the required paths/URLs to the adequate ones. Most of the time, the suggested values (below the field in which you're supposed to enter the paths/URLs) are correct. Try with the suggested values (click on them to automatically add them in the field above) and report back.

BTW, Apache is a HTTP server.

should I hit "restore all settings"?

what values should I type? thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Illori on May 19, 2018, 05:21:41 PM
yes you can click on restore all settings, then you dont need to type anything just click the save button.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 19, 2018, 06:19:39 PM
splended! I hit restore settings and my forum is screwed up beyond belief!

Sorry to vent its my fault lol

But how do I fix it. Now it says my connection is not private and I cannot acces the Admin CP
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 20, 2018, 02:05:47 AM
Quote from: Illori on May 19, 2018, 05:21:41 PM
yes you can click on restore all settings, then you dont need to type anything just click the save button.

sorry to vent earlier. Sorry to bump and be a pain however my forum is totally inaccessable now. (see photo)

I can't login

before in the repair settings php their was no queryless url however when I ran the file again I did not see the error.

what do I do?

thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Chen Zhen on May 20, 2018, 03:02:36 AM

Somehow you set your url paths as HTTP over TLS (HTTPS) but at the moment you have yet to set up a TLS certificate.
At this point you can likely click on "Advanced" & then tell it to proceed to the website.
Eventually you are going to have to set up a TLS certificate for your domain which you should be able to do in your CPanel.
Just use Let's Encrypt because it is free.

Here is a video on how to enable/install a Let's Encrypt certificate for your domains using CPanel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89VM3RTI5F8




Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 20, 2018, 11:18:11 AM
Quote from: Chen Zhen on May 20, 2018, 03:02:36 AM

Somehow you set your url paths as HTTP over TLS (HTTPS) but at the moment you have yet to set up a TLS certificate.
At this point you can likely click on "Advanced" & then tell it to proceed to the website.
Eventually you are going to have to set up a TLS certificate for your domain which you should be able to do in your CPanel.
Just use Let's Encrypt because it is free.

Here is a video on how to enable/install a Let's Encrypt certificate for your domains using CPanel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89VM3RTI5F8

you mean and SSL? I looked up that clip you sent me however my cpanel is not set up the way it is in the turorial: I don't have the "lets encrypt" option.

Is their another?

thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Chen Zhen on May 20, 2018, 11:43:58 AM
Who is your host?
Is it Namecheap?
Are you using a shared hosting package?
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: shawnb61 on May 20, 2018, 11:49:35 AM
At the moment, it feels like you are wrestling with two separate issues. 

First is trying to get a clean install up & running.  Second is implementing https. 

My suggestion is that you focus on one at a time.   First step, since you don't have a certificate at this time, I suggest you change all your URLs to http.   ALL of them.   Look very carefully throughout repair_settings.php.

Once things are working via http, you should figure out how to implement https.  There is a step-by-step process for doing so here:
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=555034.0

One of your first challenges will be where to get the cert from.  If you don't have LetsEncrypt on your cPanel, then you may find it helpful to discuss options with your host.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Chen Zhen on May 20, 2018, 12:01:48 PM
Namecheap by default offers paid TLS certificates for shared hosting although you can request them to install the Lets Encrypt CPanel plug-in.
Their paid certificates may cost you about $50 USD/yr and Lets Encrypt is free.
They are different types though, I will give you some links with the info.

Instructions for Namecheap paid TLS certificates:
https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/9387/2218/how-do-i-install-an-ssl-using-your-cpanel-plugin

Info about inquiring the Let's Encrypt plug-in to be installed from Namecheap:
https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/namecheap-response-to-lets-encrypt/51411




Quote
Eventually you are going to have to set up a TLS certificate for your domain...

You don't need to do it now but eventually you will have to.
As shawnb61 suggests, you can change all the https links to http in your repair_settings.php file for now.
When you get your certificate then you can change them back to https

Also note that you should remove the repair settings file when you are not using it.
Upload it again when you need to adjust paths but always remove it when you are done.
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 20, 2018, 12:45:59 PM
don't I have my certificate already?

I bought namecheap hosting and it came with it.

thx
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Chen Zhen on May 20, 2018, 01:02:27 PM
It looks like they may give you 1 year for free as part of your hosting package.
Then follow instructions from this link:
https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/9387/2218/how-do-i-install-an-ssl-using-your-cpanel-plugin
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: novic3 on May 20, 2018, 04:49:34 PM
Ok I think I got it does it look like I have the SSL now?

thx for your time :)
Title: Re: Trouble Installing Forum
Post by: Chen Zhen on May 20, 2018, 05:19:07 PM

Yes everything looks fine now.
Good job.