Newbie upgrading - how to login?

[Jln]

Hello world.

Another question that certainly has been asked but I cannot find answer.

Old 2.0.19 stopped working after being transferred to another server. Database can be read, not written. Seemed like access setting problem, but when I tried to make backup from SMF, it said your 500 internal server error, system seems to have a problem (very clever Sherlock). I installed Phpmyadmin (another new and strange thing) and exported sql to home.

Also SMF complained that database is 2.0.17 format.

So I began installing the latest SMF and everything went fine. Files went into server. I open browser and upgrade.php. Phase 1: Login. Well, how to login? It shows 0/0 % progress, upgrading steps, and... that's it. Also some warnings that Finnish version is not available. That's all.

How to proceed?

I deleted all the new files and did put on server old backup for time being.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

The built-in backup option is more of an emergency option than a proper backup tool, and has never been very reliable - This is why it was also removed in later versions.

As for the update, I'd start by making sure that your server meets the requirements for the version you are upgrading to https://download.simplemachines.org/requirements.php

Then if everything should be good to go, I would reset the forum (and all users) to the default theme (custom themes won't work after upgrading anyways) and English language (Any added languages need an update after the upgrade as well), before trying to run the upgrade again.
Make sure everything gets properly overwritten too, old files can make things difficult
https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Upgrading

[Doug Heffernan]

So I began installing the latest SMF and everything went fine. Files went into server. I open browser and upgrade.php. Phase 1: Login. Well, how to login? It shows 0/0 % progress, upgrading steps, and... that's it. Also some warnings that Finnish version is not available. That's all.

You can log in with your admin account info. That said, if you run into the same message again, can you make a screenshot and post it here?

[Jln]

As for the update, I'd start by making sure that your server meets the requirements
Make sure everything gets properly overwritten too

I try next full install.
No, it doesn't allow me. It asks to use upgrader because database already exists.

You can log in with your admin account info.

Well, I can't. Upgrade.php becomes the only accessible page and I cannot access index.php even with direct webaddress. (Which is strange.)
Installer had button "CONTINUE" that I don't recall seeing.
Now I see this happens because upgrade language was not English. Aleksi was indeed on track.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

As for the update, I'd start by making sure that your server meets the requirements
Make sure everything gets properly overwritten too

I try next full install.
No, it doesn't allow me. It asks to use upgrader because database already exists.

I never said anything about full install. Download the large upgrade package, use it to overwrite the current installs files. Then, and only then, try the upgrader.

https://download.simplemachines.org/requirements.php
https://download.simplemachines.org/
Upgrading SMF

[Jln]

I am in upgrade phase after I understood to switch language into english-UTF8 in settings.php

However, now upgrade stalls at database changes.

Error!
Server has not responded for 30 seconds. It may be worth waiting a little longer before trying again. Click here to try again.

This has happened several times in row. It doesn't run further.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

It's not really an error, it's more of a "Notice", and quite often the "It may be worth waiting a little longer before trying again." means you should just give it a few minutes before clicking continue again.

[Jln]

I don't know... hours pass by. :-|

[Illori]

if you are running 2.0.19 there are no database changes and you dont need to run upgrade.php. what was the full error message you got?

[Jln]

This is where upgrade stalled.



Database error.
Seems like your database might need upgrade. Forum files are version SMF 2.0.19, while database is version 2.1 dev0. It is recommended that you run latest version of upgrade.php.

Original problem was that database couldn't be written, only read. Also attachments and avatars were missing. At that time system also complained that database was version 2.0.17 and I should run latest upgrade.php

[Kindred]

If your forum files are 2.0.19, then you are not doing the upgrade correctly.

Please read the instructions...
You need to have the 2.1.4 files in place.

Also, the database MUST be writable.

[Jln]

Upgrade successful. However a problem persists. That's another topic.

(Lesson: proceed step by step, first make sure every file is on same version level.)