My forum is D.O.A.

[Eagle1]

I get this message:  Connection Problems
Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later. 

I had changed my database password and used repair settings.php to tell the forum the password but I still can't get back in. What can I do? I do have a backup from just before the forum went down and have been considering reloading but I am afreaid I will screw something up and lose all my info. So how hard is it to reload and save my data? Is there a how-to somewhere?

[rakuli]

I had changed my database password and used repair settings.php to tell the forum the password but I still can't get back in.

I apologise, I am relatively new to SMF but have changed my DB password numerous times. By the above I assume that you have manually changed the DB password in settings.php by opening it with a text-editor or the like and finding the relevant line and updating it.
This has worked for me on several occasions.

do have a backup from just before the forum went down and have been considering reloading but I am afreaid I will screw something up and lose all my info. So how hard is it to reload and save my data

Most of the forum information is stored in your database tables and provided your backup  is still configured to access your DB in it's current location you shouldn't lose any info except any admin settings you have changed since the backup.

[Jerry]

make sure it is the correct password you  are entering with repair_settings.php . You might also try changing your password once more with cpanel or what your server uses. Then changing the password with repair_settings.php.

[Eagle1]

Well my password is the same in settings.php , my control panel, and repair_settings.php. I can ftp into my database but I cannot view the site. So how can I reload without losing my data? Is there a tutorial somewhere?

[[Unknown]]

Your data is, most likely, intact.  You can create a backup, if you wish....

Anyway, I would guess one of the following things:

1. Your host upgraded to MySQL 4.1, and when you reset your password it used the new password method.  PHP 4 will not support this, by default, so you need to create the password using OLD_PASSWORD.  You may wish to contact your host.

2. The username and/or password is still wrong.

3. You're not being allowed to log in because, prior to correcting the password, a lot of errors were generated.

For more information, please create the following script:

Koodi [Valitse] Laajenna

<?php

require('Settings.php');

mysql_connect($db_server, $db_user, $db_pass) or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db($db_name) or die(mysql_error());

?>

Upload a file with those contents and a name like "test.php" to your server.  It will output the exact error message coming from MySQL, which may likely give more insight into the problem.

-[Unknown]