Struggling with theme installation

[Noobie]

I have today installed SMF 1.1.11 and am experiencing real difficulties with what sounds like should be, an easy task - new theme installation.

I have:
- found a 1.1.11 compatible theme 'Abc'
- clicked download

Upon checking my cPanel, I get an Abc theme folder as:
public_html/mydomainname/forum/Themes/Abc

and then under my Abc folder, I also have another two folders: _MACOSX and Abc

When I go to my SMF admin panel and try to install, I have tried

public_html/mydomainname/forum/Themes/Abc
public_html/mydomainname/forum/Themes/Abc/__MACOSX
public_html/mydomainname/forum/Themes/Abc/__MACOSX/Abc

Can't remember which of the 3, but one of them says install successful. The other 2 say theme not found (or words to that effect).

After what I believe is the successful install, I then go to Admin ->Manage and Install and select the Abc theme as the forum default and I get a white screen, populated with all the forum text but in a completely distorted manner.

Where am I going wrong.

I am on MacOSX if that makes any difference?

I have spent a whole night on this - surely, it must be something embarrassing obvious that I am doing wrong.

Thank you
A very new, Newbie.

[Alex P.]

Have you tried installing it on the Admin panel via the uploader there? Just upload the zip file to do that. Also, did you unpack it in your cpanel (unzip, decompress, etc.) or did you just put it there. If you just put it there try adding the file end to it.

[Noobie]

Hi Alex,
Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I tried the 'one click' uploader and that gives me the same results too.

Also, went to cPanel, found the .zip, clicked extract and tried again. No success.

[Illori]

did you try to upload the theme under Themes and Layout Settings?

[Noobie]

Hi,

I thought it may be helpful to add a screenshot of the screen I get, after attempting to install a new theme...

Grateful for any advice on how to resolve.
Thank you

[Noobie]

illori,

I have tried installing via Admin -> Themes and Layout ->Manage and install -> Install a new theme

Tried both the 'from a file' option and uploading directly to cPanel.

I only installed SMf yesterday, and did so via Fantastico, one click installation that my web host provides. That shouldn't make any difference, should it?

[sawz]

how about move the files from forum/Themes/Abc/__MACOSX/Abc
and place them in forum/Themes/Abc/

unless i misunderstood.

oh yeah, don't use Fantastico, it sux.

[Noobie]

Moving the files doesn't help.

Been Googling for more answers and it would appear (from a 2007) thread I found elsewhere that the default theme would need to be reinstalled? Not sure if that would be applicable to this version> Not even sure I would know how to do that!

Okay, so if Fantastico sux, perhaps I need to uninstall and restart all over.

Grateful for any help.

This is getting very painful for a simple theme! Argh!

[Illori]

If you would like later tonight I can take a look and see what is going on, PM me the FTP login information for your server as well as an admin account for your forum, and a link to the theme you are trying to use.

[sawz]

If you would like later tonight I can take a look and see what is going on, PM me the FTP login information for your server as well as an admin account for your forum, and a link to the theme you are trying to use.

26 posts? no one in their right mind will give you ftp access to their site.

this has been solved.

[Illori]

26 posts? no one in their right mind will give you ftp access to their site.

this has been solved.

At least i offered to help the best way I can, just because I dont post here often does not mean I dont know how to fix issues.

[Noobie]

illori - thank you for your kind offer of assistance. As Sawz has mentioned, this has now been resolved.

Appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read and reply.

Thank you.