URGENT!!! FORUM GONE???

[Ruddy Kitty]

My server had some strange error where it said my account had been suspended. My host transferred my information to a new server, except there is so much missing it's ridiculous. The newest posts are back from 2010 and hundreds of people that had signed up, threads, posts, and even my preferences and themes are all gone. It's like it is set back to an earlier state.

My host is saying all the info is the same and matches what was there before, but I can assure you it is not.

Please, someone help me before I break down and freak out.

[Tony Reid]

It sounds like your host deleted your account when they suspended your site - and then restored from a backup.

[Ruddy Kitty]

But my account was suspended for no reason. I've all been paid and everything, and they even said they had no idea why it said it was suspended.

All my info is still up in the files... can I reload it up? Like, reinstall the forum? However my ftp is being weird and I can't use it.

[Tony Reid]

Let them know the mysql data is old, and ask them to retrieve a backup from the old server.

It does sound like they messed up to me though.

[Ruddy Kitty]

Okay, I'll definitely let them know that's what is the old part. I know they definitely messed up lol.

But it seems like all my old files, themes and such are still on the host. Could I bring it back by reinstalling the forum with install.php? Or do I have to wait for them to transfer the mysql data?


EDIT: contacted them and they said the mysql database is up to date. I call bull. What else can I do at this point?

[MrPhil]

Too late for you now, but always keep your own backups of both the files and the database, offsite.

If they took your database back 2 years and claim it's up to date, it's time to start looking for a lawyer/solicitor.  If a legal battle is not worth the trouble, dump them as a host and make sure you have nothing nice to say about them (but make sure you can back up any statements with proof).

Accounts can get suspended for all sorts of things (excuses). Maybe you went over some secret limit on resource usage. But to claim they have no idea why they suspended you boggles my mind...

[Ruddy Kitty]

I'm begging them to keep looking at this point. It's not just any forum, it's a roleplaying forum, and each thread is a huge ongoing story and fantasies playing out. It's CRUCIAL I get that back.

They didn't even know I had been suspended if that tells you anything. I can't stand this host. This WILL BE the last straw.

[MrPhil]

Well, you've certainly found your cure for optimism!   Even if they manage to locate the correct backup tape and get you back, their bumbling is intolerable. Look for a new host.

[mimmi7]

mind telling us who your host is?

[Ruddy Kitty]

micfo.com

STEER CLEAR!!!!!!!!

[Ruddy Kitty]

They are telling me "As for the database, you can remove the username for the database, and recreate it to have it connect to it."

Should I even attempt this or will this guarantee that my info will be gone?

And now I can't get my forum out of maintenance mode despite the settings being at 0. This is just perfect.

[busterone]

I am sorry you are experiencing this. In the future, to prevent this from happening again, you should always do regular backups of your database yourself and keep a copy offsite, on your hard drive, a thumbdrive,  or anywhere you feel safe. Even the best hosts can botch a backup occasionally.
I hope that you can find a recent backup.

[Ruddy Kitty]

They were able to get it back except for a few posts from each member.

In the meantime, I have gone and registered with a new host. How do I go about transferring my forum?



EDIT: I'm trying to make a back up of my forum and it's not letting me download a backup, but it's giving me an entire HUGE page with a bunch of weird scripted text?

[Colin]

Sorry about your bad experience. Yes that file with wierd stuff is an SQL Dump and will allow you to restore your forum on your new host.

[Ruddy Kitty]

But the weird thing is, it's not letting me download it. Why is that? It's showing it as a page, not a download.

[Colin]

I'm not sure. What you could do though is simply copy and paste that to notepad and save it as an SQL file type.

[Colin]

Have you tried downloading it on a different browser?

[Ruddy Kitty]

I'm not sure. What you could do though is simply copy and paste that to notepad and save it as an SQL file type.

I didn't try it in a different browser but I just copied everything. Took me a good chunk of time, but I did it, haha.

I'm also using ftp to save all my files onto my desktop. I'm paranoid now and I don't care how long it takes to transfer.

So on the new web host, will I have to install the forum, or do I just transfer my files over and it'll be done?

[Colin]

On your new host you will transfer all of your files over, create a database through their control panel, import the SQL dump from SMF, change settings.php to reflect the new database and path changes.

Thinking about it now, you should actually not use the SMF SQL dump that is known to be corrupt. Do you know how to access PHPMyAdmin?

[Ruddy Kitty]

Yes, I do.

I also got a few error lines while copying the SQL code:

Code Select Expand

MySQL server has gone away
File: /home/FORUM/public_html/forum2/Sources/Subs.php
Line: 2479


Warning: mysql_real_escape_string() expects parameter 2 to be resource, boolean given in /home/FORUM/public_html/forum2/Sources/Subs-Db-mysql.php on line 143

I replaced the directory with FORUM for security measures...