Where to Extract SMF Zip File?

[PleaseHelp]

Hello. I'm new at this. The attached shows I have the SMF Zip file.

Do I extract it to the public directory? Or, should I first make a "SMF" folder in the public directory and extract to that folder?

I don't know what the other folders there are for.

Thanks for helping. I'm glad to be here.

[Dzonny]

Hello there and welcome to smf community!

If you would like your forum to be on url like yoursite.com/forum/ then you should make folder "forum", and if you want it to be on yoursite.com then just extract in public dir, where it is now.

Let us know if you need any further help.

Regards,
Dzonny

[PleaseHelp]

Just what I needed. Thank you.

I extracted to a forum folder and set the CHMOD values.

But now I'm trying to install SMF and get a 404 Not Found when entering the following in a browser with my .com domain instead of (mysite.com):

http://www.(mysite.com)/forum/install.php

[kat]

One thing to remember, when using the internet...

Unlike Windows, case matters.

So, if the directory was named "Forum", only "Forum" will work. "forum" most definitely will not.

I thought I'd mention that, just in case...

[PleaseHelp]

Now I know why some coders only type their posts in lower case.

I just finished chatting with my domain registrar, Namecheap.

The host records for my .com domain looked like this earlier.
@ --- (host ip address) --- A (Address) --- 1800
www --- (mysite.com) --- CNAME --- 1800

And now it is changed to this as advised by Namecheap.
@ --- (host ip address) --- A (Address) --- 1800
www --- (host ip address) --- A (Address) --- 1800

Namecheap also advised that I would need to do a redirect (somehow) through my host if I want mysite.com to show in a browser instead of www. in front of mysite.com.

[kat]

I'd work on getting the place up'n'running, before worrying about redirects and that kinda stuff, myself.

Let's face it, who the heck even notices whether there's a "www" or not, nowadays?

All people want, is for things to work. HOW they work, doesn't concern them.

[PleaseHelp]

Namecheap said it would take several minutes. http://www.mydomain/forum.com/install.php currently shows "Page not found or server unavailable."

I agree about just getting this to work. That would be great!

www vs no www is a non-issue at this point, but thought I'd mention what Namecheap advised about this.

[kat]

Ah. Well, let's wait for that "Few minutes", (which could be hours) and see how it goes, yeah?

[PleaseHelp]

Yes, several minutes could potentially mean over an hour. But I'd rather wait the "few minutes" that you mentioned. I find it hard waiting for good things like SMF.

[kat]

I find that most things "Internet" take far too long.

It's kinda like watching a snail race.

[Colin]

I find that most things "Internet" take far too long.

It's kinda like watching a snail race.

LOL

[PleaseHelp]

Still no change. Something is wrong. Checking again now with Namecheap.

A different person at Namecheap confirmed the domain is set up correctly.

[Kays]

Hi, try changing the url to : hxxp:www.mydomain.com/forum/install.php

[PleaseHelp]

mysite.com/forum/install.php results in 404 Not Found. Now what?

[PleaseHelp]

Hmmmm.... thinking about different ways of possibly solving this.

Change domain registrar.... doesn't seem likely to help.

Change host... something may not be set up right... been wanting to do this anyway.

Hire someone to do this for me.

[Kays]

Well, be patient for a start.

So you extracted all of the files into a "forums" folder?

What did you chomd that folder to. It should be 755

[Colin]

When you go into the /forum/ directory what files do you see inside of there? Let's make sure that the contents are actually in there in the first place. Did you place the /forum/ directory inside the /public_html/ or /www/ directory?

[PleaseHelp]

Well, be patient for a start.

So you extracted all of the files into a "forums" folder?

What did you chomd that folder to. It should be 755

I created a forum folder that is CHMOD 755. Then I extracted SMF to that folder > public_html/forum. And everything in the folder is CHMOD correctly.

[PleaseHelp]

When you go into the /forum/ directory what files do you see inside of there? Let's make sure that the contents are actually in there in the first place. Did you place the /forum/ directory inside the /public_html/ or /www/ directory?

Everything is in the public_html/forum. I navigated the files and folders with ease and CHMOD them as required. The attached shows a partial listing.

[busterone]

Is this a brand new domain, or have you moved this domain to a new host?  In many cases of new domains or domain transfers to a new host, it can take 24 to 72 hours for the DNS to be propagated thru the web. 

Also, are you certain that your domain directory pointer is set properly in your host's cpanel?

[PleaseHelp]

Is this a brand new domain, or have you moved this domain to a new host?  In many cases of new domains or domain transfers to a new host, it can take 24 to 72 hours for the DNS to be propagated thru the web. 

Also, are you certain that your domain directory pointer is set properly in your host's cpanel?

This domain has only been with Namecheap, and I am now attempting to use it.

And I'm not at all certain about my domain directory pointer being set properly in my host's cpanel. I don't know much about this. I will look around in cpanel.

[PleaseHelp]

And I'm not at all certain about my domain directory pointer being set properly in my host's cpanel. I don't know much about this. I will look around in cpanel.

This seems likely to be the problem. Don't know what I'm doing with the "Addon Domains" and "Simple DNS" parts of cpanel. For now I will contact my host for help. Thanks everyone.

[ApplianceJunk]

And I'm not at all certain about my domain directory pointer being set properly in my host's cpanel. I don't know much about this.

http://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/767/10/how-can-i-change-the-nameservers-for-my-domain

[PleaseHelp]

http://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/767/10/how-can-i-change-the-nameservers-for-my-domain

This doesn't seem to be what's needed, moving the name server to my host. I want to keep my domain with Namecheap and hosting separate.

[Colin]

Yes, so you need to configure the nameservers to point your domain's DNS records to the new host.

[ApplianceJunk]

Your host should have given you the nameserver info you need so you can enter it in at namecheap.com as the video shows.

[Colin]

Generally nameserver records look like:

ns1.[hostwebsitedomain].com
ns2.[hostwebsitedomain].com
...

[PleaseHelp]

ApplianceJunk and Colin,

So you're both saying that I need to follow that video (which I can easily do)?

[Colin]

Correct.

[ApplianceJunk]

I agree with Colin.

[PleaseHelp]

Correct.

Done. Takes up to 24 hours to update. Thanks to each of you.

[Colin]

Sure, topic marked as solved.

[ApplianceJunk]

Sure, topic marked as solved.

I don't feel this topic should be marked solved until we hear back from PleaseHelp that it's working.

Please let us know if that solved all the problems or not.

[PleaseHelp]

Has it been 24 hours yet? I am trying to be patient.

I resolved with my host today that settings in Cpanel and for Namecheap are correct.

However...

This still shows 404 Not Found (from my host).
http://www.mysite.com/forum/install.php

And this still shows Default Website Page (from my host).
http://www.mysite.com

I have double checked much of what I have posted in this thread.

I know of nothing else to do but... keep waiting.

[Colin]

Ok, so the 24 hours is to resolve the new DNS. Once you see the default page from your new host you know that the DNS has propagated to your system. We could have manually flushed it, but oh well. Have you uploaded the files to your new host?

[PleaseHelp]

Ok, so the 24 hours is to resolve the new DNS. Once you see the default page from your new host you know that the DNS has propagated to your system. We could have manually flushed it, but oh well. Have you uploaded the files to your new host?

I've been getting the default page and 404 since yesterday, after I made the advised settings change to Namecheap. Today I went so far as to present .jpg screen prints of Namecheap and Cpanel settings to my host, and I was told everything was OK. But if I had to guess, I'd say a problem remains with a setting in Cpanel, and my host missed it. 

I found out about the config dnsflush through online research right before my previous post, but it did not help. And I just tried again in a different browser, but got the same default page and 404.

I had uploaded the SMF zip file before starting this thread, and then I extracted everything as advise in this thread. Everything is CHMOD as needed, easy to do and double checked.

[Colin]

Can I get a link to your domain please?

[ApplianceJunk]

Can you post a link to your site?

[ApplianceJunk]

lol

[Colin]

lol

Smart minds think alike. Lol

[PleaseHelp]

For marketing reasons (not discussing this), I am trying to keep the site unknown (for now). I can post screenprints of the default page and 404 with my domain erased. Will that do?

[Colin]

Let's see if that reveals anything -- yes please do.

[PleaseHelp]

One browser shows a 404, while another browser shows a default website page for the same address - go figure.

[PleaseHelp]

I am VERY impressed by the speedy help offered in this thread. I have no doubt my SMF installation eventually could be resolved. But I can no longer afford more time and effort chasing this. I need this domain working with a forum sooner than eventually. So for now I'm getting a new host to handle a forum install for me. Of course no member posting here is to blame for this failed install and my incompetence. You SMF guys keep up the great work! I will post again if I stay with SMF and get a forum running. Bye for now.

[Colin]

Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner.

[Colin]

If you are still haven't fixed it I will be happy to manage the install for you at no cost. Sorry for the trouble.

[kat]

If you want me to take a look at what's going on, with this, feel free to send me a PM with FTP login details.

It'd be for the best, though, if you read this, before doing so:

http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=87130.0

SNAP!

[PleaseHelp]

If you want me to take a look at what's going on, with this, feel free to send me a PM with FTP login details.

It'd be for the best, though, if you read this, before doing so:

http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=87130.0

SNAP!

As posted, I'm cutting my losses and moving forward with a new host etc., thanks anyway. Keep up the great work at SMF - the BEST I've seen.

[kat]

No sweat, mate!

If you decide to give SMF another try, you know where we are.