A Question before I upgrade

[MaryLouW]

Hi SMF folks.  I have finally decided to give the upgrade a try.  I think I am ready. I've read through the instructions several times, and know how to backup my database using SqLMyAdmin.  I downloaded the upgrade file which is smf_2-0-7_upgrade.zip and unzipped it. Here's where my question comes in.

The instructions say to copy all the files via ftp to the server.  The same file names are already there from the 1.9 version.  Should I delete those folders and files before I upload the new ones?  Or, will the new folders and files simply overwrite the old ones? 

[Colin]

Just let it overwrite the files.

[MaryLouW]

Okay, but what about the files that are in those folders that are no longer needed? Will they be removed?  I don't want a lot of excess junk that I don't know what it's for. 

Also, I do not have gzip.  Any suggestion as to where to get it?  I did find it on the net but don't see how to install it.

[Illori]

by default unless you delete the extra files they will not be touched by the upgrade.

if your *server* needs gzip you need to contact your host.

[MaryLouW]

Okay, thanks!  So, in the Packages folder, all those that I have now will still be there?  I've heard that most of them don't work with the newer version.  Should I remove all the packages first?

As for the gzip,  I thought it was something I needed to have. In the file manager area where you back up your database, there's an option to back up using gzip. It used to work at one time but it says it can't find gzip so I thought maybe it was something I needed to have.   Getting my host to do anything is like pulling hen's teeth so I guess I can live without it. 

Oh, when I was doing some maintenance  a few weeks ago, I got a message saying my database was out of date and that I needed to update it.  I have no clue how to do that.  Any suggestions?  Will this cause a problem when I do the SMF upgrade?

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The packages will still be in /Packages directory, but won't be installed.  You'll need to find current versions that are compatible with 2.0.x, same with your themes.  The database will be updated when you run upgrade.php.

If you exported the database as .gzip, you should be able to import it if necessary.  I have seen phpmyadmin implementations that would allow you to export .gzip, but not import it, but that's unusual.

[MaryLouW]

I know I said just one more question but one more popped up.   When I upgrade, will those mods show up on the mods list waiting to be installed or can I simply delete them from the folder?  I am going to start this process today and am really nervous about it knowing the problems I've had in the past with updating the 1.x versions.

On the gzip, I only see that when I go to the forum maintenance screen in SMF.  There is a box that's pre-checked saying to back up using gzip.  When I try that, it says gzip not found so I back up the long way - without it.

Recently, I've learned how to go to the server and export the database as a sql file so I think that's what I need to do.

[mashby]

The mods will still be there in theory, but essentially they will go away after upgrade. Depending on the mod, you might be able to reinstall it after the upgrade.

Think of it like this. If you upgrade your 1.1.x site, you are replacing the entire guts of the site and starting with a fresh version of 2.0.x. No mods installed. All of your previous custom themes are rendered useless if not dangerous.

Before you upgrade, make sure any important mods (which is subjective) is available in the 2.0.x branch. Same with themes, although with these, this is really just a cosmetic thing. But still important to consider before upgrading. After the upgrade, install new themes/mods and be on your merry way. My 1.1.x site went from over 100 mods to just 9 now. I still went nuts with the 2.0.x themes, but I like that part.

How are you proceeding right now?

[MaryLouW]

Thanks!  Now I understand.  I won't have any left over garbage.  So, I can delete the 1.x mod upgrades and all the rest of them.  I rather like the plain SMF blue.  My site has always been blue so I can live with that while I learn where things are. 

I am proceeding as follows:
1. Backed up the database via SMF file manager. It saved it as an .sql file.

2. Right now, am backing up the entire forum to an external drive as there are some things I may want - like some of my smileys.  Have about an hour to go.

3. When this finishes backing up, I plan to visit my host and export the database so I'll have a second backup, just in case.

4.  Will upload all of the files that I unzipped in the downloaded 2.7 upgrade.  Then check the CHMOD folder and file values.

5.  Will run pirc-forum.com/update.php and   after that...  I will just keep my fingers crossed that all goes well!!  If not, I'll be back.   I think I've done everything right, I just wasn't sure what to expect when finished.   Now I understand, it will be just as if I installed a whole new program but will still have my users and posts, etc that are in the database.  Whew..  will be so happy when this is done so I can breathe! 

I appreciate the support, it really helps!!!  THANKS~

[Illori]

http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Backup

do not use the backup in smf it is not reliable.

[MaryLouW]

I used that as well as exporting it so I would have two.  However, nothing worked! I have a huge mess at the moment.  The upgrade seemed to work but when I clicked the link to my site, it still had my old theme and only one option... messages.  There are no other options of any kind.   I can see my forums and click on a link but there is no navigation of any kind.  Where do I go from here?  I'm attaching what I see when I go to http://pirc-forum.com - not sure if that's what you'll see though.

I think I should probably just start over with a new version rather than an upgrade but don't know how to go about doing that.  Do I have to delete my current database and create a new one? Are there instructions somewhere for a new install?  I would have to put it in the same place where the current one is.  I sure hate losing 7 years of stuff but I don't see any other way.   Open to suggestions.

[Illori]

try What is repair_settings.php? and reset your theme to default.

[kat]

That old theme... If you use FTP to delete it, the forum should revert to the SMF default. I believe the repair file, that Illori mentions gives you the option to revert to the default theme, too, now.

http://pirc-forum.com/index.php?theme=1 might switch you to the default theme, if you're logged-in as admin, too.

[MaryLouW]

Well, now I've really messed it up.  When I clicked on the link  with the theme=1, I did get the SMF default theme but not in all areas.  Everything was there, my files, posts, etc.  But, it still wasn't right because it wasn't using the theme everywhere.

So, I tried the repair.  That's where I messed it up and now don't know how to fix it.  It showed the url's pointing to the default but it also had links to my old theme which isn't even there - I deleted it earlier.  So, I deleted those links... now nothing works. 

This is what I'm getting now:
Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later.

But when I run the repair again, it tells me I have server errors.  I didn't have them until I deleted my theme links.   I did click on all the suggested links but they were the same as what was there.

In addition, the repair doesn't show any folders at all for my theme.  Any suggestions?   I sure hate to start over when I know all of my data is there, I just need to know what to do to get to it.

[kat]

The "Can't connect to the database" thing, points to username/password. Or, even, the actual name of the database.

[MaryLouW]

I am using all those that they recommend and they were not changed.  I have that same info in a notepad and it is correct.  There are no paths to the themes though. I think that's where the problem is. There must be a way to fix this.

[MaryLouW]

I fixed it!   I compared the settings.php file to the settings backup file and saw that the settings pointed to localhost but the backup file pointed to the database name.  So, I copied that line from the backup and replaced the one in the settings and much to my surprise, it worked!      I think I'm back on track now. I am seeing the SMF default theme.

Thanks for the help and support..  I lear4ned a lot from this!!

[MaryLouW]

I'm back!!       I have checked all of the options, all of my boards, etc. Everything works but one thing.  When I click on the profile link, I get a white page.  Other than that, everything else works perfectly. 

Any ideas as to how I can get the profiles back?  Everything else looks great!!

[kat]

Pure hunch...

I can only think, at this stage, that this COULD be related to this:

http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=502354.0

[MaryLouW]

Unfortunately, that's not the issue.  I pay for a good deal of bandwidth, etc and only use like 2% of it.

I cannot access anything related to the profile which means, I cannot reply to private messages or send them because it pulls the name from the profile.  There has to be some little thing somewhere that's not kicking in.  This one is important because I can't view a new users profile and they cannot change it or add their pictures and such. 

Any other suggestions?   Every other area works perfectly.   Is there a "switch" somewhere that turns off access to profiles?

[kat]

Oddness.

Anything in the ol' error log?

[MaryLouW]

No.... nothing that I could see.   When I click on Profile, this is what I see on the url

http://pirc-forum.com/index.php?action=profile
http://pirc-forum.com/index.php?action=profile;area=account
http://pirc-forum.com/index.php?action=profile;area=forumprofile

I sure hope someone can solve this because I really REALLY don't want to start all over from the beginning. 

[Illori]

check for an error_log or similar named file and see if it has anything related as well as your smf error log.

[MaryLouW]

I did check the SMF error log and all that's there are users logging on that forgot passwords and such.  I don't know where else I would look for an error log..   

[Kindred]

A files called error.log or error_log

[MaryLouW]

I understand what you said but where should I look? 

[Kindred]

Forum or website root directory, usually

[MaryLouW]

I only found one file called error.php and that was part of the install package.  Everything else works perfectly - except for no profiles.  I'm sure I can't run the upgrade.php again, can I?

[MaryLouW]

I know the profile info is there somewhere otherwise we wouldn't be able to see our avatars. They come from the profile.  The problem is, how to get them to let us see them.   

[mashby]

I applaud you for getting this far! 

I thought I had an account on your site, but you might have removed it which is fine. Mind if I join again?

[pirc-bw]

I'm an admin there, Come on over!

I am watching this thread to see what you come up with.  Just in case it happens on my board someday.

[MaryLouW]

Hi!!   You did have an account but I probably deleted it because we keep our member list really small  and delete those who have been inactive for over 6 months. 

I'm not sure you can log in.  I just tried it and I got a blank page!   I didn't spot that before because I hadn't logged out.  It's the registration page. 

Please do try and register - I need help... badly!

[mashby]

Ah! Yeah, the registration page is rather white and it's spring time. One of those is a good thing. Are you able to create new members from the admin side?

[MaryLouW]

I"m not sure, I've never done it.   Let me see if I can figure out how.  I have a second account but it it won't let me log in with the other one, it changes the name to me.  I'll be back.

[MaryLouW]

Try using Phedra  with password of doll1010 - I can change the password later.   Thanks!!

[MaryLouW]

OH, that probably won't work either.  I can send you a PM with my password and I can log out. Would that do it?

[mashby]

OK, logged in OK. That user isn't really a true admin. However, I'm not even sure it will matter. I'm wondering what the permissions are set to for those files?

You can absolutely PM me!

[mashby]

OK, so you can change your password on Phedra.

I don't see anything too out of the ordinary on your settings. But of course the white screen is a 500 error. How did you upgrade your site? Did you FTP up the new files or use File Manager? Or some other way?

[MaryLouW]

When I uploaded the files, I was using FTP but it kept timing out and restarting.  It was a long process.  It was the Sources that gave me the most trouble.  So, to be sure they all uploaded, I went to the server and used the file manager there and uploaded them again.  It would only let me upload one at a time and that took forever. 

If you want to send me your email, I can re-register you as an admin.  I couldn't find where to do that last night but after carefully comparing my settings to those on a friend's forum, I noticed that my admin areas reverted back to the menu being down the left side like it was before!   It wasn't that way when I first set up the features and such.  I wasn't seeing it before because I wasn't looking on the left column - I was looking for the pop-down menus that I had in the beginning.  That's okay, I prefer it that way.

I did notice I have a huge number of errors in the error log.  183 of them - many from banned users that are using bots to try and get back in.  I also noticed some references to my default theme from my old version.. like this:


http://pirc-forum.com/index.php?http://pirc-forum.com/
8: Undefined index: allow_view_contact
File: /services/webpages/util/1/t/1th9ibci9.site.aplus.net/pirc-forum.com/public/Themes/ML-default/index.template.php
Line: 594 

There may be something in the error logs that could give a clue to the problem.   I sure hate to give up because it's 7 years of work there.

[Illori]

is ML_default a 2.0+ theme? if not that may be why that error is happening. if it is not a 2.0 theme, delete it from the admin panel and the files [maybe put them on your computer in case you want the theme updated someday in the future]

[MaryLouW]

That WAS my theme when using the 1.9 version but I removed it after I upgraded.  That's why I thought it was strange when I saw a link to it in the error messages.

I think 183 errors is huge when I don't normally get more than a dozen in a month.  Maybe the key is somewhere in those error messages.  I wouldn't recognize it though.

[mashby]

Unfortunately, there won't be anything in the error logs for a 500 error. That's a general server error. I cleared out the error logs though to see if anything helpful shows up there. If there is an issue that shows up there, the logs will report it again. You aren't in any real danger of losing your 7 years of work. I think it's just a matter of starting from the 2.0.7 vanilla files and re-installing mods one by one.

[MaryLouW]

How do I do that?  I"ve not really done anything other than add a few mods so if it means re-doing something, I'm okay with that as long as I know what to do.   Everything works so perfectly except new people can't register and there are no profiles.

I'm open to suggestion.  Should we wait a day and see if any errors show up or do something right away?  I was mostly concerned about losing the info in the database.  Anything else is just fluff.

I just realized something - sending a PM is not an error afterall!  I see the same thing here.  The name is not in the "to" box, it drops below it and has a red X next to it.  A red X is usually an error symbol but if it shows up here, it must not be an error!  So, that brings it back to the profiles and the fact that no one can register.

[pirc-bw]

The red X allows you to delete that person from the PM or from being a Moderator or whatever the line is for.

[MaryLouW]

That seems rather silly.  If you clicked on a person's name or the little icon to send them a PM, why would you want to delete them when sending them a message? 

[kat]

How do I do that?

http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_to_upload_a_fresh_set_of_files

[Kindred]

as for the PM question...   perhaps you accidentally added the wrong username when the "auto-complete" came up?

e.g. you type mash and it prompted you for masha, masby, mashzeta
you accidentally selected masha
...

or perhaps you had a multi-user PM thread going and wanted to only send the next response to 2 of the three users on the PM thread.

[mashby]

Great suggestion K@. That did the trick! MaryLou, this means that some of your mods aren't there. And any edits to the default theme have been removed. Good news is that register and profile and messages now all work. I was able to add back some of the mods though. These are the ones that I wasn't able to find:

Board Icons Multiboard    0.1.0    
Set order for sticky topics    0.5    
Downloads System    2.0

I know you had some sort of Downloads system on your updated forum. Might you still have that package and possibly the other two listed above?

[MaryLouW]

OH my gosh!!  It works!!!   You were on the right track yesterday when you said I needed to re-upload the files minus the updates.  This is wonderful!  I think I can breathe again.   THANK YOU SO MUCH!!  Once again, our hero to the rescue!!

As for the mods, I'll see if I can find them again. the Downloads mod is from the people who make the SMF gallery mod. The other two are new ones that I downloaded after I upgraded.  I didn't do any edits to the default - I wanted to keep it just as it is and will create a a new theme to modify.  I found directions on how to do that here on this forum. 

One more little question - there is a "theme" called Core and one called Curves. I am using the Curves..  but what is the Core one for? It's so much smaller than the Curves.   And, can I remove those two smiley sets that came with the upgrade since I"m not using them?

You guys here just don't have any idea how much you are appreciated!!!  You never give up on a problem until it's solved.  It's comforting to know that when things go wrong, there's always someone to help.  This time, you helped big time!!! 

Thank You again!!!

[mashby]

I already removed Core. I had a feeling you didn't need/want it. And yes, you can also remove those two smiley sets.

I think then the stuff I remember being there might have been from the content you might have included in Global Headers Footers. Might you still have that content? And the Downloads system. I am hoping you still have that one, too.

[MaryLouW]

OH good, I didn't know what that Core was.  Thanks for removing it.    I do have all the text that was in the global header and footer saved.  I need to revise it and make it look a little nicer to go with the new look.  If I've lost anything else, it doesn't matter, the important thing is, you got the forum working 100% now. 

I see a LOT of references to backing up the forum before adding mods, etc but exactly what does that mean? What should one back up?  It took me 10 hours to backup my 1.9 files.   I copied everything to an external drive.  There must be some things I don't need to backup?   Doing just the database is easy, I can do that from the host site and it's super fast.   I have DSL and it's slower than cable so backing up everything is a nightmare.  Any suggestions here? 

I just can't thank you enough for all your help! 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

DSL isn't that slow.  Shouldn't take anywhere close to 10 hours to backup forum files, unless you have an enormous amount of large attachments and/or mod backups and/or themes.  Your host control panel should have a file manager that allows you to create a backup directory into which you can copy your entire forum in a few minutes.  It's all done on the server, so there's no download.

[MaryLouW]

Well, I"m not sure what's on the server for backing up - the only thing I saw was File Manager Pro and it let me upload the Source files but I had to do them one file at a time.  I'll take another look at it, maybe I"m missing something.  Thanks!!   

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Who's your host?

[MaryLouW]

aPlus  (Deluxe is new name).   Have been with them for a good 6 or so years.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Not familiar with them, but most host file managers will allow you to create directories and bulk copy files.