Please help-what am I doing wrong--white page instead of forum,

[Mstcool]

How did you do a backup? Did you reinstall fresh SMF files and run a backup on that? That might help. After you run the backup, run repair_settings and fix your paths. :p

[margarett]

if you have a white page, let us know the php error log

[DarkAngel612]

I made a backup of the database from phpmyadmin have the old files on my comp so deleted all files from server that were from old smf 2.0.7 with 2.0.8 update that got done via admin/packages. Just finished manually uploading all files and now the darn thing is total white page again.

Am so frustrated and getting really annoyed with the server that I am not understanding what you mean by run the backup. I just uploaded the files and ran repair settingbut it also gives white page.

[margarett]

if you have a white page, let us know the php error log

Keep calm. We'll get there. There's just something you are not doing right, let's understand what and fix it.

[DarkAngel612]

There is no php error_log showing up

in case you are wondering:

PHP version	5.4.25
MySQL version	5.5.37-cll

[margarett]

(actually there should be an error somewhere...)

OK, let's restart. One step at a time.

Check the contents of Settings.php. DO NOT post its content here. Just make sure you database information is in place and correct. If you're not sure, compare the contents to your backup.

[DarkAngel612]

they are the same as the backups

[Mstcool]

Wait, I think I know what you are doing wrong. When you uploaded your files...what are you uploading? Your backup files or a new fresh set of SMF files? And where are you uploading them?

[DarkAngel612]

a fresh set of smf files from the large download package. adding them to the directory that houses the forum

link to not behaving forum: http://thefantasiesattic.net/attic/index.php

[Mstcool]

When you upload your fresh files, does the forum work BEFORE running repair_settings?

And by running a back up, I mean, go to your phpmyadmin, click on backup, click on upload and upload the backup that you took from your old phpmyadmin. And then run repair_settings and fix the paths. Dont run repair_settings after you upload a fresh set of SMF files, only run repair_settings AFTER you upload your backup through phpmyadmin. After you run your repair_settings, if your forum is back online, it will look messed up (exactly like the pic you showed us) so just login and change your theme to the default SMF curve theme and you should be fine.

[margarett]

OK, do this again. Get another large upgrade package, just in case...

* Delete everything except "attachments", "avatars", "Settings.php" and "Settings_bak.php". If you have other relevant folders with custom content you might also want to keep it (eg: gallery)
* Load the large upgrade package. Don't upload the upgrade* files
* Load and run repair_settings.php. Check for the correct settings and save. Make sure you reset all users to default theme. Then use the button at the bottom of the page to remove hooks. Then remove the file.

@Mstcool, I don't think she needs to restore a database backup, it's probably not necessary

[DarkAngel612]

When you upload your fresh files, does the forum work BEFORE running repair_settings?

It worked prior to the uploading of the files. but since the uploads only a white page even for repair settings

And by running a back up, I mean, go to your phpmyadmin, click on backup, click on upload and upload the backup that you took from your old phpmyadmin. And then run repair_settings and fix the paths. Dont run repair_settings after you upload a fresh set of SMF files, only run repair_settings AFTER you upload your backup through phpmyadmin. After you run your repair_settings, if your forum is back online, it will look messed up (exactly like the pic you showed us) so just login and change your theme to the default SMF curve theme and you should be fine.<$1alt="" title="" onresizestart="return false;" id="smiley__$2" style="padding: 0 3px 0 3px;" />

ok, so I need to do the database back up to the server? After the upload of files? I have never had to do that before, just upload new files and go back to forum to redo mods.

I mean that the only time I have had to do the database backup after file uploading was to tell it to see the site again after hitting install instead of doing the upgrade.php

[Mstcool]

OK, do this again. Get another large upgrade package, just in case...

* Delete everything except "attachments", "avatars", "Settings.php" and "Settings_bak.php". If you have other relevant folders with custom content you might also want to keep it (eg: gallery)
* Load the large upgrade package. Don't upload the upgrade* files
* Load and run repair_settings.php. Check for the correct settings and save. Make sure you reset all users to default theme. Then use the button at the bottom of the page to remove hooks. Then remove the file.

@Mstcool, I don't think she needs to restore a database backup, it's probably not necessary

But im confused now lol.

@dark, read this. :p
How do I restore a database backup?


But do what Margarett said, first. :p

[DarkAngel612]

yes I do that when I have to reinstall the database but not when I am just trying to get a good update of the files, which is the case here sweety.

I ahve my host on the line too cause this is so baffling. It came back for a bit then was messed up. so got rid of files again and did the new ones and again...white page.

[margarett]

Without a PHP error log is difficult. Ask your host for help getting that log

If you can't really fix it, I can give it a look but only later...

[DarkAngel612]

He finally saw the page I was telling him about. At first thought the index.php was chmodded wrong but it is set to 664

Thank you for the above and beyond help sugar I really appreciate it.

Hopefully he can figure out what happened.

[DarkAngel612]

well just to keep you informed. Host is having me upload the old files I removed and if need be to do the DB reinstall too.

I still get the white page and the one time I did get the forum up again it appeared like the image I showed your earlier only this time with hardly any text.

It's almost like nothing belongs there anymore.

Oh yea he said that they have a way to install the forum in their control panels but they do not support it due to something or other. I am so tired almost 7 and still no site.

[margarett]

If you can wait until later today, I'll have a look at it. That's the most I can do

But I have to say, something smells fishy... A white page without logs isn't really good...

[DarkAngel612]

Funny how he could not find an explanation as to why that happened.

My forum is back. set all files back to 2.0.7 then discovered that for some reason the permission for the files were all screwed up...664 instead of 644 so reset my ftp program to correct chmodding, reupped the 2.0.8 files again and now I am back to par again.

the theme was all nuts but went into admin and told it to try to reset them all and there you go. All themes are still installed and functional. I am so happy.

This saved many a cow cause the papers would have had a story about a 62 year old woman trying to gum a cow to death but armed with knife and fork chasing them down...LOL

Thanks to both of you cause you were more help than he could ever been.

[Mstcool]

Glad its fixed. I was trying to post a post in which I told you to install 2.0.7 and then run a backup on that (cuz i think thats what you basically did and it fixed it) but my wifi was being stupid lol. Anyways, if you need more help, let us know.

But mark this as topic solved though. :p