Blank screen after upgrade

[Scratchit]

I tried to up-grade to the latest SMF version. It locked up after a long time, then crashed. Now all I have is totally blank white screen. Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks

[SychO]

what version are you trying to upgrade from, and what version are you trying to upgrade to, and how did you try to do it

[Scratchit]

From 11 to 15, i though but last of the file that got downloaded and is now in Packages is: sms-patch-2.0.14 tar gz.

I used the packages facility on the forum when it was working. I've upgraded before this and have never had any problems.

Thanks

[Gwenwyfar]

What php version are you running?

[Scratchit]

I don't know, how would I find this out. The forum all worked fine before the attempted upgrade

Thanks

[Sir Osis of Liver]

You can look in your host control panel, or upload attached file to forum root and run it.

[Scratchit]

From host panel PHP 5.2 - 7, does this make sense?

Cheers

[Sir Osis of Liver]

That's just available versions, you need to find wgich one you're running.  Use phpinfo.php attached to my previous post.

[Scratchit]

OK, ran it, a whole ton of stuff came up, PHP was in a box and was 5.3.29 any better?

Cheers

[Gwenwyfar]

2.0.14 won't run on php 5.3 and lower. You'll need to upgrade the php version. Preferably at least 5.6. Look for an option to change it or ask your host.

[live627]

OK, ran it, a whole ton of stuff came up, PHP was in a box and was 5.3.29 any better?

Cheers

Some code to change; find in ./Sources/Subs-Db-mysql.php

Code Select Expand

// Checck for MySQLi first...
if (function_exists('mysqli_connect'))

Replace with

Code Select Expand

// Check for MySQLi first...
// !!! This driver does not work on PHP < 5.4.0.
if (function_exists('mysqli_connect') && version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '5.4') >= 0)

[Scratchit]

Hi
Changed the code as advised. No effect, screen still blank. Regarding advice to ask provider to upgrade php, only problem is I have another forum running with a big database and i'd hate to lose that. I'd likely end up with my throat cut  Its running on a oldish SMF, 11 I think. I'd hate for that to crash out due to a php upgrade. As stated I'm a complete novice.
Would it be possible to "Step Back" somehow with the non-working site to the version of SMF that was running fine before the attempted upgrade. If so could you offer advice on how to it.

Sorry to be a pain.

Cheers

[SychO]

When you say you tried to go from 11 to 15, you did go through 12 then 13 then 14 first right?

Did you maybe get any errors while installing a patch ?
There's a backup in packages/backup folder in your forum directory.

[Scratchit]

I guess it went through all the stages. I just clicked on the update thing when it said it needed patching, as I said I'm dumb when it comes to things like this.

Attached are two screen shots of packages and backups.

I didn't get any errors it just crashed out to a white screen. I run an iMac by the way in case this has any bearing on the matter

Cheers

[Illori]

can you change your php version as suggested above? at this time if the code change did not fix the issue, revert that back and upgrade your php.

[Scratchit]

OK. I'll get on to my IP on the morrow about an upgrade of the PHP. However, I really need to be sure that if I upgrade the PHP it will not crash out my other website which still on 2.0.11 and which is very important and I can't afford to lose it. It would cause me endless trouble. What do you think?

Cheers

[Arantor]

Upgrade PHP to 5.4 or 5.5, both 2.0.11 and 2.0.15 work on those versions.

[Scratchit]

Hi,

I just googled for info on the latest version of PHP, its 7.2.3! I imagine if I ask for an upgrade from my IP they are going to stick me with the latest version? Is 7.2.3 compatible with all version of SMF? I doubt the IP will let me be selective. I'll talk to them anyway. In the meantime could you point me in the right direction on using those back up files for stepping back to 2.0.11 if I don't get good info from the IP. I have an independent full backup of the site if needed but have no clue how to proceed. Is it possible to use the files I sent you a screen shot of? Told you I was dump. I appreciate your help.

Regards

Cheers

[Scratchit]

Hi again

One final thing in addition to the above, this is not a criticism of SML but a warning or error message would have been nice saying things were not compatible instead of a total crash. Just for dummies like me!!!

Cheers

[Arantor]

2.0 is not fully compatible with 7.2.

As for the white screen, that's more that PHP itself doesn't like it, and fails before SMF has chance to warn you (and any other error messages of that ilk are turned off for security reasons)

[Scratchit]

Hi Bud

I'm not having a dig and really appreciate your help. The upgrade seemed to going fine, then crash. But I get your point. Many moons ago I had a PC but have been with Mac for many years now. No more Blue Screen of Death!!  Sorry if you are a Windows fan  .

Anyway, if you don't mind I might have to get back to you for further advice on reverting to a previous version, if my IP won't play ball, or even a link to this reverting thing. My biggest concern is not losing my second site.

Kind regards

[Arantor]

Um, not sure you did get my point... your point was "why can't SMF tell you there's a problem?" Answer: because it failed before it could decide if there was a problem. Just like you shouldn't blame Windows when the issue is a faulty motherboard

[The Domain Shop]

Have you not got the option to switch php versions inside your host control panel?

[Scratchit]

Trax

WOW, yes!! I just found it after you suggested it!! I have a choice between: 5.6, 7.0, 7.1, and 7.2. The option at the moment is set to 5.6. However, the forum is still not working so I guess it must be something else wrong. Anyway, thanks!1

[The Domain Shop]

Is there any errors being logged? There might be a file located in your forums root folder?

[Illori]

it is possible the php version changer in your control panel may not function. so it could still be the same version issue.

[GigaWatt]

Try this. Make a text file, open it and add this code to it.

Code Select Expand

<?php

phpinfo();

?>

Save the file, change the name of the file to phpinfo.php and upload it to your forum's root directory. Run it (forumurl.tld/phpinfo.php) and see what it reports. The current running version of PHP should be reported in the first few lines of what the code will output .

[Sir Osis of Liver]

OK, ran it, a whole ton of stuff came up, PHP was in a box and was 5.3.29 any better?

Upgrade to 5.6.

[Scratchit]

Hi all

Thank you all for trying to help. I appreciate it. Problem is most of this stuff is way over my head. Over the next few days I'm going to work at it slowly, slowly, hopefully not making things worse. As I mentioned I have another site that I absolutely cannot afford to lose so am going to proceed with caution, taking in consideration all the advice. I'll get back with the outcome one way or the other in a few days.

Thanks and cheers

[Kindred]

just one important reminder.

BACKUP!

Before every step, backup!

Backup the files
Backup the database

(they are separate things)
https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Backup

[Scratchit]

Hi all,

Just to tell you after much burning of midnight oil I managed to sort the problem out after a fashion. Tried everything I could think of and eventually FTP'd all the files from a backup I had.

Everything working fine now  . Thanks for all the help, I guess  this is solved but do not know how to mark it as such.

Many thanks to you all for your patience.

Cheers