New installation with old database?

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mythago
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New installation with old database?

Post by mythago »

Hello all,

I have been trying to fix and upgrade my site and getting the HTTP 500 error related to stylesheets - given all of these headaches, I am thinking the simplest thing to do would be an entirely fresh install of the latest 3.2.x release, but directing it to the existing site database (rather than starting a new one). However, when I try to do a new install it asks me to create a new database.

1) Is there a way to tell a brand new phpBB installation "instead of creating a new database, use this existing one"?
2) If not, would it work to create a new database, and then overwrite it with the existing one?

Thank you,
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janus_zonstraal
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by janus_zonstraal »

Just upload the new 3.2.5 package.
Edit the config.php to connect to your old database.
Go to yourboard.com/install/
And choose to update database only.


But that is exactly the same as doing a proper update.

So better tell us how you did the update and what the error is.
Sorry! My English is bat ;) !!!
mythago
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by mythago »

Thank you! I tried to use the Full Package method. Something broke - according to the folks at my hosting site it was a problem in the styles (I was using Milk 2.0), which is a common problem I found when trying to look up the HTTP 500 error, but could not figure out how to fix. Since I have multiple backups I am going to wipe and reinstall and then update config following your advice.
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Lumpy Burgertushie
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by Lumpy Burgertushie »

do not install the Milk style until your board is up and running properly with the default prosilver.

once it is, then upload and install the custom style and it will work properly.
make sure your milk style is for the version of phpbb that you are running.

robert
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mythago
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by mythago »

Working on this now with my host provider. This is what I have done so far:

1) create new blank db on my host
2) fresh install of 3.2.5 using blank db
3) get board up and running with a blank db, yay! No problem here.
4) Attempt to import old db into new db using phpMyAdmin. Seems to go smoothly!
5) Load new phpBB board page and get HTTP 500 error.

I think what is going on is that I need to use SSH or bigdump in step 4, and that is what is causing the problem. But is there anything else that could be causing the HTTP 500 error?

I appreciate all the help. I have backups of my db and board, but I have been trying to fix this and get at my data for days now to no avail :(
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Lumpy Burgertushie
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by Lumpy Burgertushie »

at number 5;

you need to first go to yourdomain.com/yourboard/install before you try to go to the home page.

if you get a 500 error there, ask your host for the error logs. a 500 error is often a problem with php.
the error log is where it will show you what the problem is.


once you get it, copy and paste the last 25 or so lines here for us to see.


robert
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Mick
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by Mick »

Why don't you just follow the instructions given here in the user guide? You'll have a db and file backup so there should be no issues. What version are you upgrading from?
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mythago
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by mythago »

Hi Mick, I did that and fell down the rabbit hole of HTTP 500 and Twig loading errors that others have documented. After reading and trying (and failing at) a number of solutions others have posted I decided to do a clean full install of 3.2.5 in a new subdirectory of my site, figuring I would do the install with a new db, and then just import the old board's database tables into the new one.
Wirral Talk
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by Wirral Talk »

If your database backups were done while "force server URL settings" was switched on you might need to do manual adjustments to the database if the url has changed.
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by mythago »

I'll ask them to check on that - here's the last information I got from them on this (username changed) - the site with problems is www.fabula.world/story:

PHP Fatal
error: Uncaught Twig_Error_Loader: Unable to find template
"message_body.html" (looked into:
/home/username/fabula.world/story/styles/all/template). in
/home/username/fabula.world/story/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Loader/Filesystem.php:232

It looks like your install is looking for a file for the template that
isn't there for 'message_body.html' under that /template location.

The site the database is calling for is 'fabula_phpbb2' and that looks to
be loading okay. But, the issue may be with the install instead of the
database.
mythago
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by mythago »

Still having problems. Here is what I have tried:

Attempt #1
1) fresh install of phpBB in /phpbb subdirectory with new database
2) downloaded config.php file from a different (working) blank install of phpBB to transplant to the new install
3) changed 'transplanted' config.php file to point to the old database, username, and pw
4) uploaded the 'transplant' config.php file
5) went to /install/app.php/update
6) got the 'update database' button
7) message:
The installer has finished successfully
Take me to the ACP
The database update was successful.

8) Clicked on "take me to the ACP", got a 403 error
9) Tried going to admin.php, got a 503 error

Attempt #2, I attempted a 'fresh config' of the new install:
1) uploaded a blank config.php file from the base install package (to overwrite the one from attempt #1)
2) went to /install/app.php/install
3) walked through the normal process of adding an administrator, using the new blank database and got:
The installer has finished successfully
Take me to the ACP
Successfully enabled extension phpbb/viglink
The installer has finished successfully…
100%
100%
Skip “installer.install_database.set_up_database” task

4) went to new database on phpMyAdmin and dropped tables
5) used phpMyAdmin to import tables from old database and got message:
Import has been successfully finished, 250 queries executed. (olddatabase.sql)
6) went back to Install page, clicked 'take me to ACP', got HTTP 500 error
7) went back to /install/app.php/update, which said phpBB is already installed, clicked the Update tab
8) clicked Update, got "No valid update directory was found, please make sure you uploaded the relevant files" but a button to update db only, clicked Submit
9) Message:
The installer has finished successfully
Take me to the ACP
The database update was successful.

10) clicked Take me to the ACP, 403 error
11) tried to get to main page, 500 error
12) Used Filezilla to delete the install folder
13) Still getting 500 errors

I would be grateful for any advice as I'm tearing my hair out here. All of the solutions I have seen are variants of 'use the install process and just update your database', and I get a message telling me that works but then I run smack into an HTTP 500 error and can't use my board at all.
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GanstaZ
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by GanstaZ »

You are trying to connect older version database (less than 3.2.x) with latest?
PS. You get twig loader message about file not found when update was done incorrectly.
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mythago
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by mythago »

Attempt #3 following this post:
viewtopic.php?p=15188611#p15188611
1) found old 3.0.x config file, edited it to point to the old database
2) uploaded and overwrote new config file
3) went to phpBB /install/app.php and clicked update
4) 'no valid update directory was found' message but had the update database only choice
5) Successfully updated, clicked Take me to the ACP
6) 403 error
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GanstaZ
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by GanstaZ »

Before starting any update/upgrade one should set defaults to style and language if they differ from vanilla setup and all mods should be removed, if there are any (there's STK tool for db cleanup).

Only after that you start to follow update/upgrade instructions how, what and when. And should do exactly as written in docs (for example: use ftp program then you will use ftp program and nothing else).
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Lumpy Burgertushie
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Re: New installation with old database?

Post by Lumpy Burgertushie »

the errors you are getting are not related to the update. they are server errors and no matter how many times you do the update again, they will still show up.

the 403 error means you do NOT have permission to access the file you are trying to access.
the 500 error usually means there is a php error somewhere.
that can be any number of things and there is no point in guessing.
you need to see the server logs for both errors. if you can not access those logs then you need to contact your host.

when you do, ask for level two support, make them understand that it is not about phpbb it is about server errors and you want to see the logs and
see if they can solve it..


robert
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