WordPress.org

1. amyfu
   Member
   Posted 2 weeks ago #

   I'm panicking a bit because my technical knowledge isn't what I'd like it to be and I'm not sure how to fix this. I've been going back and forth with my hosting service without much help. Here is what happened:

   1. I activated a 2nd wordpress account via a scripts (elephante) tool on my hosting service's page. This was for a 2nd domain. Immediately I noticed that my original site had the settings of the new domain... the content and layout gone etc. I (probably stupidly) deleted the 2nd domain on my hosting service page. Then I just saw that when I went to the 2nd domain page it was a blank page but when I went to my main site there was no default theme there... a text menu of sorts was there with the "Just another wordpress blog".

   2. A tech support person said he restored my settings and my theme was activated along with my header but none of my content or widgets etc. Also those files seem to still be in my files on the database when I look on my hosting site. When I type in http://housewifehacks.com I am led to the page but if you notice, the title of the page in the browser is Fit Frugal Family. That's the 2nd site. Additionally, this is the kicker-I can't access my old dashboard. I can only log in to Housewife Hacks via my Fit Frugal Family login info. So it's as if it believes it's the 2nd site. I don't know how this happened or how to fix it. My hosting service said it can't do anything about admin panels for Wordpress and directed me here.

   I do have a backup of my files in a zip file. I hope that helps. I'd so appreciate any help!

   Thanks,

   Amy

2. MichaelH
   moderator
   Posted 2 weeks ago #

   If you've got two different databases or two different sets of WordPress tables, then look at your wp-config.php file to make sure you are using the correct database and the correct $table_prefix (if your posts table is called xyz_posts then the $table_prefix is xyz_.

3. samboll
   moderator
   Posted 2 weeks ago #

   here is my best guess
   your 2nd install has the same database and tables as your 1st install
   iow, your 2nd install wp-config.php has the same db info (which is fine) and also the same $table_prefix (which is bad)

   so - change the 2nd wp-config.php's table prefix to something else like
   wp2_ and you will need to run the installer again

   otherwise both blogs will be trying to share info with each other

   if you don't think this is what happened...not sure

   edit - some moderators are up way too early

4. amyfu
   Member
   Posted 2 weeks ago #

   Wow you guys are up early! Thanks for the quick replies. How do I even get to that-is it in mysql? Super clueless here unfortunately. :(

5. MichaelH
   moderator
   Posted 2 weeks ago #

   Hopefully your host offers something like phpMyAdmin that allows you to manage MySQL databases.

6. amyfu
   Member
   Posted 2 weeks ago #

   What the Hostia (my hosting company) guy said this:

   Please note that you have two different installation of Wordpress made by our Elefante installer which used the same database. In the future I would advise you to use a different databases for your blogs, because when you use only one database all of the blogs tables can be overwritten.

   Ok noted... so what now? Ugh. LIke I said, I do have a backup zip. I do have PHPmyAdmin for that I just have never used it before.

7. MichaelH
   moderator
   Posted 2 weeks ago #

   In the future I would advise you to use a different databases for your blogs, because when you use only one database all of the blogs tables can be overwritten.

   Okay reading that as saying your original tables are now overwritten with the new installation...so you would need to restore your backup of the database from before the 2nd install. If you don't have a database backup, then ask your host if they have one.

   WordPress can handle multiple installs (e.g. multiple domains) in the same database as long as the wp-config.php defines a different $table_prefix for each install. I guess the Elefante installer 'ignores' that...

8. amyfu
   Member
   Posted 2 weeks ago #

   I went into PHPmyAdmin and the only thing I see when I click databases is this:

   wp_comments
   Browse: (7 Rows) wp_links
   Browse: (161 Rows) wp_options
   Browse: (2 Rows) wp_postmeta
   Browse: (4 Rows) wp_posts
   Browse: (2 Rows) wp_terms
   Browse: (10 Rows) wp_term_relationships
   Browse: (2 Rows) wp_term_taxonomy
   Browse: (9 Rows) wp_usermeta
   Browse: (1 Rows) wp_users
   Browse: (18 Rows) wp_wpsb_users

   The hosting service said that I could upload a backup by finding the .sql file... I don't even think I have that. I went to where my files were on my site management panel and zipped them. Like my plugins, my headers, etc.

   Not sure how to find the wp_config file. THanks and sorry you're having to spell it out.

9. amyfu
   Member
   Posted 2 weeks ago #

   Hi Michael,

   My host says it doesn't keep backups. I backed up my files but I don't know if I backed them up correctly... I didn't export from PhpmyAdmin as I now think I maybe should have? I think I used a plugin on Wordpress to back up my stuff and then I manually downloaded my files too. on Hostia I can see that I have my collection of files (i'm looking from my file manager, not in mysql databases) and then there's a zip file that is what I believe to be my backup. It's titled housewifehacks.com.zip and it's about 34356 KB. Not sure how to even use that.

   Thanks

10. MichaelH
    moderator
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    Backing up your files typically means backing up the WordPress programs, your themes, plugins, and uploads (images and the like).

    Backing up your database means your posts, pages, categories, tags, comments, users, and links are saved.

    Which do you have?

11. MichaelH
    moderator
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    Browse: (7 Rows) wp_links
    Browse: (161 Rows) wp_options
    Browse: (2 Rows) wp_postmeta
    Browse: (4 Rows) wp_posts
    Browse: (2 Rows) wp_terms
    Browse: (10 Rows) wp_term_relationships
    Browse: (2 Rows) wp_term_taxonomy
    Browse: (9 Rows) wp_usermeta
    Browse: (1 Rows) wp_users
    Browse: (18 Rows) wp_wpsb_users

    That certainly looks like a new install!

12. amyfu
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    yeah i'm pretty sure my backup is the plugins and such...

    I'm looking at my zip file...

    a bunch of php files... like wp-settings, wp-login, wp-load, wp-feed etc. (many more) and also 3 folders wp-includes, wp-content, wp-admin

    Learning my lesson for sure here. DOes this mean I've lost all my content? If so, what now-how to at least point things back to be able to get my old admin panel and have Housewife Hacks not have Wordpress think it is really the other blog? I couldn't find that file when I looked at PhpmyADmin. :(

13. amyfu
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    Also at this point if that's the case that I've lost my things do I just go ahead and reinstall wordpress on my primary site to overwrite again and have wordpress recognize that as my default? Then do I have to upload all of my files again?

14. whooami
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    DOes this mean I've lost all my content?

    if you dont have a backup of your database -- yes, thats what that means.

    I couldn't find that file when I looked at PhpmyADmin. :(

    Files are not accessed using phpmyadmin - your database is..

    wp-config.php is a file. Its in the zip you keep mentioning - notice you said this:

    a bunch of php files... like wp-settings, wp-login, wp-load, wp-feed etc. (many more) and also 3 folders wp-includes, wp-content, wp-admin

    since its a file, its also located within your web space, presumably at the root of your website.

    --

    At this point youre starting over. login to your blog, and change the title -- that which currently refers to fit frugal whatever ...

15. MichaelH
    moderator
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    If you have a backup of your files, then you might upload those to your host.

    You don't really have to start over--see what whooami said...

    But, if you want to start over with a clean install, upload all your files as just suggested, drop your database tables using phpMyAdmin, then do the wp-admin/install.php thing.

    Get a plugin to backup your database. Two good possibilities:
    http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-dbmanager/
    http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-db-backup/

16. amyfu
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    Ugh alrighty. To note, you people were about 1000 times more helpful than the paid support from my hosting service. Thanks much. I've learned the hard way I suppose.

17. MichaelH
    moderator
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    To note, you people were about 1000 times more helpful than the paid support from my hosting service.

    Might be the perfect time to get a new host!

18. whooami
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    most hosts dont support third party apps -- the simplest and most straight-forward reason being that its not their Job. And you arent paying for that, either.

    bluehost, godaddy, hostgator .. NONE of them would have done anything more.

19. amyfu
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    Sorry another question--I see how to go in and change the title etc. but my previous plugins are still all viewable when I look in my file manager on Hostia. Why aren't they showing up? How do I restore my old admin?

20. whooami
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    Why aren't they showing up? How do I restore my old admin?

    because those are settings that are stored inside the associated database.

    You cannot just restore your old admin. Its NOT a file thing.

    If you see plugin files, then you need to go into your wp-admin area, navigate to your plugins page, and see if you can activate the plugins associated with the file names you see.

21. MichaelH
    moderator
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    whooami is correct about that third party support, but the Elefante overwriting your existing files and not having a backup is not that nice.

    Also, not having a backup is, dare I say it, amyfu's fault.

22. amyfu
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    And you're right Whooami, didn't think of that. Thanks. :)

23. amyfu
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    I admit culpability and ignorance completely not having a backup... I realize that I'm going to have to start from scratch. :\ Thanks for the help.

24. whooami
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    there is no second blog now. Theres one blog at your domain name which has no content, and the wrong title.

    login there. change the title. navigate to the plugins page. what do you see there?

    and please dont edit your posts after the fact, it breaks the answers (you see :P) ..

25. MichaelH
    moderator
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    Don't forget to use google cache to get some of your content

    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=Ebp&q=http://housewifehacks.com/+site:housewifehacks.com+&ei=D-X2Sub5Jprj8AbD-sjzCQ&sa=X&oi=nshc&resnum=1&ct=more-results&ved=0CAoQ2AQ

26. amyfu
    Member
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    Cache--great idea thanks that helps, much appreciated. Gotcha on having 1 blog now. I see my plugins they just weren't activated. It looks like I'll just have to go in and redo my categories, links, and posts. Thanks so much.

27. MichaelH
    moderator
    Posted 2 weeks ago #

    And install/activate/use backup plugin.

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