What was the exact error message you were getting on trying to auto update?
did you take a full file AND database backup before attempting to update?
What version of WordPress was the site on before attempting to update?
Did you attempt to (auto) update the plugins before the manual update? If so were the plugins all up to date?
Did yiu deactivate the plugins before attempting to update?
What steps did take when trying to update?
What is the exact error message you get when trying to access the site now?
The answers to these questions may provide valuable clues to help with diagnosing what went wrong and may help with suggesting the next steps to take to try to fix the issue.
What was the exact error message you were getting on trying to auto update?
– I don’t remember
did you take a full file AND database backup before attempting to update?
– I still have the ‘public’ files from the website + I backed up the SQL and I have the XML copy, but not the actual files downloaded before I updated.
What version of WordPress was the site on before attempting to update?
– 3. “something”
Did you attempt to (auto) update the plugins before the manual update? If so were the plugins all up to date?
– I remember there being out of date plugins, but did not update any.
Did yiu deactivate the plugins before attempting to update?
-I deactivated ALL the plugins before I did anything.
What steps did take when trying to update?
– I downloaded the WordPress files from here, in the wordpress folder; opened FileZilla and put in all the host, usn and pw information; went to /public_html>wp-includes and drug everything from the wordpress folder in local to the remote site. I’m assuming I ONLY affected everything in this directory (/public_html>wp-includes)
What is the exact error message you get when trying to access the site now?
–
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected end of file, expecting function (T_FUNCTION) in /home/betsyv/public_html/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 2781
The answers to these questions may provide valuable clues to help with diagnosing what went wrong and may help with suggesting the next steps to take to try to fix the issue.
Ok this is not the correct way to update
– I downloaded the WordPress files from here, in the wordpress folder; opened FileZilla and put in all the host, usn and pw information; went to /public_html>wp-includes and drug everything from the wordpress folder in local to the remote site. I’m assuming I ONLY affected everything in this directory (/public_html>wp-includes)
It is probably best to get the site back to the original version it was on, ensure it works as it did previously, check the environment and then carry out several incremental updates. To do that we need to know what version it was on previously.
Do a full backup of the files now before making any more changes – there may be an option in your hosting control panel to backup everything to a zip file. If not use ftp to copy the entire public_html folder to your computer.
Then look for a file called readme.html in the backup of public_html on your computer and double click it to open it in a browser. There should be a version number near the top of the page to indicate the version of WordPress previously installed. What is the version number shown?
Additionally I have just realised that you already had a topic open on this problem at: https://wordpress.org/support/topic/i-broke-it-maybe the forum guidelines ask that multiple topics are not opened to address an issue you are having. Why did you start a new topic for the same issue without responding to the volunteer who was helping there?
Did you get the version numbers for PHP & MySQL as requested by Accuwebhosting? I’m not sure whether version numbers are related to the issue as it looks like the files were not uploaded correctly, however it is essential that the versions of PHP & MySQL meet the minimum requirements for the current version of WordPress, so that information is essential and was to be one of the thing I was going to ask once we got your site back to its previous version before starting the update process.
I went to the readme file and that was updated to the newest version, 4.2.2. I never actually backed up the public html file until AFTER I tried manually updating. I just sent an email to our original host to see if he’d know what version we had and if he possibly has a backup.
I have a question; What if we can’t ‘fix’ this… Could we somehow give the site a fresh start using the current version? I’m assuming all the posts would remain and I could just manually add files from the backup I have now + install our new theme. Is this possible without deeply affecting the site?
I made a 2nd topic because I realized my problem had nothing to do with figuring out what the syntax error was. I’m receiving that error because of what I did in manually installing. SO instead of confusing would be help, making a direct and concise topic seemed better in my eyes.
That means the files in the root of your public_html have been overwritten, which is at odds with how you described uploading files only into wp-includes. Had files only been uploaded into wp-includes as you described, the original readme.hrml would be present showing a version number somewhat less than 4.2.2
I don’t think it will be easy to help you get your site back when the information you are giving about what you have tried appears to be incorrect. Your best chance to get the site back will be if the hosting company can restore an earlier version. If they are able to do this they may charge a fee to do so.
Ask them whether they can restore the site (files & database) to a point before the problem occurred. give them as much information as possible about what has happened.
If they can restore, Then once the site is back up, the correct method to manually update is outlined at:
https://codex.wordpress.org/Upgrading_WordPress_-_Extended_Instructions
Pay particular attention to the ‘Upgrading Across Multiple Versions’ section
Moderator
t-p
(@t-p)
what I did was TRY to manually update using the latest WordPress 4.2.2
What was the previous version that you updated?
I just spoke to our old webhost and they said “everything was current”, but that doesn’t make sense to me because there were messages on the top of her admin panel that said it needed to be updated. He has an other backup, I’m going to wait and see if he could send me that copy… It’s been a stressful weekend trying to get this back online. I’m about to just pay someone………..
/stressful face
Moderator
t-p
(@t-p)
I’m about to just pay someone………..
If you want to follow that option and hire someone for this, then please try one of these sites: http://jobs.wordpress.net/ or http://directory.codepoet.com/ and do not accept any hire offers posted to these forums.
I have a question;
Why can’t I manually input everything that’s supposed to be in the wp-db.php file? I copy and paste it from the actual file you download here, but when I save it doesn’t save everything. It stops at a certain line.
Was there information in the ORIGINAL file that directly correlated with the page? This seems to be the ONLY file preventing me from fixing the issue.
I was able to load all her posts and such in a different WP Account, less the theme which is irrelevant because we bought a new one to apply after migration. This makes me believe I could apply to a new account and put it on my new database? And just sync it with the appropriate domain?
The correct way to updated a version several versions behind is to perform incremental updates – two versions at a time, so rather than trying to fix what you have, the best course of action would be to replace the updated files with the version that was previously installed or restore an earlier file & database backup, so you are back to where you were before starting.
If you can find out what version of WordPress you had installed previously, the correct files to get the site back to how it was can be obtained from: https://wordpress.org/download/release-archive/
You need to ensure that the site is working at that point and then follow the instructions to update at https://codex.wordpress.org/Upgrading_WordPress_-_Extended_Instructions paying particular attention to the ‘Upgrading Across Multiple Versions’ section.
I am puzzled as to how the readme.html in the public_html indicates that it is from version 4.2.2 if you only uploaded files (incorrectly) into the wp-includes.php folder.
I am also puzzled about why you put the files there. Was there a particular set of instructions that you were following?
In your original post you mention an ‘update plugin’ what plugin are you referring to there?
Rather than getting your host to supply the file and database backup, can they restore these to your site so it is in a working state which you can then attempt to update following the correct documentation?
My issue has been ressolved. A LOT OF GREAT FEEDBACK from jobs.wordpress.net! Thank you very much Tara.
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