FInally resolved image upload problem in WP 2.8.4

I hope this post is helpful since I finally solved my problem of not being able to upload images or invoke the Gallery in 2.8.4. Basically in my php.ini file the line file_uploads = was set to “off”. Once I changed it to file_uploads = “On”; everything worked fine. Even the flash uploader.

Also, I added the line in my php.ini file extension=gd.so for the GD image manipulation library but I don’t think that made a difference in my situation. By the way, I use Hostway as my ISP nd have a self hosted blog. The php.ini file was in my cgi-bin directory and accessible to me.

More background if you want some context and brief history.

I moved a blog from Movable Type to WordPress on August 28. I was fed up with all the MT problems, upgrades, lack of support, etc., etc.

I used the 5 minute WP installation and everything went smooth. I had verified my host met all the requirements (php, mysql, etc.) Never felt the need to read the detailed documentation. The migration went incredibly well and I had my blog up and running within my own site within an hour – I was very impressed. I used the default theme and then spent a few more hours customizing the header, adding a few plug-ins and went live. This was my first time to use WP.

Then I tried to upload an image – a small one about 30X20, about 5KB. And you know the rest. I uploaded from the Media panel, saved as a draft, used the icons, used quickpress, only to have zero feedback after I tried, just returned to the same screen with a cryptic message. The Flash uploader said “try something more significant” and the browser upload said something like no content.

I spent almost a week trying to resolve the issue. I checked paths (setting-miscellaneous for wp-content/uploads), changed directory and file permissions to 777, read about reinstalling (whch I did – twice), modified .htaccess, disabled all my plug-ins, made sure all the plug-ins were up to date,. I Goggled for “WP 2.8 image upload” and found tons of sites with more suggestions including a few helpful plug-ins I could download (I didn’t).

You get the idea. I am not new to all this and with all the WP Forum posts and Google hits on this issue, I assumed it was such a well known problem, the solution was obvious and I would find it quickly.

In the end, I narrowed it down to my php installation since I could never see any result of up loading my file (no new subfolder for month and day in the wp-content/uploads folder). So I assumed WP was just not talking to my Hostway PHP. I Googled that and found this post: http://wordpress.org/support/topic/254722?replies=2
Thank you fr66801!

I looked at my php.ini file and there it was: file_uploads = “OFF”

I know everyone’s situation is different and this is so obvious that many of you already checked it but if not I hope this helps some of you who are still struggling with image upload on WordPress 2.8.4. Thanks to everyone who took the time to post their experiences. Now if I could ony get WordPress for my iPhone to find my xml-rpc … I know; they are working on it 🙂