Homepage URL

There is a better way: http://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_The_Site_URL

I recommend using the wp-config.php method first and if it is working and you want to update the options in the fucntions.php.

NOTE: I have a few production site running using the wp-config method without a hitch.

define('WP_HOME','http://example.com');
define('WP_SITEURL','http://example.com');

There should of been not errors?? what was the error it gave you?

It should of gave you a syntax error.

Are you sure the only error it gave you was

error on code line 2

and not something like

PHP Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '!' in ...... error on code line 2

Most (if not all servers) will tell you what is wrong.

You may have code redirecting in the theme or plugin some where. Or even higher level, check you .htaccess file for redirect code.

Naw.. You may have code elsewhere redirecting (theme itself, or a plugin).

If you can edit the homepage, try simply echoing the site url to see what it is.

<?php echo site_url(); ?>

BTW the code to define the site URL should not trow errors. Ensure the code is right before the line.

// ** MySQL settings - You can get this info from your web host ** //
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define('DB_NAME', 'xxxxx');

in the wp-config.php file

Ensure the code is right before the line.

Please do not edit or add the lines.

You should put

define('WP_HOME','http://example.com');
define('WP_SITEURL','http://example.com');

right before the line

// ** MySQL settings - You can get this info from your web host ** //

Make sure you change http://example.com to your domain name you want your site to be.