view an old wordpress blog from saved files offline

  • pandoraslunchbox

    (@pandoraslunchbox)


    9 years, 7 months ago

    hello. I have tried solutions for this ALL WEEK.

    I changed servers, so I downloaded a full back up of all the files from my old sever first.

    I installed wordpress with my new server, created a new site with a new tempalte and am happy with it.

    I then tried to create a second wordpress on a sub-domain. The aim was to view copies of my old wordpress instance, just so I could copy the wording across to my new site and remind myself of my old layouts and images. I don’t need to edit the old site, or upload it to use the templates or theme

    I uploaded/overwrote (via ftp) the old files into the same place as the new (2nd subdomain ) wordpress directories
    I changed the wp-config php files to try and match the new server settings.

    What results, is a fresh installation of wordpress, NOT a view of the old files. I don’t understand why the old files arn’t being accessed

    previously, I also tried to view the old site by installing various copises of WAMP, WAMPSERVER, XAMPP – all to no result. I tried forums for these programmes, but had no replies and could not replicate my issues in the other users discussions

    why is it so hard to view an old copy of a wordpress site offline?

    I suggest anyone new, try to find out how to properly back up the site for offline viewing NOW! – if anyone knows an easy way to do this, I’ll vote for you!

Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
  • Roy

    (@gangleri)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    I sounds like you misunderstand how WP works. WP a PHP and database driven package. The information you make with WP (i.e. posts, pages, comments, etc.) are stored in the database. They are not files on the server. The files that you backup, are only the PHP and CSS files that form the software that is running, but the information comes from the database. Since your PC has usually no software to read a database, you make your local server using WAMP (for Windows) or MAMP (for Mac).

    So the question is, where are the posts from your old website? Did you make an export using the function under “tools” (in WP) or a database backup?
    Did you create a new database to install your new WP in and is the old database on the same server? Or did you install the new WP using a different table prefix, hence using the same database for another website?

    what you do when you want to see the old website, is install another WP and connect it to the old database/tables.

    Thread Starter pandoraslunchbox

    (@pandoraslunchbox)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    thank you Roy. yes, you have hit the nail right through the woodwork. I don’t understand how wordpress works.

    I followed the instructions sent by my previous host about making a full back-up. I have downloaded all the files from my old cpanel, into a zipped file on my pc. I have unpacked the file and used the homedir/public-html files to find the old wordpress files

    how, in fact, do we “connect a new installation to the old database/tables?”

    Roy

    (@gangleri)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    I hope you made an export or database backup of the old site before deleting it. Just backing up the files that you can see through FTP makes nothing of the work you put in the website, only your tweakings to the theme and installed plugins.

    Do you still have access to the old server?

    What does the ‘full backup’ look like on your computer?

    Thread Starter pandoraslunchbox

    (@pandoraslunchbox)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    I dont know if I backed up the “database” or not…is there a way of discovering whether they are there or not? I just followed instructions about “making a full back up” from the old host and it was a couple of months ago now so hard to remember the process. It seemed to be being done automatically and appeared in my pc ‘s directory once I’d clicked ‘make back up’

    Roy

    (@gangleri)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    What does the ‘full backup’ look like on your computer? And what do you remember of the process? Did you log in to your control panel or did you do something within WordPress?

    Thread Starter pandoraslunchbox

    (@pandoraslunchbox)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    it’s enormous, larger than 170MB, it came as a .tar file

    it’s called “backup-8.26.2014_18-57-08_pando348.tar”

    Thread Starter pandoraslunchbox

    (@pandoraslunchbox)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    I did it via the control panel, not WP

    Thread Starter pandoraslunchbox

    (@pandoraslunchbox)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    there are also lots of other, smaller “sql” files. I don’t know what these are either. duuugggrrrr. pass the donuts .lol

    Roy

    (@gangleri)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    Right, maybe things are not so bad as it looks. Try to log in to your new control panel, look for a ‘restore backup’ function and use the tar file.

    Roy

    (@gangleri)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    http://codex.wordpress.org/Restoring_Your_Database_From_Backup

    Btw, ik could be smart to saveguard the new database. I don’t restore backups often and I don’t know if the process is going to create a new, but filled, database or that it will try something in the existing database.

    Thread Starter pandoraslunchbox

    (@pandoraslunchbox)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    ok will do, thanks, just one question first, will the restore backup overwrite my new installation?

    I have just used Tools/export in Worpress to make a copy of the pages/posts…is that what you meant by downloading the database?

    🙂

    Roy

    (@gangleri)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    Hm, here they say that you cannot restore a tar file yourself, but you host probably can.

    The export function of WP is a bit of a ‘backup light’. It makes an XML file with all information in the database. Should you install a WP elsewhere, you can use the import function to get everything back. You would still have to install plugins, the theme, etc.
    It does not backup the database tables, etc. but that doesn’t really matter, since these will be made when you install WP anyway. You just fill the new tables with information of an older installation.

    Basically, it is smart to frequently make an export and download your theme to your PC using FTP. All the rest (WP, plugins, unedited themes, etc.) are things that you can just pull off the web whenever you need them again.

    Thread Starter pandoraslunchbox

    (@pandoraslunchbox)

    9 years, 7 months ago

    thanks for the link. I’m sending it to my host to ask them if they can help. I’ve backed up my new site using WP and by following steps using FTP via my host (greengeeks, they’re quite helpfull)

    I can’t say it’s resolved yet, but you’ve really helped to explain what’s going on. Thanks 🙂

Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
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