Title: WordPress Update 3.9 failure Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # WordPress Update 3.9 failure * Resolved [surrel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/surrel/) * (@surrel) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/) * I’ve never had an issue with a wordpress update but after trying to update to 3.9, I get this message. * Fatal error: Cannot redeclare rich_edit_exists() (previously declared in /home/ pristine/public_html/wp-includes/general-template.php:1809) in /home/pristine/ public_html/wp-includes/deprecated.php on line 3413 * The blog is [http://pristine.nu](http://pristine.nu) * How can I fix this? Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total) * [say_hello](https://wordpress.org/support/users/say_hello/) * (@say_hello) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815063) * did u. copy the files or how did you proceed. just let us know * the question of the day is * . were there any substantial db-changes? * love to hear * Thread Starter [surrel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/surrel/) * (@surrel) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815067) * I auto updated from my wordpress admin panel. Unfortunately, I can’t remember at which step it failed. * I’ve installed several new plugins in the past week but I can’t imagine they would have any impact on trying to update to 3.9. * Moderator [Jose Castaneda](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jcastaneda/) * (@jcastaneda) * THEME COFFEE MONKEY * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815082) * Have you tried to manually update via FTP? * Thread Starter [surrel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/surrel/) * (@surrel) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815090) * No, I’m at work right now and I don’t have access to my FTP. How would I go about doing that? * I also read online to delete the .maintenance file, is that valid in this situation? * [Jeffro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jeffr0/) * (@jeffr0) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815131) * No, deleting the maintenance file has nothing to do with this situation. * One of the plugins you recently installed probably called for the rich_edit_exists() function which was deprecated from WordPress 3.9 in January: * [https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/26933/trunk/src/wp-includes/deprecated.php](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/26933/trunk/src/wp-includes/deprecated.php) * You’ll need to use a file manager through cPanel or log in to your site via FTP and delete the folder of the offending plugin. Since the plugin name is not given, I’d guess it’s a plugin that has something to do with TinyMCE. * Thread Starter [surrel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/surrel/) * (@surrel) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815146) * How would I be able to check which plugin is affected? My guess is it’s either my wordpress seo or wordpress related posts plugin but I’m not certain. Here is a list of my current plugins: * Akismet Alpine Photo Tile for Instagram Contact Form Custom Smilies Mini Twitter Feed Official Statcounter Search Everything Wordpress Related Posts Wordpress SEO WP Touch * [Jeffro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jeffr0/) * (@jeffr0) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815147) * Start with the most recently added plugins and work your way backwards. Rename each directory one by one until your site loads correctly. Then, you’ll need to open a support forum thread for that particular plugin and let the author know it’s using a deprecated function. * Thread Starter [surrel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/surrel/) * (@surrel) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815148) * That sounds simple enough but unless I’m doing it wrong, nothing works. I’ve renamed the folders of all of my plugins in my FTP and the site still loads the same. Am I doing something wrong? * [clumsy mel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/clumsy-mel/) * (@clumsy-mel) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815158) * I have tried to update to wordpress 3.9, but after update, I failed to open my website anymore ([http://clumsymel.com/](http://clumsymel.com/)), please kindly investigate. * [trishissy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/trishissy/) * (@trishissy) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815159) * hmm i was having trouble updating to 3.9 too and it was just stuck at “Unpacking the update…” * i deactivated **all my plugins** and tried again… WORKS! goodluck * Moderator [Samuel Wood (Otto)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/otto42/) * (@otto42) * WordPress.org Admin * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815162) * Please try to do a manual update of WordPress 3.9, replacing all of the WordPress files. * [Updating WordPress](http://codex.wordpress.org/Updating_WordPress) will explain the process in detail. * Thread Starter [surrel](https://wordpress.org/support/users/surrel/) * (@surrel) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815170) * Updating WordPress manually seemed to have fixed the issue. Thank you. I was trying to avoid that but it seems it was the simplest method. * [Jeffro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jeffr0/) * (@jeffr0) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815171) * Great to hear * [WPHostee](https://wordpress.org/support/users/baicu4design/) * (@baicu4design) * [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815331) * **Hi everyone.** * I have this same similar issue with a client **WordPress **web site which it seems to me that its never been updated! and this includes everything on the WordPress site, like, _themes _, _plugins_, _WordPress itself_. At the moment there are 5 versions of themes that never been updated, 4 plugins that never been updated and WordPress which from 3.6.1 up to now is never been updated. * The WordPress website current version that I am talking about, is again **3.6.1** and when I try to do some changes and even more importantly updating all plugins, themes and wordpress app… is failing to do so. **I am not getting any errors** at all when I try to update WordPress from **3.6.1** to **3.9**(_the latest version_) but what it happens is, it kind of freezes on completing the process and all I get is this text below even after waiting for even more then 30 minutes for the update to finish successfully, but it never finishes updating the WordPress site. * > Downloading update from [http://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.9.zip…](http://wordpress.org/wordpress-3.9.zip…) > Unpacking the update… > Verifying the unpacked files… * So the text above is “the so called error” because is not a error but rather nothing but waiting for ever to update. I am wondering what is causing it and what would be the solutions to resolve such a big issue, the WordPress update and the plugins and themes update?! However, even though my suspicions are strong that the website has been compromised (hacked)! I do hope that someone out there may be kind and will help me with an advice. I simply don’t know what to do and there are many issues that I have resolved by myself, a part of this one. * This is the website I am talking about: [http://www.mythictriumphs.com](http://www.mythictriumphs.com) * Any help or advice would be much appreciated guys. 🙁 * I thank you in advance 🙂 Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total) The topic ‘WordPress Update 3.9 failure’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 14 replies * 8 participants * Last reply from: [WPHostee](https://wordpress.org/support/users/baicu4design/) * Last activity: [12 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-update-39-failure/#post-4815331) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics