Database MySQL connection issues
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- kcpopps
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 68
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I've been using Joomla for about a year and a half now - have installed 5 or 6 times with different templates. All of my current sites are now RT sites, all being customized now.
The problem described below has happened with 2 RT sites now so I post here in General forum.
PROBLEM PAST
A few months back, I did an installation (Joomla and RT Vertigo theme). It had been installed for a few days, and working normally. I was working on a content changes only one night, went to bed, and next morning the site was gone. Don't remember exactly what error messages - if any - there were at that time, but do remember it was something related to the database.
At that time, that site was not my main focus, so I just left it alone for a month or more, and then when I came back to work on it again, I did a complete new re-install and so far everything is working fine with that domain for a couple of weeks now.
PROBLEM NOW
Working now on a different site - different domain but same shared host. I installed Refraction, no problem and had completed a LOT of content customization work. Everything was working fine with the template and database.
Then I discovered that a FORM Generator that I use (machform) was not working properly. I decided to reinstall it. It requires it's own database. I deleted the old database, then created a new one.
BTW - This Form generating software is not installed in the joomla portion of my site - joomla is not in the root either. The joomla site is: mysite.com/home and the form is mysite.com/form - the forms are shown in Joomla via a wrapper.
The database for the RT Template Refraction was not touched.
Tested Machform and it works properly again.
Go to my Joomla site and it's gone. Only a white page with an error message that says "cannot connect to MySQL"
I reported this to my web host for support. Their latest reply:I have checked the Web site and was able to duplicate the issue. I have uploaded a test page at mysite.com/home/test.php and it is working fine. It appears that there is some issue with the scripts. Hence, I suggest that you correct the scripts from your end and fix the issue.
After they did whatever they did, the site no longer shows the error message, just a blank white page. Front and Back End.
Can my site be restored?
What scripts do I need to look at and what do I need to look for?
or should I just start over from scratch - re-install - and realize my previous work is lost?
Does this happen frequently among the community? Could my host have inferior MySql services? Why did this happen -- twice?
Obviously I now have a nagging fear that one of my sites will disappear overnight --- again... not cool
Thank you
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- Ben Lee
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 4193
- Thanks: 42
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This is not something that is common with Joomla, but it can be experienced with extensions that don't work properly. If you're installing an extension on Joomla at all, whether it says it uses a separate database or not, there is a good chance it's using something in Joomla's database as well. Form components can be very bad about this so it's important to choose a forms extension wisely. I personally have used
ChronoEngine's
components and liked them a lot and others have talked highly of RSforms.
Other things to check on would be to make sure your host is running a current version of MySQL, at least 5.x. Also make sure that your host is running a current version of PHP, also 5.x.
It may be possible to manually un-install that component by clearing out any database tables it created and any files. You could use phpMyAdmin to check the tables.
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- kcpopps
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 68
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Thank you Ben Lee, for the reply.
To be clear - Machform, the form generator, is NOT a joomla component, extension or plug-in. It is NOT installed within the joomla directories at all. It is 100% standalone software. It generates a html page (a form) outside of Joomla. I merely display it in Joomla within a wrapper. Otherwise it has nothing to do with Joomla.
Server is using MySQL Version 5.0.45 & PHP 5.2.2
I don't know what to do - looks like a complete Joomla re-install is my only option.
Either that or spend days trying to figure out what line of code in what documet has somehow gotten mysteriously messed up.
Terribly frustrating -- as I had done a lot of custom content work on this.
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- Ben Lee
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 4193
- Thanks: 42
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If it's not viewable at all and you really can't seem to fix it, there is one thing to try if you want to try a "last ditch" effort to recover most of the work.
Perform a new re-install of Joomla on a new database and in a new directory.
Install the template again but don't worry about customizing anything on it yet.
Now, use phpMyAdmin and backup all the core Joomla tables (compare tables with the new install to know what's core) and then you can drop tables on the new install and replace them with the old website tables. Remember, I'm talking about core tables only.
Look through all the Joomla files and take what might be extra, like image directories, that is used in your articles. Not all the module and components you may have added though. Then FTP these over to the new install in the same directory structure you had on the old one. Don't replace any of the core Joomla files or directories though. This is just what is in additions to those.
Remember that since you brought over the other tables in the database, you'll need to use the old sites username and password to login.
Now see if it brings things back for you! If the main site doesn't work, try visiting the Admin area and then see if the template is assigned right.
I've had to do this once before when a component made a mess of things and I needed to recover most of the site. I then moved it over by copy and paste to a totally new install, but at least I was able to recover the work.
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