How to upgrade database if the site won't run

  • My client let her domain lapse and then renewed it and didn’t let me know any of this until I messaged her, saying “hey! I’m getting 500 errors on your site…what’s up?”

    I tried every troubleshooting method mentioned in the codex to fix the 500 error and none of them fixed the issue. I then removed all of the plugins completely and I got the white screen of death. I then backed up and removed ALL files and reinstalled WP and replaced the proper wp-config file. Still a white screen.

    All I can guess is that the DB needs updating. Do I test this by connecting the site to a blank DB? If that’s the difference, do I then export my old DB and try to import it into this new blank DB?

    love love! and thank you for your insight!

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Thread Starter traypup

    (@traypup)

    oh heck, sorry…here’s the site: https://www.twodogartstudio.com/

    Moderator James Huff

    (@macmanx)

    Try visiting /wp-admin/upgrade.php but I suspect that will be a 500 too.

    Internal server errors (error 500) are often caused by plugin or theme function conflicts, so if you have access to your admin panel, try deactivating all plugins. If you don’t have access to your admin panel, try manually resetting your plugins (no Dashboard access required). If that resolves the issue, reactivate each one individually until you find the cause.

    If that does not resolve the issue, try switching to the Twenty Fifteen theme to rule-out a theme-specific issue. If you don’t have access to your admin panel, access your server via SFTP or FTP, or a file manager in your hosting account’s control panel, navigate to /wp-content/themes/ and rename the directory of your currently active theme. This will force the default theme to activate and hopefully rule-out a theme-specific issue.

    If that does not resolve the issue, it’s possible that a .htaccess rule could be the source of the problem. To check for this, access your server via SFTP or FTP, or a file manager in your hosting account’s control panel, and rename the .htaccess file. If you can’t find a .htaccess file, make sure that you have set your SFTP or FTP client to view invisible files.

    If you weren’t able to resolve the issue by either resetting your plugins and theme or renaming your .htaccess file, we may be able to help, but we’ll need a more detailed error message. Internal server errors are usually described in more detail in the server error log. If you have access to your server error log, generate the error again, note the date and time, then immediately check your server error log for any errors that occurred during that time period. If you don’t have access to your server error log, ask your hosting provider to look for you.

    Thread Starter traypup

    (@traypup)

    Ok, so if I deleted ALL of the files completely and installed a fresh WP install but connected it to my existing, why would I still get a white screen if it’s not the DB? NO plugins reinstalled, no themes reinstalled, etc. This is why I’m confused now.

    Moderator James Huff

    (@macmanx)

    Under /wp-content/themes/ what theme do you have installed?

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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