Error establishing a Database Connection

  • pickledpepper

    (@pickledpepper)


    7 years ago

    I am trying to install WordPress 4.8.2 on my Windows 7 64 pc, using WAMP Server 3.1.0 (64) as the local server. This is the first time I have ever tried doing anything like this. Every time I try to set up WordPress, I get the same error when I attempt to set up the database connection – Error establishing a database connection.

    I have tried Googling this error message, but haven’t found anything that has helped me. This is what I have done so far:
    I have successfully installed Wamp Server, and the tray icon says “All services running”.
    I have created a blank MySQL database in Wamp via phpMyAdmin. I have called it “wordpressdb”. The username has been left at the default “root”, and the password field is left blank.
    I have copied the extracted WordPress folder into the C:\wamp64\www folder. I have renamed the WordPress folder to “mysite”.
    In order to set up WordPress I enter “localserver/mysite/” in my browser.This opens the WordPress language selection page. I select English (Australia)
    I then get asked for the database information. I enter:
    Database Name “wordpressdb”
    Username “root”
    Password: field left blank
    Database host: localhost
    Table prefix wp_
    SUBMIT
    Then I get the “Error establishing a database connection”.

    Can anyone help me with this?

    The reason I am trying to run WordPress on my personal PC is so that I can get used to it before I take the next step and pay for web hosting services.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Keith Driscoll

    (@keithdriscoll)

    Try using the default “test” database as your database. This is the default development/testing database built into MySQL. When developing/designing locally, security is not usually much of a concern so I usually just use the default “test” db, root user, blank pw.

    Thread Starter pickledpepper

    (@pickledpepper)

    Thanks for the suggestion. I tried using “test” as the database name, “root” as user, password blank, and “localhost” as the database host, but I got the same error message.

    Rakesh

    (@rakeshwebguru)

    Go to the WordPress config file and check whether you have used same information which you used on the server for “database name” “database username” and password.

    Thread Starter pickledpepper

    (@pickledpepper)

    I’m sorry if I am missing something obvious – I am extremely new at this. The problem I am describing happens at the point when WordPress is first attempting to generate a wp-config.php file. Because it is unable to establish a connection to the database, the setup process is aborted and no config file is created. There is no wp-config.php file present in the wordpress folder – only wp-config-sample.php. I tried following online instructions to create a wp-config.php manually, but couldn’t get it to work.

    Keith Driscoll

    (@keithdriscoll)

    HI @pickledpepper,

    The response I supplied to you is due to a few reasons. If using the ‘test’ database (built into MySQL) fails, there is a chance that WAMP is not correctly installed or working correctly. I use a different AMP stack called XAMPP for my development, but have used WAMP and the concepts are the same.

    I would suggest reading this post by a reputable blog called wpBegginer:

    https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-install-wordpress-on-your-windows-computer-using-wamp/

    Just keep in mind the issue you are having is almost ALWAYS related to the incorrect use of database name, username, and password ??

    Thread Starter pickledpepper

    (@pickledpepper)

    Thanks for the suggestions. I have finally found the problem, and it leaves me rather baffled. Prior to posting in this forum I did first read a number of online instructions, including the one in the previous post. None of them worked. After describing my problem in detail on the Wamp forum, I was informed that, in order to get WordPress to work there were three crucial steps: 1) Install Wamp, 2)Create a Virtual Host using Wamp 3)Install WordPress in the site folder specified when creating the Virtual Host. This worked perfectly. I find it really strange that none of the online instructions mention the need for a Virtual Host. They all say – first install Wamp, then install WordPress in the localhost/www/ folder.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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