Got a fatal error and trying to find my backup

You can use your FTP client or the file manager in your hosts control panel to remove the plugin. If that’s the only issue, it should probably let you back in.

This website was created about 2 years ago and I have been tasked with updating the site. It is version 4.2.4 and I had just installed Backupguard and made and backup of the database and then I tried to install the contact plugin and got the error. The website was created by someone else and I don’t know what the FTP client is or where the file manager in my host control panel is located. Could you please show me the specifics of where to go, how and what to do? Can I do the removal of the plugin from any computer by signing on as admin? I’m not very smart with computers. Thank you for your help.

I don’t know what the FTP client is or where the file manager in my host control panel is located. Could you please show me the specifics of where to go

You will need direct access to the file system on the server, either by FTP or the account control panel. There’s not way around it. You will need to find out where the site is being hosted and who has the login credentials for the hosting account or the login information for an FTP account associated with the site.

Some general information on FTP clients and how you can transfer files to and from your site: FTP Clients

“You can use your FTP client or the file manager in your hosts control panel to remove the plugin.”

I now have access to the File Manager Public FTP Root (public_ftp). I have expanded the tree down to where I think the contact form is: Public html, wp-content, plugins, rich-text-editor-feild-for-contact-form-7. Can you tell me what needs to be deleted to remove the contact form plugin? Will any other content be affected?

It works much like windows explorer, you can select the directory you want to work with by clicking on it, then choosing what you want to do from the menu bar. Generally speaking, in cPanel..

– Click and highlight the file or folder you want to remove in the file listing.
– From the top toolbar, click Delete.
– Click the Delete File(s) button on the pop-up box to confirm your action.

But you can just try renaming the rich-text-editor-field-for-contact-form-7 folder for now if you like. Rename it to rich-text-editor-field-for-contact-form-7.old and then try going back to yoursite.com/wp-admin and see if you can log back in. If that did the trick, you can then delete the folder you previously renamed.

[edit] ..renaming just that plugin should not affect anything else.

[re-edit] I’m sorry.. after re-reading, I’m not sure if you’ve connected by FTP or the hosts control panel, if you are using an FTP client, you may just be able to right-click on the rich-text-editor-field-for-contact-form-7 folder and then rename it.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Clayton James.
• This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Clayton James.

Thank you, issue resolved. I connected using the hosts control panel and in cpanel I right clicked on the rich-text-editor-field-for-contact-form-7 folder and renamed it. Then I went back to mysite.com/wp-adim and it was restored. Thank you, again, Clayton James.

You’re welcome!