Installation hangs in “Second Step” after long pause

  • Resolved pankoski

    (@pankoski)


    19 years, 5 months ago

    Brief and to the point

    phpMyAdmin definitely confirms db table creation within db ‘wordpress’: of 9 tables: wp_categories thru wp_users..I used root access and set protections for ‘everyone’ to full access, just to be sure access was not the problem.

    I read posts on IIS installs, but examining code looks like adjustments have already been made. It’s the version available with WIN2K Pro – rather than the true, server install.

    I tried IE(6SP1) instead of Firefox(1.04) just in case it was browser issue.

    Hangs after pretty long wait at “Second Step
    Now wea€?re going to create the database tables and fill them with some default data.” from which it never returns any further pages.

    This results in a site being “there”, but of course, I never make it to third step – so can’t log in – since I’m clueless of password, or what it is that didn’t get done.

    I Re-installed everything from scratch several times. Switched to older version of MySQL4.0.24 with same result.

    wp-config.php:

    define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘wordpress’); // The name of the database
    define(‘DB_USER’, ‘root’); // Your MySQL username
    define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘MyRealPassword’); // …and password
    define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’); // 99% chance you won’t need to change this value

    Ideas? suggestions…

    BTW WordPress has better themes than the PostNuke folks, who seemingly are lost in the Xanthia-vs-AutoTheme labyrinth..

    It’s seems very elegant to me – like movable type, but more accessible.

    BTW – I’m an old sod, from the days of wooden computers and iron programmers, soI’ll eventually find a workaround, I’m sure, but thought it worth posting here for others as well, as my configuration is pretty commonplace stuff.

    https://users.wpi.edu/~trb/hacker70s.html – I’m [1000,23472]

    Thanks.
    -Mark

    win2kSP4 – IIS5.0 – PHP4.3.11 – MySQL4.1.12a

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

  • The problem lies in PHP mail, if you don’t mind not having the mail send, you can comment it out and all should work fine.

    Thread Starter pankoski

    (@pankoski)

    She’s up and running.

    Okay, then. The preceeding post’s information was helpful (Thank-you), if not completely comprehensive (where to comment, which scripts?). It points out a couple of things to be considered, if you’re someone who’s trying to set WordPress up in a local environment, rather than someone who is simply installing it on a remote host and then simply using it..

    Like most installation issues, they tend to fade in importance, as soon as the matter is resolved, so they tend to be somewhat poorly documented, in resolution.

    Okay – things that didn’t matter. IIS – I had tried using Apache, with no improvement and exactly the same symptoms.

    Next, although the thought of commenting the PHP installation script may have seem appealing at first, the larger issue is why I should have to. Ideally, at least the installation should not “hang” relative to the presence of a working PHP function, especially since those of us who may be revising the environment, and even those of us who aren’t might want to keep a local copy to work on it, and then push it out to the site. Perhaps some code should be written into the installation script, to not require the use of the PHP mail function – or at least not hang if it times out.

    The use of the function, is apparently to forward to the installer the administrative password in an email, which is also displayed locally (assuming no hang). The source of the hang, is in fact the configuration of the PHP mail function, described in detail here: https://us4.php.net/mail

    The problem lies in that the PHP (not WordPress) scripting function more or less assumes the presence of an SMTP server, functioning in the executing context, which is less likely to be so on your development workstation, than on a hosting web server like Apache at some ISP’s site.

    Thelocal solution is to modify the PHP.ini file, usually located in the C:\WINNT directory (W2K) such that it can somehow interact with the connected SMTP environment, whatever it is…

    Once the function is working, the installation will also complete just fine. The extra snafu, is that in order to work seamlessly without the addition of some custom written code, written specifically for your mail client, let’s say Eudora or something, it requires access to a SMTP server which does not require authentication, since there is no provision within the PHP.ini file or syntax to specify a password to correctly initiate a handshake with your ISP’s mail server. (I hear a PHP enhancement coming on)

    Fortunately, most ISP’s have at least one “open” SMTP server, which does not require authenticationm – usually hidden in plain view.

    The pertinent parameters in the C:\WINNT\PHP.ini file are:

    Section:

    [mail function]

    ; For Win32 only.
    ; Non-authenticated email SMTP server – usually something named somethings like smtp.ISP.net or com
    SMTP = smtp.isp.com

    ;Ususally smtp_port does not require changing, but some ISPs use a different port number to allow access for the unauthenticated access – to avoid spammers accessing them as a relay
    smtp_port = 25

    ;Some address that does not get authenticated, usually anything is okay – ie: your real one… non-authenticated access might require it to be same format as one issued by ISP
    sendmail_from = [email protected]

    Anyway, assuming you get that working, there is no need to modify the PHP scripts associated with WordPress, although I would suggest the developers take a look at the installation code for future releases to see if the dependency can be removed or circumvented without ruining the beauty of the “5 Minute Installation”.

    -Kindest Regards,
    M. Pankoski

    Thread Starter pankoski

    (@pankoski)

    Although, it won’t avoid the “hang” issue during installation, the prolific, and talented Mr. Scott Reilly has apparently broached the subject (in particular, the issues regarding authentication) by creating the wpPHPMailer plugin – which can be found here:

    https://www.coffee2code.com/archives/2004/06/28/plugin-wpphpmailer/

    Thank-you, Mr. Reilly.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
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