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Twenty Twelve

The theme is Twenty Twelve. The site url is https://blog.warbirdnoseart.com

Alright! Finally got it. As I suspected there were more steps then stated in the vague instructions.

1. The blog website needs to be configured first in the server webservice, IIS in my case.
2. The $table_prefix is NOT the only line that needs to be edited in the copied wp-config.php from the existing blog already live on the server. The define(‘DB_HOST’, also needs to be changed to the URL of the new blog site. Once this was done the wp-admin/install.php page immediatly came up in the browser when called via https:// and allowed me to install the new blog in seconds.

…

This is a “normal” system. With an already functioning blog, https://blog.jollyrogersmotorcycleclub.com and a number of other fully functional websites.

Does the web service need to be configured for the particular new blog site prior to the successful installation of a new blog?

That is exactly what I have done already which does not work.

I tried your suggestion and now when I open wp-admin/install.php in a browser I get the following:

Already Installed
You appear to have already installed WordPress. To reinstall please clear your old database tables first.

This would indicate to me that there is no issue with the database connection details as I would suspect. The only change to the file that I have been making is the $table_prefix as I have stated and as the instructions have stated to do.

that sure doesn’t work.

I am the one administering my system. I already have a successful blog configured and running on my systems.

Let me try this differently.

Should I be able to copy the exising wp-config.php file from the existing blog folder, edit the $table_prefix as I have described, and copy it to the correct location of the new blog folder?

And I am not using Apache, it’s a Windows based server.

So, as I have stated, I copied the wp-config.php file from the existing working blog and edited the $table_prefix from wp_ to wpna_. Saved the file and copied back to the same folder in the new blog folder.

If the DB connection settings are wrong, how is the existing blog functioning?

I am the host…

As I stated at the beginning of this post:

I am the only one accessing the ADMIN dashboard for these blogs and the server is hosted directly by me… meaning I have hands on access to it.

I am the host of my server.

So again, what is not clear here are what the exact steps are to use the same DB for another blog on the same server.

If I copy the wp-config.php from the blog that is already running on my server and simply edit the $table_prefix to something unique, and copy to the the correct folder of the new blog, is that all that is sufficent. As that is what all the instruction say is only needed. My guess is that is not correct.

My guess is no which is why I am asking anyone if they can point me to step by step instructions of how to do this.

The wp-config.php should be in the same folder as wp-confg-sample.php, correct? It is…

I have seen instructions that say just that. However, there obviously is something missing as I have done just what you say.

Here is what I have done
1. Downloaded and unzipped the latest WordPress to my harddrive
2. Here is where there is a HUGE gap in the process. I have copied the existing wp-config.php and edited it so that $table_prefix = ‘wp_’; does indeed have a different prefix. The prefix I edited to is wpna_
3. I left everything else in the wp-config.php the same. Copied the file back to the newly unzipped files in the correct folder.
4. Called the wp-admin/install.php file from the browser. However, get the following error:

Error establishing a database connection
This either means that the username and password information in your wp-config.php file is incorrect or we can’t contact the database server at XXXXXX. This could mean your host’s database server is down. “XXXXX” being the current database name.

5. I have tried different Database Names in the wp-config.php file but continually get the same error.

What Database name is it looking for then if I am trying to use the same DB?

This is obviously not as simple as merely changing the $table_prefix

I did check out the network option. It was about as clear as mud.

Ok, so I can install many WP installs, each to its own folder. Do I need seperate DB instances for each?

As an FYI, I also just tried updating my WP to the current version and it failed as it does typically.

Thanks Rev

I am not quite clear what you are saying in your post. You stated, “You can set up multiple WordPress installs…”. Good to know. However, then you say, “Or”?

With regards to upgrading my WP. You are correct. I am very aware that my current version is out of date and possibly unsecure. No the server is not open to the public. It is my sole server. I am always hesitant to upgrade WP as typically upgrades fail. And, trying to recover from a failed install of WP can be quite challenging and frustrating.