Changed db settings, but now cannot log into admin page

cychang · Post by **cychang** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:13 pm

Hi,

I run my serendipity blog site through my web host (godaddy.com). Initially when I set up serendipity I did not change the default database settings. And it workd just fine until a few minutes ago, when I changed the database settings. -- A big mistake. Now I cannot even log into the administration page, because the password is wrong. The blog site is also not working, displaying error query messages rather than the original page contents.

Is there any way to restore the original database settings? Also, if I re-install the serendipity application, would it wipe out all the blogs and data that I had already posted?

Thanks a lot for any pointers.

zoran · Post by **zoran** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:32 pm

Hi Cychang,

Have a look at this file:

Code: Select all

/serendipity_config_local.inc.php

Change the database settings there and the blog comes up again?

Zz.

cychang · Post by **cychang** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:00 pm

Hi, Zz,

Thanks for you prompt answer. I did see the file. The problem is I do not have the original settings. (yeah, another big mistake.) I talked to the webhost, and they don't have a backup copy of that file either. Seems like I might have to re-install the applciation. If I do re-install, do you know whether that is going to wipe out all the data, or does it simply overwrite files with identical names?

Thanks again!!!

cychang

zoran · Post by **zoran** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:07 am

I don't understand if you don't have the settings (dbname/username/password) or you don't have the file?

I guess a reinstall into a database with serendipity tables will keep the data or will prompt you if you want to overwrite.

I would say that the safe choice is: make a backup of the db and try it

Or you could wait if people who do have an answer will reply.

Post by **garvinhicking** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 12:27 pm

You really just need to edit your serendipity_config_local.inc.php file and insert the right Database name, host and password. Your hoster should have that information, or be able to reset the password to your "old" database!

Regards,
Garvin

cychang · Post by **cychang** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:34 pm

Hi, Zz & Garvin,

Thanks for the feedback. I do have the file, but not the original settings. The file has been overwritten. Therefore, the original settings are gone. The host (godaddy.com) does not have these settings either. (Or maybe they just don't know where to find them.)

Also, I installed serendipity from the control panel provided by godaddy.com. According to previous posts, it seems I won't be able to back up the db, which is a public db designated by godaddy.com server automatically. (Well, I don't have the name of the original db anyway.) Might have to reinstall serendipity in my own FTP space and use my own db.

I think Garvin touched on this in previous posts. If I delete the serendipity_config_local.inc.php file, and go to the administrative page, would it automatically install serendipity in my FTP space?

Thanks again, folks.

cychang

Post by **garvinhicking** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:04 pm

Cychang: That's right exactly. You can find more information about this in our FAQ (linked on top of our forums).

Remember though that the config file only holds the SQL account data, and nothing else basically. The rest of your configuration is found in the SQL tables.

If you install s9y into an existing database, where serendipity_ tables already exist, serendipity will make no changes to the database tables, but use the existing tables for the new install.

Regards,
Garvin

cychang · Post by **cychang** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:31 pm

Thanks, Garvin.

Because I don't have the original db name, I won't be able to install into the existing db. So, looks like I'll lose the older posts. Luckily, so far I have posted only 8 blogs, and I have copies of them in my local computer. I'll just re-post them once I re-install serendipity.

cychang

cychang · Post by **cychang** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:39 am

Hi, folks,

Just want to give you an update and also one quick follow-up question.

I re-installed Serendipity 0.9, using a new MySql database. Everything went smoothly. (Some minor hickups on updating the theme and configuring the timezones plugin. Will talk about them later.) Had to repost the blogs, but that was not a big deal.

The question is: It seems to me that Serendipity should have worked even with new db settings. Sure, I would lose the old data, but that should not have prevented Serendipity from working on the new db. I can understand why I couldn't log into the admin page, because the admin user name & password info were stored in the old db. But I can't understand why accessing the blog site resulted in MySql query errors.

What happens if I simply want to assign a different db for my blogs? Do I then have to reinstall serendipity everytime?

Hope I explain myslef clearly enough:-/ Thanks!

cychang

Post by **garvinhicking** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:05 am

Hi!

The question is: It seems to me that Serendipity should have worked even with new db settings.

No, because within your new database, you wouldn't have serendipity_* tables. If a serendipity_config_local.inc.php is present, serendipity must think that the tables exist.

What happens if I simply want to assign a different db for my blogs? Do I then have to reinstall serendipity everytime?

You have to copy the tables of your old DB to the new DB before changing the settings within serendipity to your new DB.

Regards,
Garvin

cychang · Post by **cychang** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 6:00 pm

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Great to know that. Thank you, Garvin.

cychang