For inexplicable reasons you may find your database structure is corrupt or acting unexpectedly. This article is a process that can be used to refresh the structure while keeping the data. This process can also be used to “reset” your ExpressionEngine installation back to the default state of a fresh install.
These steps should only be taken if you feel totally comfortable with PHPMyAdmin and database manipulation.
First, run a database and file backup.
Rename path.php to old_path.php
Rename system/config.php to old_config.php
Create an empty path.php file and chmod it to 666
Create an empty config.php file and chmod it to 666
Upload the install.php file.
In PHPMyAdmin (if available) do the following…
If you have the option, run a data only export. If you don’t have that option run a regular backup, open the SQL file and remove the “create table” blocks so that all you have left is the insert blocks.
Drop all EE tables.
Run the install file from your browser to setup fresh tables.
Download (for a backup) and remove the following files that you created in the earlier steps: system/config.php, install.php, path.php.
Rename the files that you changed from the earlier steps: system/old_config.php to config.php, old_path.php to path.php.
Import the SQL file that has only the insert statements.
You should now have a fresh database structure that is back to where it was. If these steps were performed in response to a broken seemingly database structure, make sure the database user has the proper permissions to operate ExpressionEngine.