Thread

Have you tried setting $debug = 1 in admin.php when you get a blank screen to see if it produces any error messages?

Tyssen,
I’m not sure what you mean. What exactly do I have to do? Do I add that string to the URL string?

Thanks,
Amy

Open up admin.php and find $debug = 0 and change it to $debug =1.

Tyssen,

Never mind. I figured out what you meant. I changed the $debug line to = 1 instead of 0 and uploaded then tried rerunning the installation. Same result = blank page (http://test.wittywebdesign.com/admin.php?C=wizard&M=do_install&language=english) with no additional info.

Thanks,
Amy

Incidentally, if I click that link in my previous post, it brings me to a page that says:

“A Database Error Occurred
Unable to connect to your database server using the provided settings.

Filename: controllers/wizard.php

Line Number: 1532”

Perhaps that’s helpful?

Thanks,
Amy

Yes, it means your database connection settings are probably incorrect.

Okay, I sent a message to my web host’s tech support to see if they can help figure out what’s going on. I double checked already that I have the correct database connection credentials according to their control panel, so there must be something else.

I have about had it. My web host doesn’t seem to know what’s going on and says I have the database connection settings right. I disagree and am going back and forth with them.

Is there anything else that could be wrong?

Hello Amy,

Is your config file still blank?

When you go through the install wizard that file is created. Another file with your DB settings is created as well.

Please tell me what you are entering for the DB settings. Please do not give me real info for password and username. I am guessing you are using localhost for the DB server, correct?

After you complete the setup, check your config and DB setting files and make sure they were written to.

I am sorry you are experiencing so many difficulties!

Cheers,

Is your config file still blank?

When you go through the install wizard that file is created. Another file with your DB settings is created as well.

Yes, my config.php file is still blank. The database.php file (is that the right one?) is also blank. It really goes to the white screen instantly (after clicking the “Install ExpressionEngine!” button) so couldn’t have done anything on the server. Also, logging in to phpMyAdmin shows no tables in the database.

Please tell me what you are entering for the DB settings. Please do not give me real info for password and username. I am guessing you are using localhost for the DB server, correct?

After you complete the setup, check your config and DB setting files and make sure they were written to.

I am using localhost for the database server, although I have also tried the actual name of the server with no change in results. I have accepted the installation defaults for modules to install, etc. I entered admin username and password, webmaster email address, etc.

Thanks,
Amy

Hey Amy,

Wow, what a stubborn install.

Would you be willing to let me take a stab at the install? Not saying I can work magic, because I am thinking the host might be the problem at this point, but I would like to try. I promise, ExpressionEngine installs are not usually like this.

Be on the lookout for an email from EllisLab.

Thanks Amy!

I think we can abandon this post now. I have been going back and forth with my web host’s tech support. They moved my site to a newer Linux server and were able, they said, to get it working. I have meanwhile signed up for hosting at a different host, recommended by the many helpful users here and on Twitter, and I already have my first site installed successfully. Now I just have to learn how everything works! 😊

I wish I knew exactly what was different about the two servers so it could be of some possible use to someone else, but I don’t.

Thank you for all the help you provided.

Hey Amy,

Sounds good. So sorry about all the trouble you had to go through, but really glad it’s resolved now.

Have a great week.

Cheers,