Unknown column 'wp_' error when installing WordPress 4.6

PS
Update of 4.5.3 to 4.6 using Dashboard fails with the “PHP Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in “wp-admin\includes\class-wp-filesystem-direct.php on line 79” message.
PPS
Increased max execution time in php.ini and could update 4.5.3 to 4.6 using the dashboard. However, it is unclear why there was a problem with the new installation of 4.6.

Hoping someone can assist with explanation and insights to connections with database errors presumably caused by no database tables.

After I have completely wiped and restarted entire site 3 times, with 3 new re-installs of WP 6.4
~ I checked on server CPanel – phpMyAdmin – It shows the problem is the database is empty – no tables.

~ At public facing site – Msg = “Error establishing a database connection”

At https://www.alimay.com.au/wp-admin/index.php the same message :
“Error establishing a database connection”

All data is correct database name, username and password. And server is fully operational.

Bumping this for running into the same issue, attempting to install a fresh copy of 4.6.1 to a new, empty database and I get the same error as OP:

“WordPress database error Unknown column ‘wp_’ in ‘field list’ for query SELECT wp_”

Correct DB details and everything also.

Anyone run into this issue and found a work-around aside from downloading an older version and updating?

So simple but took a while to find.
WP must have a valid wp-config.php file to run.
The problem is that this file doesn’t exist on a new install. At least in 4.6 it doesn’t.
Therefore, WP cannot make the initial connection to the Db. The parameters to connect to the Db are listed in the wp-config-sample, but must be edited, so it’s a chicken and egg problem.
The fix is to edit the wp-config-sample.php file by filling in a few Db data connection items, then just storing the edited file as wp-config.php
Away you will go!
A nice fix by Wp would be to have the Db Dialog screen create a corrected wp-config.php file.

Hello,

I am having the same problem (WordPress database error Unknown column ‘wp_’ in ‘field list’ for query SELECT wp_) with a fresh installation of WP 4.6.1
Did you finally managed to find what caused the problem? It would be a great help!

Thanks in advance

I am having the same problem (WordPress database error Unknown column ‘wp_’ in ‘field list’ for query SELECT wp_) with a fresh installation of WP 4.6.1

I have a working database with the right data
what do I have to do now?

thanks

The solution I proposed above as jlennane worked for me. You can find the wp-config-sample.php in the WR root.
Then modify the following parameters to match the schema you created in your MySql data base.
Finally, save it into the WP root as wp-sample.php
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘your schema name on MySql’);

/** MySQL database username */
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘root or your user name’);

/** MySQL database password */
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘password from your Mysql Db schema’);

Make sure your httpd have write access to your wordpress folder.

There are multiple ways to do it if your system did not give it write access by default.

chmod on Linux
right click the folder on Windows then select Security tab and give any likely user write/full access.

Yes, it’s write permission issue.
On Plesk for Windows you need to set “Additional read/write permissions” in domain’s “Hosting Settings”.