How to update old WordPress?

  • Hi there,

    we have an old WordPress site that was neglected for several years. Two weeks ago, the hoster deactivated PHP 7.4. Now our site is not accessable at all & I’d like to get it back up and running with the latest WordPress version (6.1.1).

    I see from the version.php file that it was running WordPress version 4.6.25 and $wp_db_version was 37965. Yesterday, I tried to update manually to the current version 6.1.1 and after commenting out some code in the functions.php of the theme, the site was visible again, but, unfortunately, I couldn’t get into the dashboard or do any actions realted to it (e. g., add new page). There was always just an error: “There was a critical error.”

    After this update process there was no advice to update the database itself…

    So from what I can tell, the database does not seem to have any corruption in it, just the old files.

    My question is: Instead of updating straight to 6.1.1, should I update first to, for example, 5.x.x trying to get into the dashboard and be possible to do an update from the dashboard?

    Thanks in advance for your support!

    A somehow desperate Chipy

    • This topic was modified 1 year, 12 months ago by Chip.

    The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

  • Hi,
    have you contacted the webhost to activate PHP7.4 on your site again?
    PHP7.4 end of life was just a few days ago so your hoster should not have deactivated it 2 weeks ago. They shouldn’t deactivate it at all.
    Most site owners don’t have the time or interest to keep their site up to date. They shouldn’t be forced by their webhost to upgrade especially since when they just deactivate the old php version you will not even be able to access the site to upgrade it properly.
    You should switch to a different webhost.

    Thread Starter Chip

    (@chip_88)

    @benniledl You’re totally right & I’m totally with you – in all points!
    This is exactly what happened to us: Our website was working pritty well – without any issues at all. So there was no need to update anything.

    Yes, I did contact the webhost (it’s actually a wellknown hoster here in Germany; host + and the name of the old continent: hosteur**e) & apparently I’m not the only one.
    They say there’s no way to activate PHP7.4 by any chance.

    Anyway, I did realize that in my wp-content there are some more directories than just plugins and themes. All the other folders there were installed by plugins – so I know what to try. I will rename all of them and the plugins and themes first & then try to load the site. If this doesn’t work out, I’ll update my old WordPress version manually to the current one 6.1.1 – and will check then again.

    • This reply was modified 1 year, 12 months ago by Chip.
    Thread Starter Chip

    (@chip_88)

    Just an update to whom it may be interesting:
    Our site is fianlly back to life!
    The theme works like a charm.

    I renamed all the folders in wp-content – except themes and languages.

    After updating all the files manually, I finally, finally, finally was asked to update the database – and voilà: I could enter the dashboard again.

    Now I’m going to check all the plugins etc.

    Hi, great that it worked out, have you had problems with updating the plugins?

    Thread Starter Chip

    (@chip_88)

    @benniledl You can’t imagine, how happy I am!
    Yes, I had some problems with updating the plugins, because some were quite old and are not supported any more.
    So, unfortunately, I had to deactivate them…

    My website won’t be the same as it was in the last 10 years again… ??

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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