Installation Error wp-config already exist

  • Resolved wurstpresse

    (@wurstpresse)


    5 years ago

    Hello I try to use duplicator to transfer my site to overwrite an already existing page with a new version. This fault is coming up:

    INSTALL ERROR!
    A wp-config.php already exists in this location. This error prevents users from accidentally overwriting a WordPress site or trying to install on top of an existing one. Extracting an archive on an existing site will overwrite existing files and intermix files causing site incompatibility issues.

    It is highly recommended to place the installer and archive in an empty directory. If you have already manually extracted the archive file that is associated with this installer then choose option #1 below; other-wise consider the other options:

    Click > Try Again > Options > choose “Manual Archive Extraction”.
    Empty the directory except for the archive.zip/daf and installer.php and try again.
    Advanced users only can remove the existing wp-config.php file and try again.

    But of course, there is already a wp-config file because I want to overwrite this website. That is the use of duplicator so I do not understand this error message.

    How to solve this?

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • Cory Lamle

    (@corylamleorg)

    Hey @wurstpresse,

    Typically for the cleanest installs, it is best to place the installer and archive into an empty directory. This way you don’t have the possible issue of files that don’t get overwritten or files that don’t belong to your site being left behind from a previous site. If you want to get around the issue your running into now, just delete the wp-config.php file from your site and start over at step 1.

    Let me know if that helps~

    Thread Starter wurstpresse

    (@wurstpresse)

    Does that mean I have to create a folder in the wp directory at the server and then navigate via browser to the installer.php in that folder?

    Why does it not work when an wp-config.php is already in that directory? The purpose of duplicator is also to overwrite an existing wp installation. I never had any issues like this with duplicator. I do not want to erase my whole side when it is live on the internet and then do the install. I just want to overwrite.

    Cory Lamle

    (@corylamleorg)

    Hey @wurstpresse,

    The main purpose is to prevent users from overwriting a site they didn’t intend to overwrite. Which had happened several times before the check was introduced. If you want to just overwrite the contents all you have to do is delete the wp-config.php file and run the installer and it will work as normal and extract the files into the location of your choice.

    Keep in mind however that extracting over an existing site will not remove any existing files or folders that were there from the previous install. So if you had 5 plugins on the old site that you don’t have on this one, then those directories will still be there as will previous images/files etc.

    Hope that helps~

    I am getting the same error although I begin with a clean folder with only the zip file and installer.php in the root folder. After the browser error, I look at the server and Duplicator has already unzipped the contents and the wp-config file. When I delete it and run Duplicator again, it creates a new wp-config file and I get the same error. Thoughts?

    I was able to follow the instructions from step 1: Options/Manual Archive Extraction…and it worked!

    I’m having the same issue, apparently it’s the new build bug, no?

    I’m having same issue also. Tried in incognito mode, tried blocking cache with Chrome dev tools, still Duplicator seems to believe there is a wp-config.php in the folder… I definitely deleted it, and there is just no way to use the Duplicator plugin at this point.

    I think the error message is simply incorrect – Duplicator seems to check for directories, not just “wp-config.php” file. I suspected this was the case and renamed my old WP folder to “DEL1, DEL2, DEL3”. At that point the warning flag was gone from step 1 and the install could proceed.

    The block message should be updated if this is the case that Duplicator is checking for “wp-content/” and other directories.

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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