Installing WP to a new directory on existing live site domain

  • My client has a live site and wants to replace it with a WordPress site. I am using Parallel’s Plesk control panel, and it has the “install apps” feature. I was told to install WordPress into a separate directory and once it is ready to go live, the host will do what they need to “switch DNS pointers”. When I go to install WordPress, it gives the directory location as “https://mysite.com/wordpress”. Does this mean that a new directory will be created for WordPress during the install process? Or do I have to create a directory? I tried that, but the install does not allow me to point to it. I’ve never had to install when a site already exists and I don’t want to mess it up! Any help would be much appreciated!

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

  • Hi,

    It sounds like during the install process a wordpress sub directory will be created for you.

    I would first take backups from the site your scared of messing with. Just to be safe.

    When you say “I tried that, but the install does not allow me to point to it” , what did you try? Creating the directory or just running the install?

    Thread Starter LHG_Graphics

    (@lhg_graphics)

    Hi,
    Thanks for the quick response!

    I created a new directory, but when I tried to install the app, it automatically added the /wordpress after the domain name. I tried entering “/new directory”, which is what I named the directory I created, and I got an error messaage.

    How do I do a backup of the existing site? It is an html site – do I just copy all the files on the ftp and save them to my desktop? Do I have to do anything with the php files? This is where I get confused…

    You might want to try manually installing things instead of using the one click installer. I am a cpanel user and not too familiar with plesk.

    https://support.hostgator.com/articles/specialized-help/technical/wordpress/how-to-install-wordpress-manually

    Although the article is written by host gator, it should apply to all manual installs.

    Thread Starter LHG_Graphics

    (@lhg_graphics)

    Thank you Evan, I think I will try the manual install.

    I do know that a site I just completed put WordPress in its own directory uaing the one click installer. There was no existing site, but once my site was ready I had to copy the index.php and .htaccess files and make some changes, can’t remember exactly what I did, I followed instructions found online. Otherwise you couldn’t access the site with https://www.mydomain.com, you had to enter https://www.mydomain.com/wordpress. Which makes me think it does put it in a new directory. Does that make sense?

    That makes sense. When I’ve used the one click installer through cpanel in the past, the directory is made for me. But I prefer the manual method so I have complete control. It’s fairly easy to pick up once you get through it once or twice.

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