Problem creating database in phpMyAdmin (2.11.1)

You probably don’t have privledges from the webhosting compnay to make your own databases. Use the database name/password they gave you for your WordPress install when you signed up for your hosting plan.

Hi,

Thanks for the response. I think I should have privileges through my hosting package. I’m certainly paying enough for the service, and it’s advertised as the ‘pro’ or ‘advanced’ offering (ironic, given my level of expertise!).

I will check back on their help pages and see if I can fix the problem from their side.

I was kinda hoping that someone on here may also be using the BT Business, web hosting package.

In the meantime, if I understand you correctly, I don’t need to create a specific database entitled ‘wordpress’ or ‘blog’ as per the WordPress instructions? I can simply load the relevant folders/files to the generic folder that already exists?

Thanks

Mark

Do you have Cpanel or Plesk? That’s where you make new databases and use phpmyadmin. Read the docs.

If you installed phpmyadmin yourself in your WP directory, delete it; you probably didn’t do it in a secure way, you don’t need it, and it’s a security risk.

You have to have a database for WP. Then you edit wp-config.php to install WP.

In the meantime, if I understand you correctly, I don’t need to create a specific database entitled ‘wordpress’ or ‘blog’ as per the WordPress instructions? I can simply load the relevant folders/files to the generic folder that already exists?

There are two parts to WordPress. First is the zip file you download from www.remarpro.com, which you unzip and then upload to your web host via FTP.

Second part is the database that WP uses to store your posts. This will likely be on a separate server (your host will supply the details). You either:
1. Create the database yourself, or
2. Your host creates it for you and gives you the log in details (which you need to enter into WordPress during setup).

You need to check with your host if your package uses option 1 or 2 before you try to set up a database.

OK, thanks for your assistance so far.

Either I am incredibly dumb or the instructions WordPress provide don’t tally with the particular interface that my webhost (BT) offers.

Cpanel or Plesk? Nope.

There is a ‘database manager’ within the proprietary BT website admin pages. I access this, I can create a database called wordpress.mydomain.blah.blah (I can’t remember it exactly). It’s definitely there, I’ve been back and forth, logged out and logged in and it remains in place.

The webshost also has phpMyAdmin. But it isn’t the version that is referred to within the WordPress documentation. They refer to version 2.6.0, the version offered by my Webhost is 2.11.1.

The steps described in the WordPress documentation simply don’t relate to what I can see on my screen.

Specifically: there is no radio button marked ‘Privileges’, while I can seemingly create a database in phpMyAdmin with the prefix ‘wordpress’, I can’t easily access/see this database within any of the menus.

Therefore, I am stuck at the point where the WordPress instructions want me to create usernames and passwords and switch on privileges.

I assumed, therefore, that I must already have these privileges. I also assumed that – as there is seemingly no option to create a new username and password for the WordPress database – that my username/password that I use to access my Web admin (through the host) would suffice.

So, with a database in place – and a vague hope that I’d got the username/password and privileges correct – I moved on to editing wp-config.php and uploading files to the database via FTP.

The upload seemed to go successfully, but when I tried to run the install script, and pointed a browser to where I thought the files had been uploaded, I simply get nothing at all.

I am so lost it’s untrue.

There must be a fortune waiting to be made for the person who can explain these things in plain English, and create manuals that have clear, illustrated instructions.

Anyone want to help?! Surely there’s someone out there who uses the same hosting as me and has done this successfully? Please?!

Mark, Ignore @obscure

Forget phpmyadmin; you don’t need it. Read BT’s docs for their control panel. At this point, this is much more a problem with BT and their control panel than WordPress.

There is a ‘database manager’ within the proprietary BT website admin pages. I access this, I can create a database called wordpress.mydomain.blah.blah

That’s what you need. Use that DB and name and password for your WP database info in wp-config.php.

If you get a blank screen, reupload your WP files and folders as per Installing WP in the codex link. If you still get a blank sreen, you have to look in the docs for your hosting package. If it is some sort of Pro version, you may need to do more configuration than is usual for the average WP install on inexpensive shared hosting.

Hi,

Thanks for this. I feel like I may be getting somewhere.

I’m about to try to upload everything once again (I’ve deleted everything from the last attempt).

Before I proceed, let me just get one thing crystal clear.

This time, using Filezilla, I am going to upload the wordpress files to my root directory. Last time, I believe I uploaded to the WordPress database I’d created. I take it that was my first mistake?

So, this time, everything will be uploaded to the root directory.

CAN I DOUBLE CHECK THE PRECISE MEANING OF THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTION BEFORE I MAKE ANOTHER STUPID/TIME CONSUMING ERROR:

“… use an FTP client to upload all the content of the wordpress directory (but not the directory itself) into the root directory of your website.“

I’m a Mac user (yeah, I know) do I take the above to mean that I upload all of the sub-folders contained within the main folder ‘wordpress’, but I don’t upload the main folder?

In other words, when I unzipped the download from www.remarpro.com, a folder entitled ‘wordpress’ loaded onto my desktop. This folder – let’s call it the parent – contains 28 different pieces of content, including files and sub-folders.

If I understand the quoted instruction correctly, I upload everything contained within the ‘parent’ folder (‘wordpress’), but I don’t upload the folder itself.

Right, or hopelessly wrong?!

I’m a Mac user (yeah, I know) do I take the above to mean that I upload all of the sub-folders contained within the main folder ‘wordpress’, but I don’t upload the main folder?

Files AND subfolders under wordpress, but essentially correct. ?? If you upload the wordpress folder, you would get your install in a wordpress folder like this:

https://domain.com/wordpress

Last time, I believe I uploaded to the WordPress database I’d created. I take it that was my first mistake?

Might have been, but you don’t upload to the database, you upload to a directory. So you might have uploaded the whole WordPress folder, as ipstenu points out.

Once there, go to domain.com/wp-admin/install.php

And being on a Mac doesn’t matter, unless you start editing WP and theme files, and if so, you want to set your text editor to use Unicode and not Mac line endings. But don’t worry about that until you need to.

Right guys, I’m finally there.

Sheesh. Have I ever felt like the dumbest kid in the class.

So, clearly, my big mistake yesterday was uploading to the wordpress database, rather than the public folder. That’s been rectified.

Once I’d muddled my way to that realisation it was a lot more simple. The main problem was that the installation instructions from WordPress, as great as they may be, bore little relation to what I actually experienced in BT’s website manager environment. Because I’m new and nervous, I tried to follow it to the letter rather than trusting my instinct.

Anyway, I’m up and running now.

Just downloaded Thesis theme, so I can start messing that up and bothering the people on that forum.

Thanks for the help guys.

The main problem was that the installation instructions from WordPress, as great as they may be, bore little relation to what I actually experienced in BT’s website manager environment.

Nor should they since WordPress has nothing to do with the design of BT’s Website manager environment and the WP instructions are for installation/upgrade via manual ftp upload to a host. ISPs like BT provide their Control Panels/Website Management Environment to make installation “easier” but often fail to provide clear instructions or help for when things don’t go according to plan.

Would be interested to hear what you think of the Thesis theme. I was tempted but put off by the fact that you can’t access the forums to find out more before you pay.

Hey there,

I would love to give you my feelings on Thesis, but I’ve hit another problem! Yep, I’m really trucking.

I can play around inside the admin/dashboard but when I click to view site, all I’m seeing is the holding page for my domain – the one that says ‘this domain is registered with BT’ or whatever. Look here:

https://www.marktobin.co.uk

What I would have expected to see at this juncture is the Blog itself.

I’ve read through some of the other (many) posts that already exist on this subject, but I haven’t found a solution that looks like the right one.

Anyone able to shed some light?

I can’t figure out if this is my problem, my host’s problem, or a WordPress problem. Going on past experience, I would bet that it’s my problem!

Many thanks

Mark

MarkTobin – it works for me.

Well, and here’s the thing:

I literally touched nothing. I deleted nothing. I added nothing. I fiddled with nothing.

Last night: it wasn’t working.

This morning, after posting a few queries and making myself look like the tech-idiot that I undoubtedly am: it works.

This confirms what I’ve long suspected: the world of computers and technology is illogical and populated with faeries and spirit-folk.

For the time being those magical creatures seem to be smiling on me.

Now, I’m off to play with Thesis and see how much of a mess I can make!

DNS propagation, at a wild guess. ??