The website turned to blank and unable to restore it from the backup

Using ftp or your host’s file manager software, rename the directory at:
wp-content/plugins
This will put all plugins out-of-play. Does the site work now?

Hi Lorro,

Thank you for your help. The below link displays what I did. Unfortunately, I still can’t call the website back. Can I ask you were testing that plug-ins may be the cause for this issue?

https://bit.ly/1UdRNWb

Regards,

The link wants a password which I don’t have.

I wasn’t testing plugins. The method for debugging this type of problem is to switch out plugins and maybe also the theme and peel back the site to something really basic that works. Then add things back in one-by-one and test, to try to identify which software element isn’t playing nicely.

So, you would start with the plugins. Rename the plugins folder and WP won’t be able to find them. If the site still doesn’t work, rename your theme folder:
wp-content/themes/my-theme-name
WP won’t be able to find your theme and so it will use a default theme.

If it still doesn’t work when you are using only the default theme, its likely the WP update did not complete fully, and a manual resinstall is indicated.

Thank you very much Lorro for your time and guidance.

I’ve resintalled WP but I failed to get anything on the website. I didn’t update wp-content folder which remain having the plug-in folder name changed and the theme name changed prior to the Word Press reinstallation.

From web developer tool, there is basically a blank file. Why…it seems no link or unable to connect to the public–html folder.

I hope this time you can view the screenshots I link to you. I’ve used a different cloud storage this time.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ug1e4ick1w0o3t9/AADF01isUubWQ6fuXftsHJJLa?dl=0

Regards,

It looks like you have not updated the default themes. I can’t say which one WP is trying to use, so either update all 3 of them, or update one and delete the other two. If the one WP is trying to use is corrupted or incomplete it would cause the problem.

You have correctly not updated wp-config.php, but you could try adding in these lines temporarily to try to expose any errors.

define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);

Sometimes cpanel will also have an error log which may throw light on what’s happening.

Here I updated a default theme and delete all others. I added the suggested codes in wp-config.php. The browser still fails to load website.

details what I’ve done
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ug1e4ick1w0o3t9/AADF01isUubWQ6fuXftsHJJLa?dl=0

I added screenshot of error_log on file manager which I don’t know would it help.

Thank you.

In wp-config.php, please replace the occurrences of & # 0 3 9 ; with the single apostrophe character. This alone would be enough to break the site, though something else may be the problem.

I’ve googled the error message and most hits refer to this message being a result of an apc / zend encode/ zend guard misconfiguration, all of which I don’t understand but centre around the setup of your php environment, php.ini and php configuration. zend is a method of securing php files – hence the reference to “encoded files”. If this means nothing to you, you’ll need to go back to your host’s techs and hope for a different tech.

Lorro, It is beyond me. I more understand of how you are debugging. i’ve changed as per your suggestion. But it is the same.

Here the screenshot.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ug1e4ick1w0o3t9/AADF01isUubWQ6fuXftsHJJLa?dl=0

Thank you very much.

Can you tell me what is the worst scenario? In my limited knowledge about this, I can’t get into wp-admin so would I be able to start from scratch.
Regards,

In wp-config.php, change:

define(& # 0 3 9 ; WP_DEBUG & # 0 3 9 ; , true);
define(& # 0 3 9 ; WP_DEBUG_LOG & # 0 3 9 ; , true);

to

define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);

That’s a definite error, but maybe not the error we are looking for.

I think you’ll need to back to your host’s techs and say you’ve been advised that the “Cannot run code from this file in conjunction with encoded files” messages may be due to apc / zend issues and can they fix that.

Suggest you do those two things before starting from scratch.

I’ve already sent a ticket to the web hosting and await for their reply.
I’ve changed to what you just suggested. No luck.

Thank you so much for your time and guidance. I’ve learnt significantly.

Regards,

Lorro,

Brilliant. Here what the web hosting company replied
“I’ve turned off Zend Guard Loader for your site using the PHP selector in your cPanel. This has allowed me to access lifeinterwoven.org/wp-admin without issue, however, the main page is still showing blank.

If you ever do need to change the PHP configuration, you can enable and disable modules using the PHP Selector in your cPanel, as well as set majority of options.”

I did log-in the backend and got some screenshots in the link.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ug1e4ick1w0o3t9/AADF01isUubWQ6fuXftsHJJLa?dl=0

Now, lifeinterwoven.org has displayed some content!!!

So, would it mean I will have to rename the plug-in folder name and theme name back to original. And take out the
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);

from wp-config.php.

Cheers,

The main page is showing rubbish, not blank – so that’s an improvement!

I think the sequence is: restore your usual theme and test, rename the plugins folder, reactivate plugins one-by-one and test, then remove the two debug lines.

If you are running a cache plugin, reactivate that only when everything is working.

Hi Lorro,

The website has been restored except only images were lost from media. Others seem alright.

I don’t run cache plugin.

Thank you very much for your guidance and time.

Regards,