can i reinstall smf files without losing my forum?

[shane is my name]

im having issues on my smf forum,  but i installed the exact same smf and mods on two other test sites and everything works ok there...  so something must be wrong with my install on my main site. 

how can i replace all of the files without losing data or breaking links to the sql tables?

[Kays]

You should be able to just overwrite all of the files. The database won't be affected.

I've replied to your other topic. Why not wait for some feedback from that topic before re-uploading a fresh set of files. Is the behaviour the same without the mods installed?

[MrPhil]

Don't overwrite Settings.php or Settings_bak.php. These contain your configuration information, database ID and password, etc. It's a pain to retype all that information.

Before you overwrite all your files, which will wipe out any mods you've installed (you will need to re-install them), have you tried to find out what might be causing the problem? Have you compared your files in the non-working installation against the files in a working test site, to see what changed? You may find that you've been hacked, or something bad like that. Are you planning to copy over the files from one of the working test sites (except for Settings), rather than doing a fresh install and doing the mods again? Are you changing SMF version, PHP version, or MySQL version while doing any of this?

[shane is my name]

Thanks. i was planning on just copying the files over from one of my working test sites... is thiis ok?  i dont want to do a new install because then im sure i would lose tables etc... 

so if i copy files over (except for the settings files), i will still have the few posts that members made, right?  I just started forum so its ok if i lose it all, but i'd rather not...  LOL

[shane is my name]

im a little worried about how to proceed... are there any moderators that can help me out?

I tested it out in my test site, and i saved the 2 setting files as above.. then i deleted all the files,,, i re-installed smf,  then copied over the 2 test files and that did not work, the page looks crazy,  not viewable at all...

so has anyone successfully started there forum over while keeping the databases and things like that?

[MrPhil]

Could your original Settings.php file been bad (corrupted)? Compare it to one on a working test system and see if anything looks like it's been added or mangled.

You say you "reinstalled" SMF. Did you just copy over the files, or did you do a full install including creating a new database? You want to use your old database and your old Settings.php file (to point to that database).

Are you getting any error messages? Anything on the screen or in a log file? What does "looks crazy" mean? Attach a screen shot if you can.

[shane is my name]

Thanks..
I had deleted the entire directory (and backed up the 2 settings files). Then did a new install via cPanel and Fantastico...
I then pasted back the settings files...
It looked insane at first but i realized that its because it was trying to use my last THEME which of course was not installed yet (because of the new install).
So when i set it to use core theme, it worked!  all my tables everything were back!  so i was happy! 
EXCEPT,  I went to my main site to do the same exact thing, and when i tried to install smf (via fantastico) I got a message stating that i can not have two scripts in the same root directory.      support # is closed for the weekend.  There is nothing in the root directory at all.. not one file.. i even deleted the data from /.fantasticodata/smf     and yet it still wont let me. It thinks i have something installed in the root directory...

I guess my option now is to try a manual install... so im off to try and figure that out. hopefully its not too complicated...

[MrPhil]

Fantastico thinks you still have SMF installed, and won't install a second copy in the same directory. First of all, don't do an "install". All you need to do is to copy all the files from your working installation into this directory. You may find it easiest to FTP all the SMF files to your PC, and then back up to your server, if you have a broadband connection. You don't need to create a new database and you don't need to involve Fantastico. Hopefully, in erasing Fantastico control files, you haven't seriously messed up anything. You may no longer be able to use Fantastico to un-install SMF, until your host repairs the damage. Maybe you can replace the Fantastico file(s) you erased with ones from your test installation? And don't forget at some point to get rid of any extra databases you created each time you installed with Fantastico (be VERY careful not to erase your good database!).

[shane is my name]

I tried to copy over all the files, but when igo to the site, it shows the page, but some basic things are missing.. like at teh bottom of the page,  it says:
Sorry, the copyright must be in the template.
Please notify this forum's administrator that this site is missing the copyright message for SMF so they can rectify the situation. Display of copyright is a legal requirement. For more information on this please visit the Simple Machines website

Im going to copy over again, but if it doesnt work, iguess im screwed until monday when my hosting will answer the phone. 

[shane is my name]

what if i install it in a directory other than the root directory,  like mysite/forums.

i cant find the article i read before, where i think i can just copy over certain files into the root directory to still allow people to get to forums by entering my site?

is this method not recomended because of anything?

[Kill Em All]

First, make a back up of your database, then remove the installation from Fantastico, then run SMF's install package, then add the database info into your settings.php.

Also back up the settings.php for your database info, just incase you don't know it.

[shane is my name]

I got my forum back up.. wasted the entire day & night. LOL  oh god that sucked.
and guess what, the issue is still there.  i have no idea why some graphics dont appear sometimes... oh well...  another day ill post a more direct question dealing with that.. cause im exhausted on the smf subject!  LOL

also, i want to say thanks to you guys that gave advice!   sincerely.

[JimM]

Going through some older topics, is this issue solved or do you still require assistance?

[shane is my name]

yes its resolved.. sorry.  I only learned today about clicking the resolved button.