Host broke it - can't fix it

[TiU]

Hello,
Hostgator broke my SMF forum. Here is an earlier query.

Otherwise -- your host REALLY broke something, since it appears that they tried to run phpbb files against an SMF forum database
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=588508.0

The situation is this:  I took over the forum 5-or-so years ago, when the original owner lost interest.  I'm not a computer guy, but I can manage some things.  The original owner IS a computer guy, but Hostgator has screwed things up so badly that he can't fix it. 

The forum has many years of valuable content.

I would like to know if it is possible to transfer the SMF forum to a static hosting account.  Essentially, what I would like to know is whether it is possible to establish the forum contents as sort of an online archive.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks.   

[vbgamer45]

If the database is there still, it should be possible to recover and fix things.

Static content generation is not easy if the site is very large

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Do you have access to HG control panel?  You should be able to d/l the database.  If it's not damaged the forum can be restored on a different host.

[Doug Heffernan]

but Hostgator has screwed things up so badly that he can't fix it. 

How did they screw things up? The more info you give us the better.

I would like to know if it is possible to transfer the SMF forum to a static hosting account. 

Providing the database is intact have a look at this guide:

https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Hosting_-_How_do_I_move_my_SMF_forum_to_a_different_host

[TiU]

Thanks for the link.

How did they screw things up? The more info you give us the better.

Hostgator sent an email saying the need to upgrade PHP software.


They provided instructions, which I navigated, only to have them send an an email saying this:

From the case details, I understand that you wish to have a PHP version of 8.2 on your hosting
plan with the account. We have been planning PHP upgrades throughout
this year, but unfortunately, that version of PHP is not yet available for your server,
hxxp:gator3104.hostgator.com [nonactive]. Since the server has CentOS 6 installed, newer PHP versions are not
compatible with the older operating system.

I corresponded with them, and they said they would migrate to another server. Something like that.

That didn't fix it, and then they said something about "script."

As I said, I can manage things on the computer as far as following instructions, but their instructions didn't work, and they didn't solve the problem.  Not being computer tech savvy, I don't know what "script" is.

I contacted Sean - the original owner - and he tried to figure it out, but couldn't.

It's just totally screwed up, so, we have to decide to just put on a static account - as an archive - or move to another hosting company.  But, perhaps these upgrades will continue, and with future problems. 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The only thing that's important is you must make a local backup of your forum database.  Then you can get off HG and restore the forum on a better host.

[Doug Heffernan]

What version of Smf is the forum on?

[Kindred]

So,here's the deal.

Smf 2.0.x does not support php 8.2.

If you are running 2.0.17 or less - the site would be completely broken

The fix?
Revert php to 7.4
Then update smf to 2.1.4
Then you can use php 8.2

Smf 2.1.x does support php 8.2

As mentioned several times above, if you have the database, then everything else can basically be reconstructed.

(Also the avatars directory and the attachments directory, if you can get them)

[Sir Osis of Liver]

2.0.19 will run in php 8.2, it will log a lot of errors.  If you just want to try to get the forum running on HG and can't downgrade to 8.0, you should be able to do so.  But in any event, you must get a local backup of your database, and, as Kindred suggested, your attachments.  If you have your content you can restore the forum anywhere.

[Oggie66]

Yes we made a backup of the DBs and I have them

We still have access to the Cpanel

If the database is there still, it should be possible to recover and fix things.

Static content generation is not easy if the site is very large

[Oggie66]

We have the backups

I think your suggestion to change hosts is probably the best

Og

Do you have access to HG control panel?  You should be able to d/l the database.  If it's not damaged the forum can be restored on a different host.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Cpanel should allow you to d/l a complete account backup to your local computer.  That will give you everything, and you can move to a new host.  At minimum you'll need the forum database and attachments, and you should have a complete backup of all forum files.

[Oggie66]

Unfortunately I already ran the  repair_settings.php

Can't access that anymore

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Accessing cpanel has nothing to do with repair_settings.  Cpanel is the control panel for your host account, the forum is installed and runs in that account, and repair_settings is a forum utility.

How did you back up the database?

[Doug Heffernan]

Unfortunately I already ran the  repair_settings.php

Can't access that anymore

In what way can't you access it? Do you get errors? If so, can you please post what errors you get? The more details you give us the better.