WordPress returns to install mode after migration. Solution.

Jan 3, 2019 |

You move your lovely stable site from your odl server over to a shiny new system. All should work fine. the wp-config.php is the same, the database backups have been working for years and ahve been used for previous migrations so you know that encoding and all those other things that can go wrong during a database migration are all absolutely fine. But yet when you launch the site on the new server, you are presented with the lovely WordPress install wizzard. Not really what you had expected was it?
I encountered this today and spent about two hours looking through absolutely everything to try to find out what was going on.

  1. database connection string hadn’t changed so that was correct.
  2. Table prefix hadn’t changed of course. But we’ll come back to that one in a minute.
  3. Database permissions were all correct.
  4. No funny characters had crept in during the migration of the database.
  5. Nothing was wrong with the backup archive. Checksums matched.
  6. Just in case, I did a full restore all over again.
  7. I even ran a comparason between all the config files.

I found a few posts around the Internet that said the prefixes had to be the same but that’s strange. I don’t have all my prefixes the same. At some point during a previous installation or a test many years ago I changed the prefix but then just left that old test system in the same database. Not very good. I know. But anyway. It worked on the old server so it should work here.
So how did I resolve this?
It’s strange and I really don’t like it. But here goes.

  1. go change your wp-config.php
  2. Give it the old prefix
  3. Fire up the site. You’ll see the old test database tables are now used.
  4. That’s no good to you of course. But wait.
  5. Go back to the wp-config.php file now change the prefix back.
  6. Jump over to your site again and give it a talking to. By just refreshing the page, the damn thing came back up perfectly as if the past few hours never happened!

I really hate technology sometimes.
Anyway, it’s working again and that’s another site migrated over. It’s also about two hours of my life I’ll never get back again.

The night before Christmas 2018.

Dec 24, 2018 | , ,

Every year for the past five years I’ve published a podcast titled “The night before Christmas”. Each year I publish this using Audioboom because it ties in quite nicely with social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. However, Audioboom is going away so I have to go back to hosting the podcast here directly.

But with all that out of the way, please enjoy this years installment. The house is a hive of activity. It’s been great fun enjoying my two children as they look forward to Christmas day.

I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas.

Ceol FM – New website coming soon. Promo video

Ceol FM – New website coming soon. Promo video

Nov 28, 2018 | , ,

Ceol FM is going to change the way you listen to traditional Irish music online. Create playlists, select by instrument, speed, track type and more. Watch this video to see what’s coming very soon.

The Ceol FM service has been used by 18,000 people each week across 34 countries. This new service builds on the already inovative Ceol FM offering to make it easier for you to listen to the music you love and find new music to add to your collection.

Ceol FM – New website coming soon. Promo video

Ceol FM – New website coming soon. Promo video

Nov 28, 2018 | , ,

Ceol FM is going to change the way you listen to traditional Irish music online. Create playlists, select by instrument, speed, track type and more. Watch this video to see what’s coming very soon.

The Ceol FM service has been used by 18,000 people each week across 34 countries. This new service builds on the already inovative Ceol FM offering to make it easier for you to listen to the music you love and find new music to add to your collection.

Trust worthy cons.

Oct 18, 2018 |

Hello!

Howwya.

My nickname in darknet is zebadiah97.

Great stuff. Can I just call you ars whole for short?

I hacked this mailbox more than six months ago, through it I infected your operating system with a virus (trojan) created by me and have been monitoring you for a long time.

Loverly. That would take skill. I’d be impressed if it was true. especially considering your many spelling mistakes. But go on. I’m curious.

If you don’t belive me please check ‘from address’ in your header, you will see that I sent you an email from your mailbox.

Haha. Cool I could probably teach a child how to do that.

Even if you changed the password after that – it does not matter, my virus intercepted all the caching data on your computer and automatically saved access for me.

Damn! I’m really stuck now.

I have access to all your accounts, social networks, email, browsing history.
Accordingly, I have the data of all your contacts, files from your computer, photos and videos.

Grand. You wouldn’t mind cleaning them up while you’re poking around would you?

I was most struck by the intimate content sites that you occasionally visit.
You have a very wild imagination, I tell you!

You’ve just got to love that pidgen on pidgen action don’t you? I hope you enjoyed it.

During your pastime and entertainment there, I took screenshot through the camera of your device, synchronizing with what you are watching.
Oh my god! You are so funny and excited!

I was all a flutter!

I think that you do not want all your contacts to get these files, right?
If you are of the same opinion, then I think that $529 is quite a fair price to destroy the dirt I created.

Send the above amount on my BTC wallet (bitcoin): 19D67Tgb3neJiTHd8pZDEBYmUn2qSjxEeB
As soon as the above amount is received, I guarantee that the data will be deleted, I do not need it.

Okay. You’re obviously very trust worthy. I’ll send the money to you right now.

Otherwise, these files and history of visiting sites will get all your contacts from your device.
Also, I’ll send to everyone your contact access to your email and access logs, I have carefully saved it!

Since reading this letter you have 50 hours!
After your reading this message, I’ll receive an automatic notification that you have seen the letter.

I hope I taught you a good lesson.
Do not be so nonchalant, please visit only to proven resources, and don’t enter your passwords anywhere!
Good luck!

What kind of total idiots send these messages.

The night before Christmas 2017

Dec 24, 2017 | , ,

This is the fourth year that we have done this. The equipment is a little better this year. It’s recorded on a Zoom H6! 🙂

It’s almost like a picture…. Except it’s for me. I recently listened back over last years recording and I was really glad to hear Méabh as she was then, and Rían before he started to get so active and so full of talk. I know that next year, I’ll listen to this recording and think similar thought’s.

I sincerely hope that where ever you are and what ever you are doing that this Christmas is special, rewarding, relaxing, satisfying and full of joy. I also hope that you are celebrating it with your family and friends.