Hitting a wall with installation : blank screen

It's been a long time since I've last posted, 2008-2009 really.

Anyways, I'm trying to upgrade my cart (1.3.8a), I'm also changing hosts. But none of that matters at the moment because I can't even get the install to start.

Basically, I've uploaded all the zencart 1.5.4 files, renamed the 2 configure files, changed permissions on them, changed permissions on the folders. And now I'm stuck. the /zc_install nor the /zc_install/index.php aren't working and lead to blank pages, no error messages, just blank. I've done the above twice. I don't know where to start looking for the cause of this problem, I can't even begin the install.

I'm probably missing something basic here, the dev I paid to do the install and database import hasn't been able to do the install saying the tilde ~ in the web address my host set up is what's causing the problem.(I won't make the domain point to the new site until it's all up and running) Is this a true statement?

The dev also wasn't able to import my old database, but with my host's help we managed to get the old database imported without the dev's involvement... So I'm a little tired and frustrated I guess.

Anyways, any pointers would be appreciated...

Some additional information may help others help you... (BTW, sorry to hear that you've had such a go with this update, but glad that you are moving away from such an old version.)

Current PHP version?
Origin of the install?
The zc_install folder, has it been uploaded anew instead of just running it again?
There has been some truth to the use of the temporary URI as compared to the full URI causing trouble.
The database issue, well... There may be issues with the configure.php files as part of this... Perhaps post them without database credentials, and if listed specific directory information about the admin directory (not expected under a 1.5.x install).

New host's php 5.4.32, mysql 5.6.21
Doing the install in the /public_html folder on the server
When I did the 2nd attempt, I first deleted all the files and re-uploaded from scratch, used Filezilla, no errors reported both times.

The DB issue withimporting it, the host said it was due to a MYISAM line. But it's imported now, just not upgraded because I can't start the install.

I'm not concerned with keeping any custom modules or custom code or any templates, I just want to preserve customer details, orders and products/categories.

The problem came when I spent the past 2 months wasting time and money on lerning and playing with OpenCart and PrestaShop, both going nowhere fast and costing hundreds for modules. I'm ashamed to say I didn't know people have created responsive and scaling templates for zencart 1.5.x which is why I didn't bother with it initially.

So all files uploaded from a fresh download/unzip of the zencart files obtained from basically www.zen-cart.com/getit, no changes made to anything, no additional uploads, try to perform yoursite[dot]com/zc_install and white screen is result...

Hmmm.. MYISAM and an old database... Wondering if need to possibly run the UTF-8 upgrade on it before trying the zc_install again? There is a utility in the downloads section to do that with the database...

I am a little stumped at the moment myself, although that is because I don't have all of the applicable information only assumptions that I do.. Able to install on your server with a demo database? Then drop the database, import the old database and try the zc_install upgrade? (Assuming that the DB_PREFIX for "both" stores is the same...

Are you also sure that PHP 5.4.32 and the other settings are what are being "presented" to your ZC install? Not restricted by say something in your public_html .htaccess file or similar?

Any errors in the web server's error logs? Or in the "debug" logs generate during installation (when running zc_install)?

Have you tried a clean install into an empty folder and empty database yet? If not, I would recommend trying this before going any further. This will create new configure.php files (with detected settings for the new hosting environment). Make sure during the installation to use the same DB_PREFIX as the 1.3.8a installation. This is the first step of rebuilding your Zen Cart installation using a new version.

I have not tested this in Zen Cart 1.5.4, but in the older 1.5.x versions there were some know issues when using an "IP Address" (instead of a domain name). Depending upon how you are handling DNS for the domain (most hosting providers have their own internal DNS records for each site - pointing to their internal servers - not the root name servers)... There are some ways to leave the domain pointing to the old hosting provider for the general public (leave the root name servers and DNS records alone)... And tell your personal "development" computer to resolve the domain to the new hosting provider's "IP Address" (search online for "Change Host File").

I will ask my host for some help with another ticket, since this is probably another problem on their end, maybe related to MYISAM.

my dev also did a fresh install early this morning in a /public_html/zen folder he made. He and I both had the same result with a blank page when accessing zc_install.

There are several empty databases sitting on the site, but does this matter in the sense that I can't even get to the first step of the install let alone the step where I'd be able to tell the installer to create a new DB or upgrade.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Northfur

... my dev also did a fresh install early this morning in a /public_html/zen folder he made. He and I both had the same result with a blank page when accessing zc_install. ...

---

Sorry to sound like a broken record, but just want to be sure... Can I assume when you said "install" you were referring to "uploaded a clean copy of all files in the Zen Cart 1.5.4 distribution archive (without any configure.php files)"? And then you attempted to finish the installation by accessing "/~account/zc_install/"?

Have you tried manually typing "/~account/zc_install/index.php" into your browser (substitute the correct path)?

Can you post (use code tags - the # in the editor when posting) the output of phpinfo() on the new hosting provider?

Is the HTTP response code 200, 500, or something else?

My host "fixed" the problem by uploading a different index.php file in the zc_install directory. The install page comes up and says it's 1.5.4, I haven't run it yet.

I've looked through it briefly and it's an older file they put up? This is what they uploaded in place of the index.php.

PHP Code:

---

<?php
/**
 * index.php -- This is the main hub file for the Zen Cart installer
 * @package Installer
 * @access private
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2007 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: index.php 7404 2007-11-11 04:09:50Z drbyte $
 */

  define('IS_ADMIN_FLAG',false);
/*
 * Ensure that the include_path can handle relative paths, before we try to load any files
 */
  if (!strstr(ini_get('include_path'), '.')) ini_set('include_path', '.' . PATH_SEPARATOR . ini_get('include_path'));
/*
 * Initialize system core components
 */
  require('includes/application_top.php');

  /* This is for debug purposes to run installer from command line. Set to true to enable it:  */
  if (false) {
    if ($argc > 0) {
      for ($i=1;$i<$argc;$i++) {
        $it = split("=",$argv[$i]);
        $_GET[$it[0]] = $it[1];
        // parse_str($argv[$i],$tmp);
        // $_REQUEST = array_merge($_REQUEST, $tmp);
      }
    }
  }

  // init vars:
    $zc_first_field = '';

  // begin processing page-specific actions
  if (!isset($_GET['main_page']) || !zen_not_null($_GET['main_page'])) $_GET['main_page'] = 'index';
  $current_page = $_GET['main_page'];
  $page_directory = 'includes/modules/pages/' . $current_page;
  $language_page_directory = 'includes/languages/' . $language . '/';
  require($language_page_directory . $current_page . '.php');
  require('includes/languages/' . $language . '.php');


//  $zc_install->logDetails('$_POST = ' . print_r($_POST, true) . print_r($_SESSION, true), $current_page . '-index.php', 'testing_flow');
//  $zc_install->logDetails($zc_install->getConfigKey('*', true), $current_page . '-index.php - before header_php', 'testing_flow');


  require($page_directory . '/header_php.php');
  require(DIR_WS_INSTALL_TEMPLATE . 'common/html_header.php');

//  $zc_install->logDetails($zc_install->getConfigKey('*', true), $current_page . '-index.php - AFTER header_php', 'testing_flow');

  require(DIR_WS_INSTALL_TEMPLATE . 'common/main_template_vars.php');
  require(DIR_WS_INSTALL_TEMPLATE . 'common/tpl_main_page.php');
?>

---

As far as I can tell, this above older version doesn't have lines 56 to 61 from the newer version:

PHP Code:

---

if (!isset($_GET) && isset($_SERVER["argc"]) && $_SERVER["argc"] > 1) {
for($i=1;$i<$_SERVER["argc"];$i++) {
list($key, $val) = explode('=', $_SERVER["argv"][$i]);
$_GET[$key] = $_REQUEST[$key] = $val;
}
} 


---

And the older versions 26th line
$it = split("=",$argv[$i]);

vs. the newer version's 50th line
$it = preg_split("/=/",$argv[$i]);

I don't know enough to understand if these are critical changes.

From the PHP manual "split() is deprecated as of PHP 5.3.0. preg_split() is the suggested alternative."

It could be the host has disabled some PHP functions (such as preg_split). If this is the case, you will probably run into other issues while running Zen Cart (caused by restrictions added by the hosting provider).

As previously requested, please post the contents of phpinfo() (or provide a link to a page displaying the phpinfo(). This will give us a better idea of the hosting environment and allow us to continue trying to help you.

Here's the phpinfo I got

http://tor-eh10.fullhost.com/~northfur/phpinfo.php

Looks like the server has XCACHE installed. Replace the original "/zc_install/index.php" from Zen Cart 1.5.4.

Then (based on the output from phpinfo) open up "/zc_install/index.php" and change the following lines.

FROM:

Code:

---

if (function_exists('apc_clear_cache')) @apc_clear_cache();
//XCACHE
if (function_exists('xcache_clear_cache')) @xcache_clear_cache();
//EA

---

TO:

Code:

---

if (function_exists('apc_clear_cache')) @apc_clear_cache();
//XCACHE
if (function_exists('xcache_clear_cache')) {
  @ini_set('xcache.cacher', 'OFF');
}
//EA

---

And try the installation again with the changes above.

That line change seemed to work, Thanks! Now to start the install.

Awesome. Let us know how the install and upgrade goes :)


It may be useful for future reference to know what error was being thrown by "xcache_clear_cache()". If you find some time (this will bring back the blank page error), can you try running the original Zen Cart 1.5.4 code with the "@" removed from the front of that function call? And then providing any error message shown (or debug log)?

Code:

---

//XCACHE
if (function_exists('xcache_clear_cache')) xcache_clear_cache();
//EA

---

Ok, so I'm hitting the next speedbump and could use some help.

I've installed Zencart 1.5.4 successfully, it's there, admin works, cart works, database works.

Next step is importing my old database from 1.3.8a

I've exported the old database and included these attributes:
Add DROP TABLE
Add IF NOT EXISTS
Add AUTO_INCREMENT value
Enclose table and field names with backquotes

Since in my earlier attempts I ran across the error: #1050 - Table 'address_book' already exists and found the above solution in another thread.

With a long chain involving my host doing the imports since I couldn't get anything to import through phpmyadmin, they managed to import the old database into the new zencart database and didn't report any errors.

When going to admin, there's a zencart error about problems connecting to database, I think this is expected since nothing has been upgraded yet.

Then the wall hits.
I try running zc_install again and the database upgrade option isn't coming up? What step should it come up?
The old and new DB's both have the same prefixes, do they also need the same name as well?

So if anyone can point me in the right direction, it would help alot.

Warning when I enter the admin: WARNING: An Error occurred, please refresh the page and try again.


Found this in the log about when I try to enter the admin:

[07-Jan-2015 11:05:43 America/Toronto] PHP Warning: mysqli_connect(): (28000/1045): Access denied for user 'northfur_zencart'@'localhost' (using password: YES) in /home/northfur/public_html/includes/classes/db/mysql/query_factory.php on line 62

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Northfur

Warning when I enter the admin: WARNING: An Error occurred, please refresh the page and try again.


Found this in the log about when I try to enter the admin:

[07-Jan-2015 11:05:43 America/Toronto] PHP Warning: mysqli_connect(): (28000/1045): Access denied for user 'northfur_zencart'@'localhost' (using password: YES) in /home/northfur/public_html/includes/classes/db/mysql/query_factory.php on line 62

---

Another user ran across this error yesterday... Don't/didn't by chance have the phpBB option turned on in the old(er) store did you?

But, to go further, because no additional helpful information was provided in the error log, suggest installing lat9s myDebug backtrace: http://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=1879

then, force the error again and check the log for results.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Northfur

Ok, so I'm hitting the next speedbump and could use some help.

I've installed Zencart 1.5.4 successfully, it's there, admin works, cart works, database works.

Next step is importing my old database from 1.3.8a

I've exported the old database and included these attributes:
Add DROP TABLE
Add IF NOT EXISTS
Add AUTO_INCREMENT value
Enclose table and field names with backquotes

Since in my earlier attempts I ran across the error: #1050 - Table 'address_book' already exists and found the above solution in another thread.

With a long chain involving my host doing the imports since I couldn't get anything to import through phpmyadmin, they managed to import the old database into the new zencart database and didn't report any errors.

When going to admin, there's a zencart error about problems connecting to database, I think this is expected since nothing has been upgraded yet.

Then the wall hits.
I try running zc_install again and the database upgrade option isn't coming up? What step should it come up?
The old and new DB's both have the same prefixes, do they also need the same name as well?

So if anyone can point me in the right direction, it would help alot.

---

This error is not expected... A database connection error is never considered a normal response in an upgrade.

I think it's resolved now....

My host changed the password on my database when they imported the tables.
I went through the database upgrade steps and it seems to be working with both the admin and front end, now to install modules.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Northfur

I think it's resolved now....

My host changed the password on my database when they imported the tables.
I went through the database upgrade steps and it seems to be working with both the admin and front end, now to install modules.

---

That was the next thought based on the error including using password: YES and a feeling based on the number of hands that have been involved to get through this upgrade.

Congrats, you're almost there!

Given all the difficulties you've had with importing the database, I'm inclined to ask: who's the hosting company?
Don't they provide standard tools like phpMyAdmin to manage database data?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DrByte

Given all the difficulties you've had with importing the database, I'm inclined to ask: who's the hosting company?
Don't they provide standard tools like phpMyAdmin to manage database data?

---

Read MY MIND.. because MY thought was that it sounds like it time for the OP to find a NEW hosting company.. Sounds like their server setup was the end and beginning of the OPs issues.. (IJS...)

Could be their OLD hosting provider had really old versions of PHP and MySQL... And the database export contained "TYPE=MyISAM" instead of "ENGINE=MyISAM"... I've not tried importing old mysqldump code into a newer version of MySQL using a recent version of phpMyAdmin, so just speculating...

But at the same time... Why did the NEW hosting provider change the credentials on the database without notifying you?

I also did not like the answer of "just use the installation front controller (index.php) from an older version to install the current version of Zen Cart"... Granted this one was probably a little more difficult to troubleshoot... But once the OP posted the PHP information (and I saw XCache installed), I found the answer by doing a quick search of these forums with "install blank page XCache " (and then did another search to find a potential way to temporarily disable OP code caching via XCache during the Zen Cart installation)...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lhungil

Could be their OLD hosting provider had really old versions of PHP and MySQL... And the database export contained "TYPE=MyISAM" instead of "ENGINE=MyISAM"... I've not tried importing old mysqldump code into a newer version of MySQL using a recent version of phpMyAdmin, so just speculating...

But at the same time... Why did the NEW hosting provider change the credentials on the database without notifying you?

I also did not like the answer of "just use the installation front controller (index.php) from an older version to install the current version of Zen Cart"... Granted this one was probably a little more difficult to troubleshoot... But once the OP posted the PHP information (and I saw XCache installed), I found the answer by doing a quick search of these forums with "install blank page XCache " (and then did another search to find a potential way to temporarily disable OP code caching via XCache during the Zen Cart installation)...

---

and hence yet another RECENT example on this forum on WHY OH WHY you DO NOT go to your hosting company to troubleshoot Zen Cart, WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc issues.. They USUALLY just AREN'T the right folks to ask..