zc_install won't run

HELP!!!! did a fresh install of 1.3.8a to get rid of some horrible things I did in the early days on my site. everything was fine until I imported my old database content - now I get the 'patch levels' error but I can't seem to run zc_install - I reloaded the install folder (it had previously been deleted). I get the first and second pages OK - but when it goes to:
http://zc_install/index.php?main_page=inspect
the screen goes blank. I've tried running it on several different machines (I have a very old iMac so wondered if it was a browser problem) and no joy. I've tried resetting permissions on the cache and config files - no joy. I've checked the uploaded file structure aginst the 1.3.8a fileset - seems to be OK.:frusty:
has anyone got any ideas - this is getting really desperate - I can't really afford for my site to be down much longer.
cheers
toria
https://www.toriapilar.com

Edit the zc_install/includes/application_top.php file to comment out line 49, i.e.

error_reporting(0);becomes> // error_reporting(0);Then try running zc_install again.

It won't work, but will hopefully provide a clue as to why it isn't working.

Hello Kuroi
thank-you for your quick response. I commented out the line and re- ran - exactly the same thing happened - I get the front page, the license page and then a blank.
i did wonder if it had anything to do with the .hta access - but no, removing that made no difference
could it be server settings? it seems I'm not alone - someone else had same problem in april but thread petered out with no solution....
i don't want to revert to my old site but ...
thanks in advance for any ideas
cheers
Toria

You could try looking specifically at zc_install/includes/modules/pages/inspect/header_php.php and zc_install/includes/templates/template_default/templates/inspect_default.php to check that they are not truncated or corrupted. Or maybe even deleting them and replacing them with fresh copies to eliminate this risk.

Thanks kuroi. tried that - no change. assuming files downloaded ok (they look ok to me but what do i know!) then the ones uploaded to my server are identical.
partially out of curiosity and partially out of desperation, i manually changed the word 'inspect' in the url to 'upgrade' and I got an error page that mentiond timeout or cache permissions or php sessions on the server.
my zen certified host did the install for me and then dumped the zcinstall before handing it over to me - I've had to reload the zc_install. could they have set something at their end? I have spoken to them briefly (it was at closing time yesterday - not good timing on my part) but they were the ones who suggested i redid the install umm so....bit lost
cheers
Toria

Is there a log file for zcInstall information located in your /cache/ folder? If so, it might indicate some information about what problems are being encountered.

Hello Dr Byte
the only thing in the cache folder is 'index.php'. I tried a friend's computer last night - re downloaded a 1.3.8a fileset and uploaded the zc_install from a new PC - same thing happened. I had wondered if my very geriatric imac and defunct browser had somehow corrupted files - if they had, it doesn't seem to be the problem.
cheers
Toria :wacko:

Is your "cache" folder "writable"?, ie: chmod 777 ? The installer needs to create some temporary files, and uses the cache folder for that purpose. If it can't write to that folder, it can't proceed with the install.
Your host can tell you whether 777 is acceptable or not with your server's configuration. Sometimes 755 is the max they'll allow, and in those cases, 755 should work.

Hello Dr Byte
first time I tried, cache was at 755. I changed it to 777. doesn't seem to have made a difference. also tried setting permissions of configure files to 777 when i ran the install. I'm sure its something simple like that but what?
cheers
Toria

Hello Br Byte
Vger (my lovely host) has just sent me a PM. according to the error log, one of my files was missing its .php extension. that has been remedied and has allowed me to get as far as the upgrade page. The problem is now apparently:
mysql_upgrade_zencart_137_to_138.sql SQL Install file does not exist
I can see it on the server via Fetch so just trying to sort that one out now.
cheers
Toria

Help again!
I thought Vger had cracked it earlier - it was a missing file extension. I can now get to the database upgrade page but it tells me the mysql_zencart.sql file can't be found. but when i look at my file structure, either in Fetch or my newly rediscovered control panel, there it is. I've looked at the page from a fresh download, and compared it with the one on the server and they look the same (as far as I can tell - don't have winmerge or similar). any ideas anyone?
cheers
Toria
https://www.toriapilar.com

To keep people informed.

1. Toria uses an ancient Mac, and apparently it is chopping off the end of file names and file extensions when uploading files.
2. The new problem is the same as the last one - a missing end of file name and missing extension.
3. Toria is now aware of this and can use the Hosting control panel's File Manager to upload files.

Vger