HELP! No Admin Backup... everything lost?? :(

So here's what has happened.

I had a friend who was hosting my old site, as well as providing a free domain name for me to use. My wife finally told me she wanted to have a new domain name.

My good friend attempted to move the sites... and he has told me that the admin database got corrupt, and we lost everything in there :(

Not being a experienced ZC user, I thought that backing up the entire site thru FTP would be enough to save my ########, I had no idea that there was an admin db backup required as well...

So, with my physical ZC backup from the FTP, is there any hope for me saving any of my site? I am pretty depressed, having spent hours and hours putting it together.

Any advice on where to begin, and what I can salvage would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,

c0wboy

If the database is really gone, all you'll be able to save are those things that are in your custom template files. All your admin settings, products, customers, ezpages, etc, are contained in the database.

You should ask your friend if the database is actually gone, or just corrupted. If the later, you may be able to save it.

I don't mean to beat up on you, but for those new Zenners reading this thread, this is the best reason to always have control of your domain name and hosting account, and install and configure Zencart yourself.

Thanks for the reply Steve.

I think he told me that the database got corrupt, and then wrote over itself? I'll try to get the full details from him and post back.

So a FULL backup from the sites ftp... including EVERYTHING doesn't save any of that stuff? :( What did I save then? I figured having the zc_admin files would have saved a bunch of that stuff.

If by some fluke chance I had backed up the db without knowing it... what would that file be called?

You are right though... not having control has probably cost me hundreds of hours of work... I hope some of my work is still around from the site backup, but I'm having a hard time figuring out just what that might be...

No, the fileset and database are two completely separate things. You can't backup the database using FTP. It's usually done using a program called phpMyAdmin in your hosting control panel.

Also, if your friend isn't actually hosting the site himself, but is a reseller for a hosting company, the host may be able to provide a database backup.

He was hosting thru hostmonster when he tried to make the changes.

Do you think they keep backups of those sections? I know when I first started with a weebly site, I made a mess of my site and they were able to restore to a previous version...

I'm open to ANY suggestions, and do appreciate you spending the time to give me some insight.

One thing I just tried was googling my old site. I've been able to see some of my "ez pages" that got cached. So I'm trying to copy the text while I can. It also will hep me remember exactly what I lost...

I can't speak for Hostmonster, but any reputable host I'm aware of does regular backups of all files and databases on all servers. Mine does them every 24 hours. I would contact Hostmonster ASAP and ask.

Thanks again for your help.

I will try that... (fingers crossed)

Also, databases are pretty passive creatures. they don't generally corrupt or overwrite themselves.

I'm getting the impression that you friend doesn't really know what's happened either, and is just explaining it as best he understands it. So I'd not take everything he says as gospel.

fair enough kuroi.

I really don't know much about this myself, but I know he was playing around with a few things before it got wiped.

He finally gave me the hostmonster login, and I have looked and verified that whatever was there is no longer. Plus, all that remains is a newly installed version the date he said it was over written.

I submitted a ticket... hopefully I hear something back sooner than later.

Thanks for all your help

As yes, if he reinstalled the cart that will overwrite the existing tables, though it does make it clear that that's what it's about to do.