Upgrading from 1.5.1 to 1.5.4 lost access to admin - blank screen

Here's the process I used:

1. created a test site 1.5.4 code and pointed the database to copy of existing 1.5.1 database
2. ran the upgrade script on the database
3. installed fresh updated copies of all plugins currently in use, merging code where necessary
4. tested the crap out of it - it is all working no problems on test site.
5. made a backup of existing 1.5.1 (live) site
6. make a backup of existing 1.5.1 (live) database
7. put live site into maintenance mode
8. copied code from test site to live site
9. at this point I was unable to access the admin portion of the live site - just got a blank screen. no errors. With out being able to get to the admin part of the site, I couldn't run the upgrade script on the database. The front end (user side) of the site seemed to work just fine.
   I thought maybe it was a corrupt file upload, but was unsuccessful on a second attempt to copy the code - same problem. So I decided to upload the backup code from 1.5.1 to restore the site. After the restore attempt - same problem, just got a blank screen when trying to access the admin part of the site. I called my hosting company and had them restore the site from their backup, it worked just fine. Took site out of maintenance mode while I try to figure out what went wrong.

I've copied code over to do the upgrade many times, and you would think that copying code that works on a test site to a live site should work just the same. This is the first time I have ever encountered such a problem. Has anyone else had a similar issue? what did you do to resolve it?

Only thing I can come up with is all times before I was using a windows PC, this time I am using a Mac. PC is no longer an option. Don't know why this would be an issue, but it is the only difference in my process from times before when things worked.

Edit /YOUR_ADMIN/includes/application_top.php, around line 40 add:

define ('STRICT_ERROR_REPORTING', true);

That will enable error logging through the entire "page load".

I've added the define, now just waiting for a window of opportunity to attempt the upgrade again.

Question though, if there are errors - where should I expect to see the errors recorded - on screen, in a file, etc...

batracy:

Here's the process I used:

1. created a test site 1.5.4 code and pointed the database to copy of existing 1.5.1 database
2. ran the upgrade script on the database
3. installed fresh updated copies of all plugins currently in use, merging code where necessary
4. tested the crap out of it - it is all working no problems on test site.
5. made a backup of existing 1.5.1 (live) site
6. make a backup of existing 1.5.1 (live) database
7. put live site into maintenance mode
8. copied code from test site to live site
9. at this point I was unable to access the admin portion of the live site - just got a blank screen. no errors. With out being able to get to the admin part of the site, I couldn't run the upgrade script on the database. The front end (user side) of the site seemed to work just fine.
   I thought maybe it was a corrupt file upload, but was unsuccessful on a second attempt to copy the code - same problem. So I decided to upload the backup code from 1.5.1 to restore the site. After the restore attempt - same problem, just got a blank screen when trying to access the admin part of the site. I called my hosting company and had them restore the site from their backup, it worked just fine. Took site out of maintenance mode while I try to figure out what went wrong.

I've copied code over to do the upgrade many times, and you would think that copying code that works on a test site to a live site should work just the same. This is the first time I have ever encountered such a problem. Has anyone else had a similar issue? what did you do to resolve it?

Only thing I can come up with is all times before I was using a windows PC, this time I am using a Mac. PC is no longer an option. Don't know why this would be an issue, but it is the only difference in my process from times before when things worked.

Are you copying over the old install? any Error logs?

Originally, I just copied over the old install. After much thought, this could be contributing to the error (of which there are no logs, no indication of anything happening, no nothing...just a blank screen). I will be attempting this again tomorrow morning. This time however, I will be removing the old code before copying in the new code. We'll see if that makes any difference - and if not, maybe I'll get some indication of what is happening with the define for strict error reporting.

We shall see.

batracy:

I've added the define, now just waiting for a window of opportunity to attempt the upgrade again.

Question though, if there are errors - where should I expect to see the errors recorded - on screen, in a file, etc...
They'll be logged to your display.

Ok, upgrade worked. Here's what I did differently:

1. examined the contents of the configuration.php file and found there was a new line added to define the absolute path to the log files folder. Added this line to the existing configuration file(s) - yes, both of them in includes, and admin/includes. The fact this line was missing may have been what caused the problem I experienced.
2. deleted the admin folder contents prior to upload of new code for version 1.5.4
3. uploaded the new code
   • was able to log in to the admin site without any errors

Thanks for the help!