My upgrade from 1.3.9h to 1.5.0 hasn't worked and I can't work out why not...

So after who knows how many years, I finally decided to update my original site. Due to the php failure on my site in 2020, I created a newer .com in version 1.5.7 with a new database, however Google keeps pointing to my original database so I'm finally getting my act together and trying to bring it all the way through. The .co.nz address points to the .com address.

However with this upgrade from 1.3.9h to 1.5.0, I've hit an error, have read through heaps of forum posts and can't work out where it has gone wrong as I did everything step by step, including comparing files.

My Admin Page is bringing up this message:

**Hello. Thank you for loading Zen Cart®.
You are seeing this page for one or more reasons:
This is your first time using Zen Cart® and you haven't yet completed the normal Installation procedure.
If this is the case for you, you will need to upload the "zc_install" folder using your FTP program, and then run zc_install/index.php via your browser (or reload this page to see a link to it).

Your /includes/configure.php and/or /admin/includes/configure.php file contains invalid path information and/or invalid database-connection information.
If you recently edited your configure.php files for any reason, or maybe moved your site to a different folder or different server, then you'll need to review and update all your settings to the correct values for your server.
See the Online FAQ and Tutorials area on the Zen Cart® website for assistance.

To begin installation ...
The Installation Documentation can be read by clicking here: Documentation
You will need to upload the "zc_install" folder using your FTP program, and then run zc_install/index.php via your browser (or reload this page to see a link to it).
The Online FAQ and Tutorials area on the Zen Cart® website will also be of value if you run into difficulties.
**

My database information is exactly the same name as it was before, as is the password so I'm confused about this part of the message. Both configure files have this correct.

I have reuploaded the zc-install folder twice, gone through the process, and the admin login shows along with the message to delete the zc-install files. As soon as I delete them, I'm back to this page in a loop.

Suggestions? Or can I just move onto the next version?
https://www.AmorAromatherapy.co.nz, 1.5.0, PHP version alt-php52, list of plugins - don't know as I can't access admin to see them

Thanks
Tania

Try this (https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/running/local_testing/#2-prepare-the-configurephp-files)

Sorry, I'm a bit confused by that - this is a live store behind the scenes... so am I adding the / in the front or not, as I assume that is what you are referring to?

Elemi:

Sorry, I'm a bit confused by that - this is a live store behind the scenes... so am I adding the / in the front or not, as I assume that is what you are referring to?

Your database is not connected. This doc will help you locate those files and correctly add your new database info =)

do you mean this bit here?

define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', preg_replace('#^' . str_replace('-', '-', $p1) . '#', '', dirname($_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME'])) . '/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN', preg_replace('#^' . str_replace('-', '-', $p2) . '#', '', dirname($_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME'])) . '/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/');

If so, I have no idea where I am supposed to enter my "admin" as this is a totally different setup to 1.3.9h.

I'm going to bed now, it's late here in NZ so I'll try again tomorrow evening.

Set DB_SERVER_USERNAME and DB_SERVER_PASSWORD to the new database user and password you created in the first step.

/**
 * The following settings define your database connection.
 * These must be the SAME as you're using in your admin copy of configure.php
 */
define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql'); // always 'mysql'
define('DB_PREFIX', ''); // prefix for database table names -- preferred to be left empty
define('DB_CHARSET', 'utf8mb4'); // 'utf8mb4' or older 'utf8' / 'latin1' are most common
define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');  // address of your db server
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', '[B]your_db_username[/B]');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '[B]your_db_password[/B]');
define('DB_DATABASE', '[B]your_db_name[/B]');

That is all set on both configure files, and has been since I did the install. There is no NEW database name, etc, it's the same as before.

admin/includes
// define our database connection
define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
define('DB_PREFIX', '');
define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'redacted');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', 'redacted');
define('DB_DATABASE', 'redacted');

/includes
// define our database connection
define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
define('DB_PREFIX', '');
define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'redacted');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', 'redacted');
define('DB_DATABASE', 'redacted');
define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db');
// for STORE_SESSIONS, use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage

Both of the configure.php files are missing the DB_CHARSET definition. If you're coming from zc139h, they should most likely be set to 'latin1'.

Thanks Lat, I've added those in, based on the configure files in my v1.5.8 site, however that hasn't changed the admin page at this stage.

Should I reinstall the zc-install files and run the setup again?

so I finally got back to this, ran ZC_Install again, renamed admin back to admin and the following are the errors I get when I try to Update the Database from 1.3.9h to 1.5.0:

NOTE: Skipped upgrade statements: 25
See details at bottom of page for your inspection.
(Details also logged in the "upgrade_exceptions" table.)
Note: In most cases, these failed statements can be ignored, as they are indications that certain settings may have already been set on your site.
If all the suggested upgrade steps have been completed (no recommendations left), you may proceed to Skip Upgrades and continue configuring your site.

SKIPPED: Cannot insert configuration_key "STORE_TELEPHONE_CUSTSERVICE" because it already exists
SKIPPED: Cannot insert configuration_key "SSLPWSTATUSCHECK" because it already exists
SKIPPED: Cannot insert configuration_key "SSLPWSTATUSCHECK" because it already exists
SKIPPED: Cannot insert configuration_key "SSLPWSTATUSCHECK" because it already exists
SKIPPED: Cannot insert configuration_key "SSLPWSTATUSCHECK" because it already exists
SKIPPED: Cannot insert configuration_key "SSLPWSTATUSCHECK" because it already exists
SKIPPED: Cannot insert configuration_key "SSLPWSTATUSCHECK" because it already exists
SKIPPED: Cannot insert configuration_key "SSLPWSTATUSCHECK" because it already exists
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column flagged because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column attention because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column gzpost because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot drop index page_accessed on table admin_activity_log because it does not exist.
SKIPPED: Cannot drop index access_date on table admin_activity_log because it does not exist.
SKIPPED: Cannot add index idx_page_accessed_zen to table admin_activity_log because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot add index idx_access_date_zen to table admin_activity_log because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot add index idx_flagged_zen to table admin_activity_log because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column admin_profile because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot add index idx_admin_profile_zen to table admin because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column prev_pass1 because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column prev_pass2 because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column prev_pass3 because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column pwd_last_change_date because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column reset_token because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column last_modified because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column last_login_date because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column last_login_ip because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column failed_logins because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column lockout_expires because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column last_failed_attempt because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column last_failed_ip because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot ADD column last_failed_ip because it already exists.
SKIPPED: Cannot DROP column admin_level because it does not exist.
SKIPPED: Cannot DROP column admin_level because it does not exist.

I have absolutely no idea where to go to add these missing columns! Can someone please point me in the right direction... Or do I just go straight to 1.5.1 and update that instead?

It's 18 months later and I'm still stuck on this - can anyone give me some insight on what the issue is with my database not connecting properly?

My alternative site v1.5.7 has just fallen over with a php upgrade affecting the checkout page, so I really should get back into the update of my older site.

none of those skipped items are of any consequence.

there are no columns to add because they are already there.

there are no columns to drop because they are not there.

as to why your database does not connect, that problem should solely be in your configure.php files. 3 constants: db name, db user, db password. those need to be correct in order for the database to connect.

best.

In the first post, Elemi wrote "The .co.nz address points to the .com address." with the .co.nz site being the old one that now has trouble to update. The problem might be that the site URL register in the config file is redirected to the other site (other server?) and try to connect to this site database which has different credentials.
The solution would be to remove this redirect. In this case the .co.nz URL won't be accessible until the update is done, this the inconvenient of working on live sites.