phpbb forum losing posts

[YarbsForYankees]

Anyone running a phpbb forum on bluehost lose posts?
I started a forum and I am getting frustrated because posts dissapear.
I don't have any pruning on.
Is this an sql problem or just bugs in phpbb?

I would love to have a forum but our discussion group hates losing posts.

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Cheryl

[siguie]

Yeah I had that problem it was Fantastico :mad: mine also just periodically failed to connect to the database.

The solution is to 1) optimize your database 2) make sure the admin account is set to use the SubSilver theme (it's the default one) 3) back up your database 4) delete everything including your sql database (not the backup file). Now create a new MySQL database, install phpBB again but do it manually, in the same subdirectory as the old one AND be sure the new installation has the same version number as your old one. Then upload your backup file and you'll be done.

I don't know why but Fantastico just never seems to get things quite right :mad: Of course if you didn't use Fantastico it's something else but your symptoms are remarkably similar to what I had.

[YarbsForYankees]

Yeah I had that problem it was Fantastico :mad: mine also just periodically failed to connect to the database.

The solution is to 1) optimize your database 2) make sure the admin account is set to use the SubSilver theme (it's the default one) 3) back up your database 4) delete everything including your sql database (not the backup file). Now create a new MySQL database, install phpBB again but do it manually, in the same subdirectory as the old one AND be sure the new installation has the same version number as your old one. Then upload your backup file and you'll be done.

I don't know why but Fantastico just never seems to get things quite right :mad: Of course if you didn't use Fantastico it's something else but your symptoms are remarkably similar to what I had.

Thanks Siguie,
I went back and deleted my sql database and phpbb and reinstalled without Fantastico.
Worked for awhile but is still losing posts.
I may just have to stick with Yahoo Groups. Phpbb isn't working for me.

Thanks
Again
Cheryl

[1darkangel]

Have you tried going to the phpBB support (http://www.phpbb.com)forum and asking them for help? I run a phpBB board myself and I have never had that problem. I also know several who have phpBB and have never ran into that problem. I am not sure what is messing up on you but the best bet is to have them from their own forum help you out. I moved to phpBB after getting tired of yahoo groups myself and I am so happy I did. My members have been thankful as well.


By any chance do you have the prune feature on? Maybe in its setting you have it to prune threads much sooner then it needs too?

[YarbsForYankees]

Have you tried going to the phpBB support (http://www.phpbb.com)forum and asking them for help? I run a phpBB board myself and I have never had that problem. I also know several who have phpBB and have never ran into that problem. I am not sure what is messing up on you but the best bet is to have them from their own forum help you out. I moved to phpBB after getting tired of yahoo groups myself and I am so happy I did. My members have been thankful as well.


By any chance do you have the prune feature on? Maybe in its setting you have it to prune threads much sooner then it needs too?

Hi Darkangel,
I have shared my problem with the phpBB team. They are saying that it is a problem with blue host.
I have have checked all of my pruning features and none are on.
I have placed a ticket with blue host to see what they can do.
Thanks
Cheryl

[Basil]

It's not a problem with bluehost.

[John]

I've been running a phpBB site for over 2 years here at BH, I've never lost any posts that I know of.

It sure sounds like an auto-pruning issue, but...a few questions;

1.) are you using v 2.0.21?
2.) do you have any other admins/mods?
3.) do you back up regularly?

I do a database optimization with phpMyAdmin almost daily, and back up my database almost daily, cause BH does not guarantee any backups as far as I know.

;)

[YarbsForYankees]

I've been running a phpBB site for over 2 years here at BH, I've never lost any posts that I know of.

It sure sounds like an auto-pruning issue, but...a few questions;

1.) are you using v 2.0.21?
2.) do you have any other admins/mods?
3.) do you back up regularly?

I do a database optimization with phpMyAdmin almost daily, and back up my database almost daily, cause BH does not guarantee any backups as far as I know.

;)

Hi John,
I went back and check all my pruning, pruning is not enabled.
I am using the latest version. I downloaded from phpbb and installed a fresh copy.
I do have other mods and one admin but they are not deleting posts.
I do back up regularly.
This is very frustrating for me. I would love to use this forum.
Maybe I should turn pruning on and set it for like 365 days or something and see what happens. I'm willing to try about anything now.
Thanks for all your help.
I will keep tinkering with it.

Cheryl

[John]

One more quick question Cheryl, is your BH hosting account running PHP 5?

If so, that may be your problem, phpBB is not designed to run on PHP 5.

If not, I'll find out something for you, I won't give up.

;)

[YarbsForYankees]

One more quick question Cheryl, is your BH hosting account running PHP 5?

If so, that may be your problem, phpBB is not designed to run on PHP 5.

If not, I'll find out something for you, I won't give up.

;)

Hi John,
I just contacted BH and and BH does use PHP 5.
I found this
http://phpbb-php5mod.sourceforge.net/
phpBB-php5 MOD
I will check it out and see if this fixes my problem.
I will check back in here at the forum if it does not work.
I really appreciate your help.
Thanks so much.
Cheryl

[John]

Hi John,
I just contacted BH and and BH does use PHP 5.
I found this
http://phpbb-php5mod.sourceforge.net/
phpBB-php5 MOD
I will check it out and see if this fixes my problem.
I will check back in here at the forum if it does not work.
I really appreciate your help.
Thanks so much.
Cheryl

If your box is running PHP 5, that IS the problem.

That mod is supposed to fix the issue.

;)

[YarbsForYankees]

Hi John,
I just found out that bluehost has php5 available but I am running php 4.4.3 on my account with SQL 4.1.20
I guess this puts me back where I started. I asked the bluehost tech rep on the phone about this and he has no clue as to why the posts would be deleting.
Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks again,
Cheryl

[page1ink.]

what posts are getting deleted? do they have anything in common such as thread, words in the post, the category? how long to they stick around for before they disappear?

I've never had this problem with phpBB (I have one phpBB install. I tried SMF on another site and I like it MUCH better), but maybe we can get a better idea of what's happening if there's something these vanishing posts have in common

[YarbsForYankees]

Hi Guys,
Just an update.
Phpbb support told me to do this:
download the 2.0.21 full package

extract it and delete from inside it the config.php (this is because you do not want to overwrite the config.php)

then upload overwriting all other files

then run the /install/update_to_latest.php

then delete the install and contrib folders

this would mean you database is updated but no data lost, and you would have fresh files which are up to date




just to rule out some sort of file error, your host is not very helpful, they have given you the standard " we cant be bothered to check" reply. After replacing all the files.....remove mod and admin powers from everyone else but ypour self and then see what happens

So far so good. My posts are staying put. We have only tested it for a few days. I will keep you posted if my post dissappear again.

I appreciate all your help.
Thanks:) :) :)
Cheryl