Okay, because my hosting websites’ main server website got hacked – I had to study how to make a backup of WordPress posts and comments using SQL file. Luckily, I found it in WordPress.org Docs. I am pretty familiar with using PhpMyAdmin as well so exporting wasn’t a problem. But, what I had trouble with was on how to restore the sql file because I know how to import yet – I get the WordPress White Screen of Death!
I experimented using my hostee’s wordpress blog since she had to be transferred to my other reseller hosting account which I bought for free hosted websites.
So okay, the sql export was successful (I was 101% sure) I even did it two times) until finally, I googled about it. I discovered about the WordPress White Screen of Death or in short, WSOD (a blogger posted). What happens is that your wordpress blog won’t suddenly have anything, but a White Blank seen in your browsers.
I panicked seeing as it is my only hope on backing up my paid clients’ posts and comments on their wordpress blogs because my lame server didn’t give me my backups before the hack happened (I asked 3 days earlier) and now they don’t have any system restore of some point.
As I found out more about WordPress White Screen of Death I found out there were numerous reasons that could trigger it and since we also studied coding in PHP and Databases. Here are the six reasons why you may be experiencing WordPress White Screen of Death.
- Plugins
- WP Config
- Themes
- WP Limit Max
- Database
- WP Functions
I tried renaming plugins folder within wp-content first, and I hoped it worked but no it didn’t (I knew it wouldn’t since the files were fresh from WordPress.org’s official website). As for the themes, I was told it could cause it but I didn’t have any themes with the upload I made in the FTP, so the theme right there is only twentyten which is the default theme. But others tried removing their themes and it worked (but not me)
I also tried editing wp-config.php found outside wp-content because I read someone said that maybe the extra spaces cause the WordPress White Screen Of Death. But nah, useless. I also checked the details I typed in, twice and it was the same with the database’s details that I made. I was more sure than ever.
I then edited the WP Limit Max of default-constants.php found in wp-includes, from 32M to 64M but everything’s still the same. I even tried 128M because somebody mentioned he tried 192M and that it could be because the website is using too much of the host’s PHP Memory (or something like that) but again, it failed.
So, I summed up it could be my database! Right, I really thought it was. I tried this SQL Query because maybe, the default theme is not being selected, that’s why I get WordPress White Screen of Death – right?
UPDATE wp_options SET option_value=’default’ WHERE option_name=’template’ OR option_name=’stylesheet’ LIMIT 2;
That code above will set your theme to the default one, but then again, I refreshed, but still that white blank space. Until finally, I read on the troubleshooting tutorials. Some tried logging in their wordpress dashboard, but couldn’t login. Some tried logging in their WordPress dashboard and disabled their plugins, some had trouble with the plugins saving – but not me, I haven’t tried logging in right?
So I did, typed on the domains wp-admin url and voila! That was it!
I was asked to upgrade the database. I assume that maybe WordPress White Screen of Death happened to me because the database was outdated – while the files I had were for the latest WordPress update.
After upgrading, I was finally taken to the wp-login.php and then I just fixed something with the permalinks and it was all back. YES! Finally!
Gosh, that was hard. I spent more than six hours or so trying to figure that out.
On another note, I’ve experienced WordPress White Screen of Death before as well too with my first wordpress blog. It was when I used to use personalized smileys. If you’re using smileys, you use functions.php found in wp-includes right? The tendency is that you will make a backup of it before you upgrade because everytime you upgrade, your smiley codes gets overwritten by WordPress’ default ones.
If you replace the upgraded functions.php with the old one, that will cause it. So, remember to just copy the part where your smiley codes are.
I hope this helps you, I’m not a pro but maybe you’ll experience what I experience then you can relate, lol.
