Lost access to site

[top_rob_roy]

I've just joined so a bit of background, to see if you are able to assist me.
Pleased to see that this Forum is well used as well. Great work.

So I had a Dev do a site for me, probably about 12 years ago. It was working but I had to shelve it for a while and now coming back to see why it's not working, because I might want to get more work done on it and by the looks of it, I'll need to upgrade etc.

I host it myself on my server, so I've got access to do stuff there, which should help.

The issue right now is getting into it as the admin. I've just switched the PHP to Version 8.1.2. It was previously on an outdated vs 7.

I haven't got a clue what to do, if I'm honest, so any help would be more than welcome.
I may need a Dev later on once I get sorted, as I wanted to add some new stuff/services, but first things first.

p.s. Not sure if I am allowed to put my URL up here. Wait for guidance.

Rob

[Per Yngve Berg]

Go back to php 7.4. Your Site is not compatible.

Have you updated your Joomla? Latest was 3.10.12 which should be compatible with php 8.0 max .

Supported versions is now 4.4.9 and 5.2.3.

Extensions must also be updated.

[top_rob_roy]

Thanks. I've just been researching stuff and found out I've an even earlier version.
I think I need a roadmap about what to do next.Yikes

I've gone back to 7.4 as you said, as well.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<extension version="1.6" type="file" method="upgrade">
<name>files_joomla</name>
<author>Joomla!</author>
<authorEmail>[email protected]</authorEmail>
<authorUrl>www.joomla.org</authorUrl>
<copyright>(C) 2005 - 2011 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved</copyright>
<license>GNU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt</license>
<version>1.6.5</version>
<creationDate>July 2011</creationDate>
<description>FILES_JOOMLA_XML_DESCRIPTION</description>

<fileset>
<files>
<folder>administrator</folder>
<folder>cache</folder>
<folder>components</folder>
<folder>images</folder>
<folder>includes</folder>
<folder>language</folder>
<folder>libraries</folder>
<folder>logs</folder>
<folder>media</folder>
<folder>modules</folder>
<folder>plugins</folder>
<folder>templates</folder>
<folder>tmp</folder>
<file>htaccess.txt</file>
<file>web.config.txt</file>
<file>LICENSE.txt</file>
<file>README.txt</file>
<file>index.php</file>
</files>
</fileset>

<updateservers>
<server type="collection">http://update.joomla.org/core/list.xml</server>
<server type="collection">http://update.joomla.org/jed/list.xml</server>
</updateservers>
</extension>

[gsmela]

Your site is Joomla 1.6 which was first released in 2009 and has gone end of life in 2011 I believe. It requires a minimum of php 5.x so your current hosting won't work. You'll need to see if your host can provide an older version of php, and most likely MySQL to operate in order to upgrade.

You've got to either follow a long series of steps to upgrade or rebuild from scratch which might be faster.

[Per Yngve Berg]

1.6 should only have been used for 6 month as a stepping-stone to 2.5

First step is to upgrade to 2.5

Install this update package as an extension.

https://downloads.joomla.org/cms/joomla ... ?format=gz

[top_rob_roy]

Thanks for that. I've downloaded it, so I'd like to be sure how this is done. Bear in mind I can't get logged into the site yet? Can you give me any pointers please.
Robert

[gws]

Start with the FPA, read the docs!!
https://forumpostassistant.github.io/docs/
You can post your url as long as it is a joomla site...

[top_rob_roy]

Thanks. I'll take a look at them.
I am familiar with file extractions and ftp etc. I run my own server and have other sites. But I will definitely look.
The bit I wondered about was the Admin access.
My URL therefore is www.holidayauctions.org.uk

[gws]

The error message tells you the problem. You need to downgrade your php to 5.x.x to connect to the DB.

[top_rob_roy]

Ok. Let me see how I can get that version back on my server.
What error message did you see, or are you just referring to what I saw?
Thanks

[Per Yngve Berg]

The MySQLi database connector is missing from your php configuration.

[gws]

@Per back then it was MySql not MySqli, current php is too new for MySql.

[top_rob_roy]

Right. So I'm using Plesk Obsidian 18.0.66 Update #2 Web Host Edition nowadays.
I don't think I can safely add PHP 5.x to get this upgraded. I've been searching around and might need to find someone to do this for me and hand back a version that I can work with. Hmm.

[gws]

A thought, if the site is not too big it may well be quicker to start again with Joomla 5 and php 8.x.x, you will probably need to update MySql DB or Maria db to the latest version.

[top_rob_roy]

Sounds a good idea, thanks. But can it import an old version and sort of convert it. Not sure what would happen to the Code that we had working in 1.6 though? I'm not fully proficient in DB updates, but I did follow some instructions online with Command Line stuff. That's how I got another site working right with V8.x. Risky.

[Per Yngve Berg]

@Per back then it was MySql not MySqli, current php is too new for MySql.

MySQL is removed from php version 8
MySQLi is still present and have been since version 4.

[top_rob_roy]

Thanks. My other sites in WP are working fine with V8.x
I've asked someone to give me a price on getting it working with the latest version it can, and be compatible with my Server. I might get an offer or 2 from someone soon.

[gws]

MySQLi is still present and have been since version 4.

My mistake I thought it was introduced in 7.x.x

[top_rob_roy]

I've been chatting to someone on PPH, but he want's access to my CPanel. I explained, I will happily do that once I know how he intends to overcome the issues I've discussed here.

If I can get this working and upgraded, I want to find someone to do a bit more development on it... depending on the costs. He just keeps wanting Access, but I'm loathe to let him on unless he can tell me how he'll overcome the issues if I install 5.x.x to start upgrading.

Happy to pay a fee, but haven't got that far over the last 2 weeks. I wonder if I can post potential work here for anyone else to do this? Should I create a new post in another section?

[Webdongle]

Recommend you se wamp on your pc to update https://wampserver.aviatechno.net/

[top_rob_roy]

That looks an interesting product. Too much for me to do, but very helpful. I need to find devs who do Joomla work, and also use this product now. Any pointers on how I might do that then? I mean I'm just trying to see if this is going to be worth an investment, in upgrading. When I get that and upgrade, I will then want to evaluate some new parts to go into the Site.

[Webdongle]

... Too much for me to do, but very helpful. ...

Less work updating from as far back as your site is. You will need to change php and database versions on the fly.