Fatal error when migrating from 2.5.28 to 3.5.1

[mgbmgb26]

Hello:

I'm migrating from 2.5.28 to 3.5.1. I've followed the migration plan listed on joomla.org. I've created a test site by creating a folder called testsite as a subfolder in /public_html. I've logged into testsite backend and followed the migration plan. During the Joomla Update to 3.5.1 I received the following fatal error:

Warning: require_once(/libraries/import.legacy.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /xxx/xxx/public_html/testsite/administrator/includes/framework.php on line 15

Fatal error: require_once(): Failed opening required '/libraries/import.legacy.php' (include_path='.:/opt/php71/lib/php') in /xxx/xxx/public_html/testsite/administrator/includes/framework.php on line 15

It appears to be going to /public_html to find /libraries/import.legacy.php instead of going to my testsite folder. This may be the case because of my defines.php file in testsite or some other configuration file. I'm wondering if JPATH items are correct such as JPATH_BASE and JPATH_LIBRARIES.

Can anyone help with this? Does creating a subfolder under the /public_html folder as a place for test files cause this issue? If so, how do I fix it?

Thanks

[john-doe]

This looks like a potential issue for PHP 7.X transition.

So your migration goes fine until 3.5.1 or in that goes the error?

Your server is running PHP 7? Or are you still on 5.6.X? If you are on 5.6.X try to switch temporarily to 7.X and see if changes, passes or throws more errors.

Just for asking are you setting this operation on local machine? Wampserver might be helpful since with it you can switch PHP versions and verify if that works.

Hopefully you have backup of all stages so far.

[Webdongle]

You could try the method in viewtopic.php?f=710&t=956702
Also use wamp localhost ... you can change php on the fly

[mgbmgb26]

The server's default PHP is 5.4 but it allows me to select a different version and apply it to a folder under my host account. I have tried both PHP 5.6 and 7.1 and they both give the same error. I applied the selected version of PHP to my public_html folder and it's subfolders. Maybe this folder selection is wrong. I can only select a folder to my root or a folder in my root. This is not done to my local machine. I log into my host server and cpanel and select items as needed.

The file import.legacy.php is located in /public_html/libraries when attempting to install 3.5.1. The file trying to access the file is /public_html/includes/framework.php. It bombs on line 15
// System includes
require_once JPATH_LIBRARIES . '/import.legacy.php';

Any other help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Webdongle]

Have you tried
1. Install Joomla of the same version
2. Install your 3rd party extensions in to it
3. Connect those files to the original database
Best done on localhost. It just takes a few minutes.

[mgbmgb26]

Ok, I've given up on my approach to updating from 2.5.28 to 3.x on the host server. I've switched to localhost and wampserver as suggested. I was able to perform a completely clean Joomla 3.9.3 install on localhost. At this point a needed to install a new 3.9.3 template and update it for my site. Then, hopefully, transfer all this to the host server. Any suggestions would be appreciated on transferring the localhost site to the live server. Otherwise, I guess this issue can be closed. Thanks

[sozzled]

Before you transfer your PC-hosted website to your production server, I suggest you do a couple of things first.

1. Make sure that your PC-hosted website works with the same version of PHP that you're going to use on the production server.
2. Install Akeeba Backup on your PC-hosted website and make a backup of the site.
3. You may want to review your new [J! 3.9.3] website with the Forum Post Assistant tool. It may give you some hints about whether your new site is in a good state to transfer to the target/production server.

Most of us [experienced] users of Joomla use Akeeba Backup to make backups and Akeeba Kickstart to restore our sites (wherever they're hosted). It's the simplest, fastest way to transfer websites from one server to another. There is good documentation (and videos) available to show you how easy it is.

For other people reading this topic who are in the same boat (i.e. they have an old J! 2.5 website) there are some good tips here. For those people our message is simple: don't leave things too long before you migrate from J! 2.5 to J! 3. The clock is ticking; you, too, may run out of time if you don't do what the OP did and make the change. J! 2.5 is dead; it died five years ago. Cheers.

[Webdongle]

Also see viewtopic.php?f=710&t=956702
or
https://extensions.joomla.org/extension/j2xml/

[leolam]

Also see viewtopic.php?f=710&t=793171 and review your extensions

Leo

[mgbmgb26]

Thanks for the help. I did install Aleena backup and already made an initial backup. I also used it on my old site with 2.5.28. It’s a great tools.