Cannot Update Site - No Configuration File Found Error

[the apprentice]

No configuration file found and no installation code available. Exiting...

The configuration file IS there!

Can anyone get me out of here as I have the exact same issue and can't seem to get out of

[sozzled]

Can anyone get me out of here as I have the exact same issue and can't seem to get out of

You have exactly the same issue as a problem that was solved six years ago? You have exactly the same issue with a J! 1.5 website? Really?

[the apprentice]

Yes. Really. Can't update this particular website unfortunately and it’s still running on 1.5.26

[sozzled]

Yes. Really. Can't update this particular website unfortunately and it’s still running on 1.5.26

I only wanted to clarify the matter (for the benefit of other readers). I don't think this is unfortunately; I would have characterised it as "someone wasn't paying attention" or "laziness", perhaps.

My intuition suggests your J! 1.5.26 site is—putting it politely—broken beyond the point of redemption. Salvage what you can and rebuild the site with J! 3.6 is my best advice.

[dpacadmin]

No config file could be an issue with permissions on the file, if they are set to 444 the install can not write to the file. Set the config file to 644 and try again.

[the apprentice]

No config file could be an issue with permissions on the file, if they are set to 444 the install can not write to the file. Set the config file to 644 and try again.

The configuration.php is already on 644.

[dpacadmin]

As was suggested it could be your site is broken and an update is not possible without fixing the issue on the site first.
You will need to list the steps you have taken to update, which instructions are you following, what migrator extension are you using, and where or at what point in the process you get an error. It would also help to know what extensions you are running and if they are compatible with the update. Have you found migration instructions for all your extensions?
Have you checked your php error log to see if there are more details there on the problem?

You are saying you can not upgrade your site, there is no further upgrade for Joomla 1.5.26, you can only migrate your site to Joomla 2.5 or Joomla 3.6 now. I have been assuming you really mean you want to migrate to the latest Joomla version and are not trying to use the Joomla install component to upgrade to the latest Joomla version which can not be done.
https://docs.joomla.org/Joomla_1.5_to_3 ... _Migration

[the apprentice]

I can't migrate/update this particular website, its main component is not updateable. The present error doesn't come from a migration but from a php infection (so the hosting provider says), they infected the defines.php, I've replaced that file with the fresh one from Joomla installation but now I'm stuck with this no config file found error, yet the config is there. Can't work out what the heck is wrong and no previous posts clearly indicate a solution to this, or at least one that works for me.

[dpacadmin]

OK, So your issue is a site infection. It is unlikely you have a single infected file, most hackers infect many files and will upload files to renew the infected files should they be overwritten. Some will include files that give then access to the site remotely or through a second account on the same server the Host is using. It can be very difficult to clean a site if the hacker is active on the site and updates his attack files or changes his attack vector as you block one. There were patchs put out after the last Joomla 1.5 update that fixed a session handling issue as well as a patch for a file upload issue. Both patches can be found here but must be added manually;
https://docs.joomla.org/Security_hotfix ... L_versions

I would suggest you post to the Security forum and after following the instructions posted there supply them with your sites info and see if they can help. Not sure if the forum is still being followed by the experts but it is you best solution at this point.
viewforum.php?f=432
http://docs.joomla.org/Category:Security_Checklist

Being as you intend to migrate to Joomla 3.6 you may be better off just extracting all content you need from the old site and adding it to a clean install of Joomla. If your hosting account is compromised you may also need a new Hosting account, after getting your new site up to date then redirect your domain to the new account and then delete the old hosting account once you are sure you have everything you need off of it.

[the apprentice]

OK, So your issue is a site infection. It is unlikely you have a single infected file, most hackers infect many files and will upload files to renew the infected files should they be overwritten. Some will include files that give then access to the site remotely or through a second account on the same server the Host is using. It can be very difficult to clean a site if the hacker is active on the site and updates his attack files or changes his attack vector as you block one. There were patchs put out after the last Joomla 1.5 update that fixed a session handling issue as well as a patch for a file upload issue. Both patches can be found here but must be added manually;
https://docs.joomla.org/Security_hotfix ... L_versions

Ok I replaced those 3 files: session.php, media.php, file.php

How about the end-of-life patch Joomla1.5.26-20151221PATCH, I was recommended to upload that too a while ago but never did as I never found any backing anywhere about what it is and what it does, seems very unofficial to me.

[dpacadmin]

There are two patches on this page for Joomla 1.5
https://docs.joomla.org/Security_hotfix ... L_versions
one is the Sessions patch the other is the Uploads patch, both are security fixes you must manually install and both came out after the last version of Joomla 1.5.
Installing these patches will not clean your site, they are meant to help a clean site from getting infected.

Have you gone thru the Security Check List I linked to, it is a start to cleaning your site. I see it now goes to a page of links. Check these pages
https://docs.joomla.org/Security_Checklist_7
viewtopic.php?f=432&t=475313

I don't know what the "end-of-life patch Joomla1.5.26-20151221PATCH" is. The two patches on the page I linked are the only two EOL patches I know of for Joomla 1.5 but since it is so old I may have missed something.