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Is copying and reinstalling a website really this easy?

by mmixon
17 replies
I submitted a help desk ticket to my hosting company, explaining that I have a sub-domain hosted with them that I would like to copy and reinstall to a new domain name that I registered. I asked if I could backup the website to my hard drive, and then reinstall the website to my new domain, and this is their reply:

"Yes. Just FTP the files from that subdomain to your computer. Once the new account is setup then you can FTP it up to your new domain account."

Would this work with a wordpress blog also?

Thanks,
Mickey
#copying #easy #reinstalling #website
  • Profile picture of the author Venturetothetop
    Not so easy as Wordpress involves a database. Some of the permission paths needs to be changes for this to work.

    I'm not an expert on that, but Im sure others will give you the answer, or do as I do and go to a freelancer site and pay someone $10 to do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author NK
    That works if you were using basic sites that doesn't require a database. WordPress, however, uses database so you will need to back that up too.

    Check out this link on how to move your WordPress from one host to another:
    Moving WordPress WordPress Codex

    Basically, you also need to back up your MySQL database and restore it at your new hosting account along with the files you need to FTP over.
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  • Profile picture of the author mmixon
    Thanks Venturetothetop & NK,
    I knew it sounded too good to be true! Good advice also about hiring a freelancer to do it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kojuma Miharu
      You can also do a standard blog backup, give the new server a fresh install of wordpress, and in the back of the new wordpress you can upload the contents of the blog.

      This will only give you the text version of the blog. You would still have to upload your plugins and recustomize your theme.

      You can however copy the theme files and ftp those as well up to the new location.

      It is wise to create the easy blog backup in either case before you move the site.
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  • Profile picture of the author InternetSuccess001
    There are a whole bunch of different ways of doing it. Most hosting providers provide the following, so this is what I will list:

    Option A: If you are hosting multiple sites with a hosting company, generally speaking they also have an 'export/import' button in the control panel. Using that is a breeze. Takes 5 minutes.

    Option B: Either use FTP, or create a .zip package (you may need something called shell access, so get someone/hire someone to do that), zip up your website, export your mySQL content, and then simply unzip it on the new server, and execute the SQL queries then you are good to go.

    It takes about 5 minutes. Once you know what you are doing, it takes about 30 seconds.
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    • Profile picture of the author mmixon
      Would option A work will wordpress? The blog has about 20 plugins. I don't relish the thought of having to go in to activate and tweak all the settings in each plugin :-)
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      • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
        Originally Posted by mmixon View Post

        Would option A work will wordpress?
        NO!

        The poster obviously didn't read your OP.

        If it is a WP blog - those "simple" download-all-the-files things do not work.

        You were told exactly what are the methods for moving a WP blog. No, there is no workaround. You learn to do it or hire somebody to do it.
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        • Profile picture of the author mmixon
          Sounds like a freelancer job. I can spend days working on issues such as this, that an "expert" can do in 15 minutes. Great info. Exactly the information I was looking for.
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        • Profile picture of the author InternetSuccess001
          Originally Posted by mmixon View Post

          Would option A work will wordpress? The blog has about 20 plugins. I don't relish the thought of having to go in to activate and tweak all the settings in each plugin :-)
          Yes, it would work, providing you do it correctly.

          Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

          NO!

          The poster obviously didn't read your OP.

          If it is a WP blog - those "simple" download-all-the-files things do not work.

          You were told exactly what are the methods for moving a WP blog. No, there is no workaround. You learn to do it or hire somebody to do it.
          Actually Istvan, it would work -- the plugins, if they are on a php install and the install base is the same, can be easily zipped up. You just need to make sure you make sure you have the same mySQL structure. I've done things like that before.
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          • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
            Originally Posted by InternetSuccess001 View Post

            Option A: If you are hosting multiple sites with a hosting company, generally speaking they also have an 'export/import' button in the control panel. Using that is a breeze. Takes 5 minutes.
            Originally Posted by InternetSuccess001 View Post

            Actually Istvan, it would work -- the plugins, if they are on a php install and the install base is the same, can be easily zipped up. You just need to make sure you make sure you have the same mySQL structure. I've done things like that before.
            Your option A says nothing about the database. Just to clarify (because I have never seen such a button in my hosting panel) - clicking on the export button would "export" both the files and the database for a WP blog?
            (for the record: I have multiple sites on a reseller account where all of them have their own cPanel)

            Because the OP was specifically asking if downloading all the files via FTP would be enough for transferring a WP site/blog. - No, it wouldn't.
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            • Profile picture of the author InternetSuccess001
              Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

              Your option A says nothing about the database. Just to clarify (because I have never seen such a button in my hosting panel) - clicking on the export button would "export" both the files and the database for a WP blog?
              (for the record: I have multiple sites on a reseller account where all of them have their own cPanel)

              Because the OP was specifically asking if downloading all the files via FTP would be enough for transferring a WP site/blog. - No, it wouldn't.
              Hi Istvan,

              Yes, depends on the hosting/solutions provider you are using. Most do offer it, if they don't, they usually have something equivalent.

              Here is an example of how you would backup your mySQL database (if you don't have the 'export' button):
              MySQL Tutorial - MySQL Export - How to backup and restore your MySQL database

              For your site, you would simply .zip up the contents, then unzip them elsewhere. Takes about 5 minutes doing it the 'slow' way.
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    I am still not clear about your answer. The "magic" Export button would put in the package BOTH the files AND the database?

    That was my question.

    Personally, I don't need any tutorial for backing up a MySQL database; I was using WP (and backing them up) for years, when 99% of this forum didn't even hear about WP
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    • Profile picture of the author InternetSuccess001
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      I am still not clear about your answer. The "magic" Export button would put in the package BOTH the files AND the database?

      That was my question.

      Personally, I don't need any tutorial for backing up a MySQL database; I was using WP (and backing them up) for years, when 99% of this forum didn't even hear about WP
      Yes, the export button would do both. (And it's not 'magic' Its actually a set of php and other command statement ) It is possible that you may not have that export button (you can always ask your host techsupport). If you don't, then you may look at other hosting providers which do have that.
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  • Profile picture of the author tbunch
    Originally Posted by mmixon View Post

    I submitted a help desk ticket to my hosting company, explaining that I have a sub-domain hosted with them that I would like to copy and reinstall to a new domain name that I registered. I asked if I could backup the website to my hard drive, and then reinstall the website to my new domain, and this is their reply:

    "Yes. Just FTP the files from that subdomain to your computer. Once the new account is setup then you can FTP it up to your new domain account."

    Would this work with a wordpress blog also?
    I'm a little confused with these replies. Is the op saying he wants to go from sub.domain.com to anewdomain.com or olddomain.com to newdomain.com on the same hosting?

    If this is the case then he doesn't need to do anything with the database. He just needs needs to copy the wp files and adjust setting for the new domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author zoobie
    MMixon, you need to back up and restore your database if you are running your site from wordpress or CMS. There is a plugin for wordpress or if you want to do it manually you need to back up from the phpmysql menus, and restore it there. Just involves downloading and uploading a file.

    For plan HTML just download a copy to your hard drive and upload and that's it.

    If you would like help on the wordpress or CMS backup, One of my staff can do that for you if you are desperate.

    Thanks

    Proson
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    • Profile picture of the author mmixon
      Thanks for all the responses. So in summary, if I want to move an existing Wordpress blog from a subdomain on BlueHost, to a new regular domain at HostGator...

      Will this work?

      Login to Wordpress Admin on the existing blog.
      go to: Tools - Export
      use the Wordpress Export Option, and save to desktop.
      Login to Fantastico in C-Panel, and install a new copy of Wordpress on the new domain.
      Login to Wordpress Admin on the new domain.
      go to: Tools - Import
      upload the file from your desktop that you exported earlier, to the new domain.
      Then, FTP "WP-Content" folder from the existing blog (from the old blog) to desktop.
      Then, FTP "WP-Content" folder from desktop to the new domain.

      Am I correct in saying that the plugins may need to be manually activated, but if they do, the original settings will still be there?

      I sincerely appreciate your input.
      Mickey
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Let me think a moment... I was nodding all the way down on your list - until I got to the plugins question. Eventually, I'd do the wp-content transfer before uploading the exported file.

    No, the built-in Export/Import feature will not export your plugins' settings.

    While FTP-ing the wp-content will transfer the plugin files - you not only will have to activate them but you will also have to redo the settings.

    If there are zillion plugins... then maybe the database backup (via phpMyadmin) would be a better option. Although for just a few plugins don't bother messing with the database.
    Here is what I would do about the plugins:
    - open two windows: admin old and admin new
    - go in both to the plugins and their settings (if they have)
    - just copy/paste over line by line the settings (or type, whichever is faster)
    - you will end up with the same settings on both
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