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Where Did My Wordpress Site Disappear To?

by Kris Turner
13 replies
This is weird.

I've got a WP site, and a couple of days ago it just vanished. If you go to the URL, it just ocmes up as "server not found." It also comes up completely blank if I try to go to the admin page to log in.

The email account associated with the domain has also stopped receiving mail.

I've checked the domain - still active, still working. I've checked my DNS settings - all correct. I've checked my files via FTP - all present and correct.

Anyone got any idea what's going on? I must have a couple dozen sites with a similar setup, and nothing like this has ever happened...
#disappear #site #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author Doug Wakefield
    If its a wordpress.com site or blog, then simply promoting anything would have caused that. If you haven't been caught yet, then congrats... but they really don't like that sort of thing.

    If you wanna stay free, go to Blogger.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kris Turner
    No, it's on my own domain, and ironically, this is the only site I have that's not commercial!
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    • Profile picture of the author jasonboom
      Is the database still intact? I would venture to say either someone hacked the blog or a plugin has caused it to breakdown, but that typically only affects the backend, not the frontend of the site.

      Aside from that, I'm not entirely sure.
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Is there anything else on that domain? If yes - does it work?
    In case nothing works, it's time to contact the host.

    What was the last thing you did on the blog before it vanished?

    It can be a plugin running amok... or a broken theme (yes, it can cause blank page).

    As Jason said above: can you check if the database is intact? Going to cPanel > phpmyadmin and see if all the tables are there and, eventually, check if any content is still present.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kris Turner
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      Is there anything else on that domain? If yes - does it work?
      In case nothing works, it's time to contact the host.

      What was the last thing you did on the blog before it vanished?

      It can be a plugin running amok... or a broken theme (yes, it can cause blank page).

      As Jason said above: can you check if the database is intact? Going to cPanel > phpmyadmin and see if all the tables are there and, eventually, check if any content is still present.
      The database appears to be intact, and when I look at my files via FTP everything still appears to be there. But absolutely nothing will load in a browser, and the email address from the domain name won't send or receive mail...
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  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Shane Roe
    This happened to me as well, I could never figure out the problem. It said I had a database error so I went back into the cpanel and tried to repair all my data and tables. Well the end result is nothing changed, I had to uninstall wordpress and start again from scratch.
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    • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
      Originally Posted by Skid_Roe View Post

      This happened to me as well, I could never figure out the problem. It said I had a database error so I went back into the cpanel and tried to repair all my data and tables. Well the end result is nothing changed, I had to uninstall wordpress and start again from scratch.
      Sorry, I had to repeat what I said earlier in other threads.

      Deleting everything and starting again is the amateurs' solution when they (just as you) are not able to properly troubleshoot.

      When you have 5 posts ot's not a big deal... but when we talk about blogs with hundreds or thousands of posts - "uninstalling and starting again" is not a real option.

      You either learn how to figure out the problem or you hire a pro, if you want to save your blog.
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      • Profile picture of the author Matthew Shane Roe
        Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

        Sorry, I had to repeat what I said earlier in other threads.

        Deleting everything and starting again is the amateurs' solution when they (just as you) are not able to properly troubleshoot.

        When you have 5 posts ot's not a big deal... but when we talk about blogs with hundreds or thousands of posts - "uninstalling and starting again" is not a real option.

        You either learn how to figure out the problem or you hire a pro, if you want to save your blog.
        I understand that, was no big deal on my part though. Only had one post on my blog and that was just an introduction to the blog itself. I can see where your coming from though with a blog with that many posts. Was just telling my experience, that's all.
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      • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
        Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

        Sorry, I had to repeat what I said earlier in other threads.

        Deleting everything and starting again is the amateurs' solution when they (just as you) are not able to properly troubleshoot.
        It's not often that I disagree with Istvan, but I'm going to respectfully disagree this time.

        IF you have a full backup of the database and IF you have screenshots of any alterations you have made to the theme, PLUS screenshots so that you know which widgets you used - then often it is quicker and easier to reinstall from scratch.

        Troubleshooting can be a long and tedious process.

        I have personally watched "professionals" troubleshoot the dreaded Windoze (yes, I know this isn't Wordpress) for hours, sometimes to fix it temporarily and sometimes without success.

        Backing up, uninstalling and reinstalling is usually quicker and more effective and you have a pristine installation.

        Just my personal opinion, of course

        In this particular case though, I would start by backing up everything you have and then replacing all the index.php files. Often that is the file that hackers compromise. I do this by simply putting a fresh install of Wordpress on a subdomain and then copying the relevant index.php files from the new install to the broken one via ftp software.

        I realise, though, that this doesn't explain why your email isn't working.
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  • Profile picture of the author TheKing
    contact your host about this problem...same thing happened with me , just 1 ticket to host will solve all matter
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  • Profile picture of the author Nonny
    Have you contacted your hosting company? The mail servers not working along with your site not working suggests that it's not a Wordpress issue (unless you are running your mail through Wordpress somehow). .
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  • Profile picture of the author Barry Unruh
    I'm assuming your name servers are on your hosting company for the domain.

    If so, you still need to contact your hosting company. It almost sounds like they are redirecting your domain to a different IP address, therefore, not to your files.

    Do you know if it still points to the same IP address?
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  • Profile picture of the author cashcow
    You might want to check the wp-config.php file located in the root of your wordpress install.

    It has 3 variables that point to your database (DB_NAME, DB_USER and DB_PASSWORD) and if these are not correct you might get the error you are seeing. Also make sure DB_HOST points to the right thing too.

    You could probably get your hosting company to check this out for you if you want.

    Lee
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    Gone Fishing
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