You know, I love WordPress and all of its powerful functionality. But all of this power and the pleasure of learning WordPress has come with a price. A very steep price indeed, when you consider the learning curve which I personally have had to endure.

You see, for the second time since I began working with WordPress, I have managed to wipe out this entire blog site in which you are now reading from. The first time was simply stupidity on my part. As much as I preach the importance of backing up your QuickBooks data, I failed to back up my WordPress blog data files and database before making a major change. It wasn’t pretty on my end. Lesson learned, so I thought.

The second time I wiped out this blog site, I was prepared. So I thought! I had fresh backups of the data files and the database. I was ready! In this instance, I was upgrading from WordPress 2.6.5 -to- 2.7. The latest and greatest release of WordPress. A MAJOR release at that. New, cool and improved features.

I first upgraded the QuickTrainer website (which also utilizes WordPress) to this 2.7 version. You can see this site at www.quicktrainer.biz (shameless plug). I encountered absolutely 0 issues with this upgrade. I was feeling very good about myself. I even had the patience and foresight to wait a day and test the new upgrade; making sure all features within the site worked as before. They did. So, now it was time!

I made the data file backup. I made the database backup. I deactivated all WordPress plugins within this blog site (something WordPress tells you to do). I was following all instructions to the letter. Granted, this was my second time upgrading a WordPress site, I was feeling good about this process. Not cocky; but confident. Then it happened! When I began the installation procedure, I received an error message. Never mind the message; you just need to know something was not right. I researched the message and found the remedy. Hooray! Problem resolved. I now make my second attempt. No GO! A different message is encountered this time.

I try this and I try that. I post to the WordPress forum. I get some suggestions, but most are things I’ve already tried. Finally, I resolve to “let me just put this blog site back to the way it was”. I succesfully resintall WordPress 2.6.5. Next I restore the backed up WordPress files needed. Finally, I restore the database. Ready to see my restored work, I attempt to login to my word WordPress blog site. The key word is “Attempt”. I can’t. It won’t let me. Now, I’m nervous; perhaps scared is a better word. Scared of ALL of the blog postings I might never see again.

Bottom line here is, I have no idea what went wrong. With the help of my friend, Jimmy Hossinger of Bluetone Media, we were able to upgrade the site to 2.7 and restore most of the blogs. Our many mucho and heart-felt appreciation to Jimmy for his help. I could not have done this without him!

So, this is my first official blog since we got back up and running. So, I just wanted to let everyone know… We’re Back!

Jim

#ilm