vB 5 not connecting to database

[MrSquid]

I've installed vB5 as a new install on a test site. I followed vB's instructions on creating a new test site , have vB 5 installed and running, and I have the config file pointed to my new database. But when I access the "new" version of my site it doesn't seem to connect to my existing database.

Should I have installed it as an upgrade instead of a new version? My hope was to install as new so I can get rid of a lot of aged and unused clutter that's accumulated over the life of the site. Start fresh with just the forum and users.

[Mark.B]

The only reason for any failure to connect to the database, assuming it is live, would be invalid credentials. Check and double check what's in config.php.

[MrSquid]

I re-uploaded all files, set up the config files again and re-ran the installation process (this time as an upgrade - not as a new install) and it's still not connecting. I'll have my host re-upload the database and see if that changes anything.

[Mark.B]

When you say it's not connecting, what error is it giving?

[MrSquid]

When you say it's not connecting, what error is it giving?

I'm not getting any error - I looked in my server's logs too just to be sure. What I see is the same as if I set up a brand new forum.

I guess I was under the assumption that if I did a fresh install and pointed to an existing database (which was a version of my live database) that my site would automatically populate itself with all existing forum categories, posts, users, etc. Is that not the case?

[Mark.B]

Well in theory it would, although doing that on a test site is highly dangerous, since any changes you make will then happen on the live database and you'll break things.
But is your live database also the exact same beta version of vBulletin 5?
If it isn't (such as it being vBulletin 4, or an earlier beta of vBulletin 5), then no it won't work and again you risk breaking things to a big degree.

[MrSquid]

This isn't a live database. I followed the vB instructions on how to make a test site with test database. (shut off my old site - vB 4.1.11, changed URL, downloaded & renamed database, changed URL back, turned on old site, uploaded database with new name)

[Mark.B]

If you are making a test site, you have to first create it on the same version it is copied from. So if it's 4.1.11, you will need to upload a copy of 4.1.11, set the URLs and cookie path correctly, point it at the "copy" database, verify that it is running correctly, and then upgrade that test site.

The database structures of vB4 to vB5 are completely different. Until you've run the upgrade script there is no hope of vB5 being able to read your vB4 database.

[MrSquid]

Got it. That was going to be my next thing to try. Thanks!