Database error in admin CP -- rest of forum works fine

[timelord726]

Hi everyone,

My Admin CP has very strangely and suddenly stopped working due to a database error. I can access and use the rest of my forum as if nothing were happening, so my users haven't noticed a change yet. But whenever I click the Admin CP link, it takes me to a page that says:

Database error

The DannyStewart.com Forums database has encountered a problem.
Please try the following:

* Load the page again by clicking the Refresh button in your web browser.
* Open the www.dannystewart.com home page, then try to open another page.
* Click the Back button to try another link.

The www.dannystewart.com forum technical staff have been notified of the error, though you may contact them if the problem persists.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Can anyone help me track down whatever is causing this problem and attempt to remedy it? Thanks in advance for any assistance!

[Paul M]

You need to post the actual SQL error (sent to you in the e-mail).

[timelord726]

Hello again, Paul! You just answered my question over at vBulletin.org.

Unfortunately I have received no such email... outgoing email has always been spotty on this server. Is there another way of checking what the error is?

[Robbed]

Check the config file to see what email it's setup to send to.

[Paul M]

Right click on the error page and view the source, the error should be in there as well.

[timelord726]

Yup, sure enough, thanks. Here are the details:

<!--
Database error in vBulletin 3.6.1:

Invalid SQL:
DELETE FROM phrase WHERE (varname='welcomepm' AND phrasetypeid=4000) OR (varname='welcomepm' AND phrasetypeid=3000) OR (varname='setting_welcomepmuserid_desc' AND phrasetypeid=5000) OR (varname='setting_welcomepmuserid_title' AND phrasetypeid=5000);

MySQL Error  : Unknown column 'phrasetypeid' in 'where clause'
Error Number : 1054
Date         : Wednesday, September 20th 2006 @ 12:22:41 AM
Script       : http://www.dannystewart.com/forums/admincp/
Referrer     : 
IP Address   : 69.138.7.95
Username     : 
Classname    : vB_Database_MySQLi
-->

EDIT: Oh, and Robbed, thanks for trying to help, but it's the server's fault, not vBulletin's.

[Robbed]

Was the welcome pm hack installed recently?

You can try disabling all plugins for now until someone can help you out,


Note: To temporarily disable the plugin system, edit config.php and add this line right under <?php

define('DISABLE_HOOKS', true);

[timelord726]

I actually was just trying to remove the welcome PM hack (along with all my other plugins, trying to revert as close to a stock install as possible)... that may have done it. I added the line as you suggested and it's coming up properly now. I'll see what I can do about removing the plugins.

EDIT: I actually chopped a few plugins out of my SQL database recently so I can no longer remove it properly through the admin CP. Can I remove what it's left behind manually?

EDIT #2: Also, another important question -- I am about to transfer this entire database to a new server. Is there a way I can make sure issues like this will not repeat themselves on the new installation after importing the database? (I guess what I'm really asking is, is this a database issue, and if so, what do I need to take out of the database in order to remove all traces of it?)

[Paul M]

Try reinstalling the welcome pm product and then uninstalling it properly (via the acp).

[timelord726]

There may be other plugins left behind too. I don't suppose there's any easy way for me to check a couple places and see if anything's been added that shouldn't be?

[Steve Machol]

This error means that you did not upload all the 3.6.1 files or you have an add-on that is asking for a field that does not exist in 3.6.1.

Reupload all the original vB 3.6.1 non-image files (except install.php). Make sure you upload these in ASCII format and overwrite the ones on the server. Then if you still have this problem, disable your plugins.

[timelord726]

Okay, I think things are all but sorted now. Thanks everyone for the help!