This past Wednesday, when trying to get to the dashboard to work on my blog, I was surprised to see the WordPress 5-minute installation page instead. I then tried getting to the blog from my spots in the Commentators lists of fellow Alex Jeffreys students, but to no avail: For the fifth time, I had lost my blog!
Fortunately for me, this time I had a recent blog database backup, thanks to having installed the WP-DB-Backup plugin when I first (well, fourth) started blogging. I had chosen to receive the backup file weekly in my mailbox, so I had it handy for the job ahead. Now I just had to find out how to use it…
After doing some research in Google for ‘how to restore a WordPress database’, I concluded that the simplest set of instructions appeared to be in the WordPress Codex itself. Following the steps in the Using phpMyAdmin section of the document, I logged in phpMyAdmin through the Cpanel of my domain. Next, the codex instructs to “…select the database that you will be importing your data into.”
It took me a while to figure out how to identify which database to use since phpMyAdmin listed three different ones under my domain login username. Finally I realized that the backup file name that the plugin generates contains the database name. In my case, the file name was brighter_wrdp2_wp_20091229_243.sql, so I picked ‘wrdp2′ as the database to restore:
And that was the trickiest part of the process! The remaining six steps required three simple clicks of the mouse and in a few seconds I had my blog back.
What a difference from the four previous mishaps… Having that backup file was the key to an easy recovery of my blog, so many thanks to Austin Matzko for a most effective plugin!
Hello Jose
After putting all the hard work into building an Online business, many people forget about backing things up.
Like, your aweber mailing list, also take a copy of the source code for the emails. Websites, and your computer, I back up using an external hard drive.
So easy to forget BUT very hard to restore or replace.
Thanks
Dean Oram
.-= Dean Oram´s last blog ..HOW To Build Your Own Online Business For Ever!! =-.
Hi there, Dean!
Thank you for pointing out those other items to consider for backing up. We’re under the same risk of loosing them, that would also be a pain!
Cheers,
Jose
Hi Jose,
I’m glad that you were able to restore your blog and had a back up.
Your losing the blog so many times is enough to convince me to start backing up my blog too.
Your post is helpful. If I need some help in this area I hope I can count on you.
I don’t know anyone who has more experience on the subject.
Vance
.-= Vance@Increase Blog Traffic´s last blog ..Get Blog Traffic Increase With Blog Comments =-.
Hi there, Vance!
You bet I’m an experienced blog looser! And what I’ve found is that you can only work around disaster through prevention. Disastrous experiences have the purpose of putting prevention into perspective.
Regards,
Jose
Now that you have so much experience you are turning into an expert.
Being an expert will help you make money.
So it is true that almost any disatrous experience can be turned into a beneficial one.
Your readers are already benefiting from it.
Money, Vance? But if I blog for the sake of blogging!
Just kidding, thank you for the cheering,
Jose
Hi Jose,
Now that I’ve learned more about internet marketing in Las Vegas from Alex and his students I feel that we can do it too.
You can create another blog later to blog for fun only and if you make any money donate all of it.
I really missed meeting you there. I think you would have liked the workshop and getting to know the two generations of students.
Thanks for the digg and tweet.
It may help more people find my post and read about the workshop and Alex.
I’m sure that many people wonder what he’s really like.
I have a bit of cold right now but perhaps we could skype chat again next week or so. It’s been a while since we’ve chatted.
I need to find out more details from you on the blog back up.
I’m now almost afraid to upgrade my WP without it.
A few days ago I was upgrading one of my other blog’s WP (without a back up) and for a few minutes even though things appeared to be there the form of the blog changed and everything looked like after a tornado.
I was quite unhappy but luckily things straightened themselves up after a few more minutes.
That was my biggest scare with blogs so far.
Talk soon,
Vance
.-= Vance@Learn Internet Marketing´s last blog ..Alex Jeffreys Marketing With Alex Las Vegas Workshop 2010 =-.
Hi Vance!
It would have been great to meet in the workshop… but maybe next time.
It took me a while to figure out how to tweet your post. I have not embraced Twitter as much as they advice one should.
I was telling in a forum about my several blog crashes and somebody hinted that they could have been caused by mine being an unreliable host. I had not seen it that way, but it sounds like a reasonable suggestion. Anyway, backing up still makes a lot of sense.
Yes, let’s meet over Skype again.
Jose
I can see you use fantastico to install your blogs. I always found it confusing because it gives the database a generic name like wrdp1, very frustrating..
.-= Josiah@Ads for Blogs´s last blog ..Best Ads for Blogs =-.
Josiah, welcome!
Yes, I do use Fantastico. Those database names are TOO generic, you’re right. I hope that note in the post can be of help for other Fantastico users.
Keep in touch,
Jose
WP backup Plugin is indeed a lifesaver. Just recently, I have a wordpress error after installing a certain plugin. Good thing I had made a backup. I thought I lost it. And now this reminds me of making a backup for today.
.-= Walter´s last blog ..Criticism: the unwanted mentor =-.
You’re right, Walter.
And Dean’s comment is worth heeding: do not forget backing up your PC!
Cheers,
Jose
WP-DB-Backup plugin is a very useful database back-up! I have used it too. But it took me so long to learn how to retrieve my lost blog! Whew! I should have visited this site, it would be very quick to learn how to retrieve it.
.-= Sammy Holiday´s last blog ..Holiday Cottage in Cornwall =-.
Hey Sammy, thank you for your comment!
It’s just like when you buy insurance: when time comes to use it, you’re not sure how to start or what to do. I thought it would be a good idea to post about it.
Hi Jose,
I sometimes worry about the content on my blog and what a big loss it would be if my server crashed.
I do have the back-up plugin installed and always wondered how i would get the blog up and running again if i were to lose my content.
Thanks for the great info,
Nick
.-= Nick Brosnan´s last blog ..It’s Here My Very First Ebook =-.
And thanks to you for the comment, Nick!
I’m glad to know my post could be of help. I really hope you never need to use the info, though!
Hey Jose,
I have this installed after seeing someone else have the same problem.
I don’t know what I would do if I lost it all but at least now I can sleep sound at night knowing I have it backed up.
Cheers for a great post as this is a must have to protect your blog.
James
.-= James Howard´s last blog ..Finally A System That Works =-.
Hi James,
Yes, sleeping sound is a great good reason to backup.
Thank you for stopping by!
I’d better go now and do a backup of my blog.
Thank you Jose for reminding me about that
.-= Estani´s last blog ..Build Your List For Free – Massive EZ-IM Giveaway Happens in 2 days……. =-.
You wouldn’t regret it, Estani!
Regards,
Jose
Hi Jose
A poignant reminder for me to install this widget. I’ve never had any probs with my blogs stability or widget compatability. But with the way WordPress keeps updating their versions – I may need it someday.
Thanks for the reminder
Hi Dave
Yes, you never know when you could need it. And it doesn’t hurt having it, you’ll always be better off.
In talking about the subject in one forum I often visit, an experienced marketed hinted that one should also consider the reliability of the host being used. If you’re with Hostgator, Blue Host or any other of the big ones, you can have more peace of mind. My host is a lesser-known one, I would say, and perhaps not as reliable, hence the several crashes I’ve had…
Thank you for stopping by, Dave!
Hi Jose,
This is the test you asked me for, to check if commenting works as P.L. had some problems
So far it appears to be working normally.
Vance
Great, Vance, thanks a lot!
Hi Jose,
Thanks for answering my questions about the WP database backup over Skype.
Posting this also confirms my theory about the functioning of the Comment Luv plug in.
It displays links to posts only once.
So there is absolutely nothing wrong and your CL plug in functions as it’s supposed to.
Vance
.-= Vance@Learn Internet Marketing´s last blog ..League of Extraordinary Minds Panel 9, Last Free Session Report =-.
Thanks to you, Vance!
That’s a thoughtful feature of CommentLuv, isn’t it? That way the same information doesn’t eat up space in the comment windows. Well, I think that could have been the reason they made it that way…
Jose
Great post Jose and one which I’d read about a week ago.
I had a similar problem in that I lost my blog, but for very different reasons.However, regardless of the reason, having carried out the back up method you mention, would have saved me around 5 days work in trying to get my blog back up and running.
I had previously installed the WP-DB-Backup plugin and had been getting daily back up emails but when my blog vanished, I had no idea of what to do with the emails or their content because of the way in which they are delivered.
As a result of your post, I’ll know what to do next time should there be one. (I sincerely hope there wont be!)
.-= Sean K´s last blog ..How to Record Video Tutorials Free. =-.
Hi Kellio, great you stopped by!
Yes, this backup plugin is a very good thing to have. Yet it’s even better not needing it, ever. But ugly things can happen and this post might come in handy.
Cheers,
Jose
Great post here. I have since downloaded and added the wordpress_DB_backup plug-in as you suggested. Its been a life saver as i’ve come close to losing my blog twice!
Great post and thanks for the tip!
Thanks
Great, Donovan, it’s good to know you’ve found this information useful!
Thank you for visiting,
Jose
Hi Jose,
Glad to hear you managed to restore your blog, I’ve been backing mine up for quite some time now with the plugin you mention in this post… I also have them emailed to me, as I like the “set and forget” aspect of it.
Hopefully it won’t happen to me, but if it does I will know where to come to find the solution.
Thanks for this useful info Jose,
Paul
.-= Paul Lear@increase alexa rank´s last blog ..Progress Update! =-.
Good to see you again, Paul!
The backup file emailing is certainly a great feature. Actually, that’s what I used to get my blog back. One thing to have in mind is to keep backups in two different places, for improved safety.
Cheers,
Jose
Hi Jose,
Sorry to hear that you lost your site.Glad to hear you got it back up,Now thats an achievement!
Unlike many commentators,I did back my files up…mysql.
Didnt do me any good though.Wheres the manual for getting it back up?
I appreciate you managed to retrieve your files,but why did you have to run(like I had to)all over Internetland to find a solution?
Dont people think when they produce something that it may well require instructions on how it may be retrieved?
Anyway Ive had my moan.
Hostgator will retrieve your file for you for $15.Fill out a form.
If you go into cpanel for your WordPress with Hostgator they Also have a backup system.There are videos on their site.
I guess you can never have too many backups.
Bye for now
Ray
Hi Rayw, welcome!
Yep, you can never have too many backups. It’s wise to have two or three of them. One in an e-mail box is very convenient; your hard drive can look like a good one place too, until it crashes for whatever reason. Featuring a backup service is a point in favor of a host we should always consider.
Cheers,
Jose