Automated Split Testing

WordPress Problems: What to Do When WordPress Fails

November 17th, 2010

Like any other computerized system, WordPress is built to run a certain way and produce results. But what about the times when problems in WordPress occur? In this article, I’ll detail the different types of problems you may run into during your time operating the controls of your WordPress website. Here’s a close look at some very common WordPress problems:

1. Your WordPress installation can’t find the wp-config.php file and is displaying an error message.

This error makes it seem like your time as a WordPress blogger has been thoroughly wasted and you think your site has crashed. Fear not, this isn’t the case. Most times, it’s just a simple error on the server (hosting) side of things. There are a few possibilities as to what is wrong. One might be that the wp-config.php file isn’t being read properly, the other might just be a server blip. To combat this, you can download the wp-config.php from your desktop by logging in to your hosting provider’s interface (usually cPanel -> File Manager) or you can download it from your server using an FTP client, such as FileZilla. After you have downloaded the wp-config.php to your computer and have checked that it’s the right version, delete the wp-config.php on the server, then re-upload it to the same spot you just deleted it from. This will allow it to connect back to your database and resume normal function. Refreshing your WordPress site in the browser should fix the issue. If this simple fix will not do it, contact your hosting provider and ask them to look at the account. They might be having issues on their side of the equation.

2. Your WordPress installation is displaying a white screen instead of your website.

This error is a really simple one to counteract, it usually has to do with two plugins that are installed that may be conflicting with each other. Sometimes this occurs and the two plugins will actually “battle it out” with each other and cause the site to come to a standstill, thus producing a white screen instead of your webpage layout. Simply login to your admin panel, and turn off all plugins you have installed, and then turn on the plugins one by one while checking your site. Sometimes, the white out is caused by duplicate plugins or two separate plugins that are both trying to accomplish the same task. For example, you don’t need two website ping plugins running, or two SEO plugins that are both trying to submit keywords. Refresh the home page of your site after each plugin is turned on to see where the problem occurrs, then remove the conflicting plugin.

3. Your WordPress installation is displaying your site’s root directory instead of your website.

Again, this could be as simple as an outdated plugin running on an updated version of WordPress. Sometimes plugin developers stop supporting certain plugins going forward, so it’s always in your best interests to check the plugin homepage on WordPress’ main site, or even through your installation of WordPress. You can see how many people have rated the plugin as working with the current version and previous versions of WordPress. If there are no ratings and you want to use the plugin, install it and report back to the developer if it doesn’t work with that version of WordPress. Since WordPress is open-source, every member of the community is inadvertently a tester, so the reporting back helps developers make crucial changes to make their software supported on all versions of the platform, which enhances the user experience for all.

Managing a WordPress blog or site can be rather tedious, but if done correctly, the site will flourish and thrive, keeping maintenance to a minimum and stress even lower. Understanding the problems you can run into with the software is an integral part of using it. If you have an issue or error without your WordPress installation, type in your question online and chances are that someone has already had the same or similar problem. The community surrounding WordPress is very helpful and often times very responsive, because it’s their work and their proud of it.

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WordPress Problems: What to Do When WordPress Fails