This topic contains 8 replies, has 2 voices, and was last updated by Anita 2 weeks, 3 days ago.
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Hi there, I am revisiting a site that is in serious need of updating. The studiopress theme is retired (delicious), and the framework version is reaaly old (1.8.2). Plus, WordPress is a very old version too. Ordinarily my husband did all this for me but he passed away, hence my neglect of the site.
I believe it is best to start with a clean slate, and with this in mind could you let me know if the following would be correct:
That I go into WordPress> Appearance> Themes, then:
1. Switch the site to one of the standard WP themes available there.
2. Update WordPress
3. Delete the old Genesis Framework (in Appearance> Themes)
4. Delete the old Delicious Genesis Child theme (in Appearance> Themes)
5. Install the new Genesis Framework and new theme (using "Install Themes" in Appearance> Themes)I'm hoping so, as the FTP route is a bit daunting.
Many thanks in advance for any assistance. I've gone about as far as I can on the self-help route!
Yes, that would be a good way to do that too. But you also want to make sure that your PHP version has been updated to 7.4. I'd recommend doing that first.
Then start with the process you've outlined but after you update WordPress, make sure you update all of the plugins too. Then continue on with your list.
I'd also take an assessment of the plugins to see if any were really out of date or if at some time they may have had a vulnerability.
One more thing - if you have anything in the Genesis Header Scripts box, copy that out for safe keeping so it's not lost.
Thank you so much - that's greatly appreciated, and encouraging.
I've checked in my hosting service and selected the latest php version available there, which is 7.3.28, and set it to auto update. They say they'll soon be updating sites to php 7.4 and provided a url to check compatibility. This unfortunately returns an error message regarding a missing Mysql extension. Trying to find some help on that, it seems it's possibly because my WordPress version is so old?
Should I hope that this is the case and go ahead as planned?
I appreciate that php is not a Studiopress issue as such, but thought I would mention in it in case you have some quick and easy thoughts.
This unfortunately returns an error message regarding a missing Mysql extension.
There's probably some code either in WordPress, Genesis or your theme which may cause that. I'd start with updating WordPress to the most current version first.
If that's not possible and things are really old, I would probably export the website's XML file, set up a new WordPress installation, install a fresh copy of Genesis with the Child Theme and then import the XML file.
Hi Anita, and thank you so much again.
The XML option feels like a bridge too far for me, as I'm not at all familiar with that! It seems as close as I can get to a clean slate, the better, not knowing exactly where the problem is. So, I think I'll proceed as planned and if needed, do a whole new WP install as you suggest. I have actually copy-and-pasted all my content, listed my categories, plug-ins, etc. as a very old school back up, should I end up needing to do that. It looks like there'll be a sizeable new learning curve in any event, what with all the changes to WP and Genesis since I was last active, so reentering it all will be part and parcel of that - and for me, the easiest part!
That's what the XML file is for so you do not need to copy and paste. Go to Tools > Export. Export the file to your desktop. Then go to your new WordPress installation. Go to Tools > Import. Locate the XML file on your desktop and import the content. Then you can proceed from there.
Oh I see - I think I can manage that!
Thank you so VERY much for all your help.
If there are any plugins you need on the old website where content may be used, install and activate the plugins first before performing the XML import. This way all of the content associated with a plugin will display properly.
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