Critical Error Message After Transferring Website

Tagged: Transfers

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September 27, 2021 at 11:45 am #43080

Claire Hoover
Guest

Hello,

I have a back-up site built that I was trying to transfer over to the main site using the tutorial here. I was at the step in the process where I had just installed Bold Grid on the new site (stillaguamishcountryclub.org) and created a back-up when I tried to go to the transfers button to begin the transfer I encountered this error message: There has been a critical error on this website. Please check your site admin email inbox for instructions. I did look in the the inbox and found the email confirmation of the back up I had just created but nothing else.

I did a quick search for the error and found this but I am in a situation where I don’t think anything crazy happened, since i just created a back-up of the site using Total Upkeep so I am not sure what I do need to fix in this situation. Other web searches show changing code in the FTP, which I am fine to get into if that is what needs to be done, just wanted to check in before I get into the code. If so, direction on that would be invaluable.

Please advise what I need to do to log back into the new site as an admin.
Thanks so much!

September 27, 2021 at 12:31 pm #43134

Jesse Owens
Keymaster

Hi Claire-

Thanks for reaching out, I know having your site down is a major problem, so we’ll do everything we can to help you with your critical error message.

From what you’ve described, it sounds like some error happened during the restoration process that prevented the full website from being restored.

The first thing to do is to enable WordPress debugging so we can see what the actual error message is, since you’re not receiving the recovery email. To do this, you can edit your wp-config.php file with FTP or your web host’s file manager, and add the WP_DEBUG constant. Here are some detailed instructions on how to enable debugging with wp-config. Here’s another guide from WordPress.org.

Once you have debugging enabled, also be sure to enable WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY so we can see the actual error message on your website, rather than vague “Critical Error” message. Reply here with that and we can figure out what might have gone wrong.

Total Upkeep also includes command line utilities you can use to restore your backup. Here’s a detailed guide you can use to restore your backup using SSH.
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