Title: Automatic update failure!
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# Automatic update failure!

 *  [jainsy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jainsy/)
 * (@jainsy)
 * [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/)
 * I just attempted to run an auto-update from version 2.9 (i think) to the most
   recent.
    The auto update failed and I was left with a .maintenance file. I deleted
   this file and the site is now visible. However the /wp-admin area is not. It 
   just loads blank pages. I have an SQL backup of the database.
 * What are my next steps? I have read else where that a manual install should solve
   this? If so do I install it as I would a new WP blog.
 * Please please help. This site is quite important!

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/#post-2117764)
 * Try:
    – switching to the Twenty Ten theme by renaming your current theme’s folder
   in wp-content/themes using [FTP](http://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients) or whatever
   file management application your host provides.
 * – [resetting the plugins folder](http://codex.wordpress.org/FAQ_Troubleshooting#How_to_deactivate_all_plugins_when_not_able_to_access_the_administrative_menus.3F)
   by FTP or phpMyAdmin.
 * – re-uploading all files & folders – **except** the wp-content folder – from 
   a **fresh** download of WordPress.
 * – re-running the upgrade manually using wp-admin/upgrade.php.
 *  Thread Starter [jainsy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jainsy/)
 * (@jainsy)
 * [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/#post-2117943)
 * I have tried all apart from re-uploading, so will give this ago.
 * Does this mean I will need to back-up from database once reinstalled though?
 *  Moderator [keesiemeijer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keesiemeijer/)
 * (@keesiemeijer)
 * [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/#post-2117944)
 * This doesn’t affect the database. Maybe if all goes well it will do an upgrade
   on the database afterwards, but this is normal behaviour. It’s always usefull
   to do a backup of the database before an update.
 *  Moderator [keesiemeijer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keesiemeijer/)
 * (@keesiemeijer)
 * [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/#post-2117946)
 * Ah, I see you have a backup! Very good.
 * > Does this mean I will need to back-up from database once reinstalled though?
 * Not if all goes well.
 *  Thread Starter [jainsy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jainsy/)
 * (@jainsy)
 * [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/#post-2117947)
 * Thanks guys.
 * Have completed the upgrade. However, wordpress retains all the content I can 
   see all posts and pages from within wp-admin but it does not recognise any of
   the themes or plugins that remained in the wp-content folder. So on type the 
   site url into the address bar I am just shown a blank page.
 * Any idea here?
 *  Moderator [keesiemeijer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keesiemeijer/)
 * (@keesiemeijer)
 * [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/#post-2117948)
 * So now You can log in. Try resaving your permalink structure under Settings >
   Permalinks and see if that resolves it. Check if your wp-config.php is correct(
   also compare it to the wp-config-sample.php and see if there are any changes 
   with this version).
 *  Thread Starter [jainsy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jainsy/)
 * (@jainsy)
 * [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/#post-2117949)
 * thanks for your help so far keesiemeijer.
 * I have saved copies of my old ones. Should I compare my old wp-config.php and
   wp-config-sample.php with my new ones?
 * They both look fine. The only thing is the W3 Super Cache plugin. Between the
   sample and actual config file. I have removed this to no avail.
 * Permalink structures were already the same. I just see no plugins or themes available,
   this must be the reason the site displays as blank? I’ve tried installing a new
   one but it say public_html is not writeable…??
 *  Moderator [keesiemeijer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keesiemeijer/)
 * (@keesiemeijer)
 * [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/#post-2117950)
 * Make a backup of your your wp-config.php. Copy all relevant information from 
   your wp-config.php to wp-config-sample.php and save it as wp-config.php. That’s
   the safest way.
 * > So on type the site url into the address bar I am just shown a blank page.
 * What do you mean by this?
 *  Thread Starter [jainsy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jainsy/)
 * (@jainsy)
 * [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/#post-2117951)
 * What I meant was, I am shown a blank page because wordpress is unable to find
   my theme files. I did not change or overwrite anything from /wp-content though.
 * > Make a backup of your your wp-config.php. Copy all relevant information from
   > your wp-config.php to wp-config-sample.php and save it as wp-config.php. That’s
   > the safest way.
 * I have done this but no success. For some reason /wp-admin cannot see anything
   in /wp-content

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

The topic ‘Automatic update failure!’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 9 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [jainsy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jainsy/)
 * Last activity: [15 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automatic-update-failure-2/#post-2117951)
 * Status: not resolved

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