Title: Cannot install WordPress Last modified: August 18, 2016 --- # Cannot install WordPress * [normantang](https://wordpress.org/support/users/normantang/) * (@normantang) * [20 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/) * Hello, * I cannot install WordPress. When I click on “wp-admin/install.php” I get an error message: * “wp-config.php file. I need this before we can get started. Need more help? We got it. You can create a wp-config.php file through a web interface, but this doesn’t work for all server setups. The safest way is to manually create the file.”); require_once(‘../wp-config.php’); require_once(‘./upgrade-functions. php’); $schema = ( isset($_SERVER[‘HTTPS’]) && strtolower($_SERVER[‘HTTPS’]) == ‘on’ ) ? ‘[https://’](https://’); : ‘[http://’](http://’);; $guessurl = str_replace(‘/wp-admin/install.php?step=2’, ”, $schema . $_SERVER[‘ HTTP_HOST’] . dirname($_SERVER[‘PHP_SELF’]) ); if (isset($_GET[‘step’])) $step = $_GET[‘step’]; else $step = 0; header( ‘Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf- 8’ ); ?>” * I have already created a wp-config.php file. Why does this happen? * Thank you, * Norman Tang Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 19 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/page/2/?output_format=md) * [dlf8](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dlf8/) * (@dlf8) * [20 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-358779) * Same thing is happening to me. I can do a local install with xampp, but I cannot get this running on my host. I’ve confirmed that my host and my account support the following: * -Mysql and PHP has been installed on our server by default. PHP version is 4.3.10 and mysql version is 3.23.58 . Also mod_rewrite is enabled on the server by default. * Any help for Norman and I appreciated 🙂 * Dan * [dlf8](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dlf8/) * (@dlf8) * [20 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-358783) * Actually, just figured out what I was doing wrong. I was double clicking the install.php file when FTP is open in IE. You need to type in the [http://www.yourwebsite/blog/wp-admin/install.php](http://www.yourwebsite/blog/wp-admin/install.php), and it runs properly. * Dan * Thread Starter [normantang](https://wordpress.org/support/users/normantang/) * (@normantang) * [20 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359014) * Thank you Dan. * [maryp](https://wordpress.org/support/users/maryp/) * (@maryp) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359213) * I got this same error. I know that the server (IPower) I am trying to install on is set up screwy so that it doesn’t let php programs recognize the absolute path. For another program installed on the same server, I had to change the require to the exact path with no short cuts like this: require(“/var/www/vhosts/booktalkauthors. com/httpdocs/FORMfields/FORMfields.php”); * So I assume that is what I have to do with Word Press, however I don’t know which files I will have to do this on.. is it alot that have that “require_once” code?? * This server is actually owned by the woman I work with.. I installed Word Press on my own server.. with a different host.. and it worked perfectly. So I know what I’m doing.. just want to do all of the changes at once. * Anyone know which files need to be changed?? * [Chris_K](https://wordpress.org/support/users/handysolo/) * (@handysolo) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359214) * If you have to change core WP files to get it installed, then I’d seriously suggest not bothering… every WP upgrade is going to kill ya. * But first, I’d search here on [iPower](http://wordpress.org/search/ipower?forums=1) and see what other folks have learned or tried. * [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/) * (@samboll) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359215) * I have 2 blogs set up on IPower and do not have to do what you suggest. You’re doing something wrong. What kind of errors do you get? If it has to do with wp- config.php? * If stuck: [http://install4free.wordpress.com](http://install4free.wordpress.com) * [maryp](https://wordpress.org/support/users/maryp/) * (@maryp) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359216) * I am doing EXACTLY the same thing that I did when I installed it on my other server.. But with IPower I get this: * wp-config.php file. I need this before we can get started. Need more help? We got it. You can create a wp-config.php file through a web interface, but this doesn’t work for all server setups. The safest way is to manually create the file.”); require_once(‘/var/www/vhosts/ebooktalk.net/httpdocs/wp-config.php’); require_once(‘/var/www/vhosts/ebooktalk.net/httpdocs/upgrade-functions.php’); $schema = ( isset($_SERVER[‘HTTPS’]) && strtolower($_SERVER[‘HTTPS’]) == ‘on’)?‘ [https://’](https://’); : ‘[http://’](http://’);; $guessurl = str_replace(‘/wp-admin/install.php?step=2’, ”, $schema . $_SERVER[‘HTTP_HOST’]. dirname($_SERVER[‘PHP_SELF’]) ); if (isset($_GET[‘step’])) $step = $_GET[‘step’]; else $step = 0; header( ‘Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8’ ); ?> * hide_errors(); $installed = $wpdb->get_results(“SELECT * FROM $wpdb->users”); if ($installed) die(‘ ‘.__(‘Already Installed’).’ ‘.__(‘You appear to have already installed WordPress. To reinstall please clear your old database tables first.’).’ * ‘); $wpdb->show_errors(); switch($step) { case 0: ?> ReadMe documentation at your leisure.’), ‘../readme.html’); ?> * ************* The config file is there..and has correct info. I just checked the database..was going to clear tables and hit install again.. there are no tables. * So far I put in that full path on the config file and on the wp-admin/install. php * As I said.. I’ve had this same problem with another program.. that was installed perfectly on my server, but wouldn’t work on IPower. Once I put the full paths in for FORMfields.. it worked. I just can’t seem to get this to work. * Perhaps it is different because this IPower account is a “Virtual Server” ??? * [Dickie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dickie/) * (@dickie) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359217) * To be honest this looks like php is not running on the server.. I have taken install.php and opened it in a browser straight and your error messages are exactly what you get… To me this says that the server is just returning the RAW php, rather than processing it. * Just out of interest, if you point your browser at the wp-config.php file what do you see? eg [http://www.example.com/myblog/wp-config.php](http://www.example.com/myblog/wp-config.php) * You should get a blank page… if you get anything else (including your database info) then PHP is NOT running on that server. * P.S. For security reasons don’t post the exact results here. just let us know what happens. * [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/) * (@samboll) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359218) * None of that should affect it. Something is incorrect in your wp-config.php. Where exactly are you putting the “full path”? * edit – at IPower php is running by default. * [Dickie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dickie/) * (@dickie) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359219) * Sorry, but if your browser is showing you this ` wp-config.php file. I need this before we can get started. Need more help? We got it. You can create a wp- config.php file through a web interface, but this doesn't work for all server setups. The safest way is to manually create the file."); require_once('../wp- config.php'); require_once('./upgrade-functions.php'); $schema = ( isset($_SERVER[' HTTPS']) && strtolower($_SERVER['HTTPS']) == 'on' ) ? 'https://' : 'http://'; $guessurl = str_replace('/wp-admin/install.php?step=2', '', $schema . $_SERVER[' HTTP_HOST'] . dirname($_SERVER['PHP_SELF']) ); if (isset($_GET['step'])) $step = $_GET['step']; else $step = 0; header( 'Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf- 8' ); ?> Then PHP is not being parsed, as this IS the content of the intall. php as rendered by a browser. * Try it ! * [maryp](https://wordpress.org/support/users/maryp/) * (@maryp) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359220) * How do I get the php to be parsed? As I said.. I’ve got a php Forum on this server and a program called Formfields on this server.. so the php is working for some things. * To answer the question about where I’m putting in full path… It’s whereever it says “require_once..” Instead of the “short” version ..I put: require_once(“/ var/www/vhosts/domainname.com/httpdocs/filename.php”); * [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/) * (@samboll) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359221) * Again: [http://install4free.wordpress.com](http://install4free.wordpress.com) Let one of those guys take a look. This is unusual to say the least for IPower. It’s one of the most straightforward install hosts we do. * [maryp](https://wordpress.org/support/users/maryp/) * (@maryp) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359222) * This is what my config file looks like right now: * ******** * I just tweaked some things and tried again.. same problem: wp-config.php file. I need this before we can get started. Need more help? We got it. You can create a wp-config.php file through a web interface, but this doesn’t work for all server setups. The safest way is to manually create the file.”); require_once(‘/var/ www/vhosts/ebooktalk.net/httpdocs/wp-config.php’); require_once(‘/var/www/vhosts/ ebooktalk.net/httpdocs/upgrade-functions.php’); $schema = ( isset($_SERVER[‘HTTPS’])&& strtolower($_SERVER[‘HTTPS’]) == ‘on’ ) ? ‘[https://’](https://’); :‘ [http://’](http://’);; $guessurl = str_replace(‘/wp-admin/install.php? step=2’, ”, $schema . $_SERVER[‘HTTP_HOST’] . dirname($_SERVER[‘PHP_SELF’]) ); if (isset($_GET[‘step’])) $step = $_GET[‘step’]; else $step = 0; header( ‘Content- Type: text/html; charset=utf-8’ ); ?> * hide_errors(); $installed = $wpdb->get_results(“SELECT * FROM $wpdb->users”); if ($installed) die(‘ ‘.__(‘Already Installed’).’ ‘.__(‘You appear to have already installed WordPress. To reinstall please clear your old database tables first.’).’ * ‘); $wpdb->show_errors(); switch($step) { case 0: ?> ReadMe documentation at your leisure.’), ‘../readme.html’); ?> * etc.. etc… * [Dickie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dickie/) * (@dickie) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359223) * All the stuff below the comment /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging.*/ * should be left as it is from your downloaded files You should not need to change anything below there…hence the comment. You should be able to leave them as ` define('ABSPATH', dirname(__FILE__).'/'); require_once(ABSPATH.'wp-settings.php'); * [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/) * (@samboll) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/#post-359224) * EXACTLY! Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 19 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘Cannot install WordPress’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [installation](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/installation/) * [upgrade](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/upgrade/) * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/) * 19 replies * 6 participants * Last reply from: [Dickie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dickie/) * Last activity: [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-install-wordpress-2/page/2/#post-359228) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics