Title: Cannot restore – always promted to do fresh WP install Last modified: September 1, 2016 --- # Cannot restore – always promted to do fresh WP install * Resolved [Happy Coder](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lovemesomecode/) * (@lovemesomecode) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore/) * When successfully restoring to the server with no errors and database host, name user and pass correct, upon testing the site I am always prompted to do a fresh install of WP. * Downloaded WP 4.5.3 * Added Duplicator plugin – nothing else changed, no other plugins etc. added or any settings of the default WP install changed, using default 2016 theme * Created package – no errors * Created db host on server * Created db on server with db name, user and pass * Restored package to host with db host, name, user and pass correct * On step 3 I click “Test Site” and am directed to the WP install screen * Did bring to this attention of the host/server I am using and they found that the table prefix was not correctly imported. Though then this issue could not be verified. Once the table prefix was changed on the host I could log in but could not reach dashboard due to not enough permission. * I could not verify this and since I did not want to deal with the permission issue on a fresh default WP 4.5.3 install I deleted this from the server. * All this never used to happen. Host/Server status on package build is fine as well as on package restore. The requirements all show green. My wp-config.php also does not have any extra bits, just db host, user, pass and table prefix something like `$table_prefix = 'hfx39tuD2bXe954_';` for example. * See the step 3 here: [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4vYEa7JgTSQ/V3-Mqd5RZiI/AAAAAAAACNU/QyQvcpnirrYHgpB8-QzoKLri5DXj5XFhQCCo/s0/Duplicator%2B001.png](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4vYEa7JgTSQ/V3-Mqd5RZiI/AAAAAAAACNU/QyQvcpnirrYHgpB8-QzoKLri5DXj5XFhQCCo/s0/Duplicator%2B001.png) * All this used to work flawless when I last posted. Did not change anything in the setup or host. * Would be highly thankful for any help. Trying to restore a local theme to the host. * Kind Regards * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/) Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total) * Thread Starter [Happy Coder](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lovemesomecode/) * (@lovemesomecode) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore/#post-7555381) * Also see here, server versions are the same. [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XrufIXDPbYE/V3-SW7zVcwI/AAAAAAAACNs/YJHd9V2cd14kvXL3cNotLYLakL8T00T7QCCo/s0/Duplicator%2B003.png](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XrufIXDPbYE/V3-SW7zVcwI/AAAAAAAACNs/YJHd9V2cd14kvXL3cNotLYLakL8T00T7QCCo/s0/Duplicator%2B003.png). This is already `installer.php` running on the host with db setup freshly and ready to deploy. * Did check out this thread [https://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-not-online-just-a-blank-wp-install?replies=4](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-not-online-just-a-blank-wp-install?replies=4) but the error cannot be due to server versions differing. * If you like I can set up a subdomain with user and pass and give you access to run the restore yourself. It is a basic approx. 8MB file to restore the default WP 4.5.3. * Whatever I do I get the WP fresh install screen showing up. * Moderator [Jan Dembowski](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdembowski/) * (@jdembowski) * Forum Moderator and Brute Squad * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore/#post-7555391) * Side note: don’t post to other user’s topics with links to your own, OK? That’s not necessary and you’re just distracting from other peoples problem. * You’ve posted this in the right place less than an hour ago. Give others the chance to help you out without “me too’ing” those other posts. * Thread Starter [Happy Coder](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lovemesomecode/) * (@lovemesomecode) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore/#post-7555396) * Jan, following forum etiquette since day one but thank you for letting me know. * More important, this situation is different because of these key points. * 1. [The other person that has this issue and keeps having this issue](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-not-online-just-a-blank-wp-install) has marked the thread as resolved but the solution is not given. * 2. The other point, that server versions differing might be the issue is also ruled out and confirmed in that other person’s thread. * 3. The other person’s issue is exactly the same issue I am having, so not distracting from other people’s problems but rather letting the devs know that there are multiple people suffering from the same issue possibly directing more interest for this issue. * 4. When I come to the support forum to check for people with similar issues I was at first happy to see a **resolved** thread with the issue I am having. Quickly did I have to see that in fact this is not resolved, neither for the other person or for myself. * **These** are the points that led me to posting that I am having this issue too. * I am now going to post a last time in that other person’s thread, simply stating that I am also having exactly the same issue. Please do not delete this post because of the above mentioned points. * Thank you for your understanding and help. * Moderator [Jan Dembowski](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdembowski/) * (@jdembowski) * Forum Moderator and Brute Squad * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore/#post-7555432) * [@lovemesomecode](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lovemesomecode/) This has already been covered in my reply above. * [https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore?replies=4&view=all#post-8617185](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore?replies=4&view=all#post-8617185) * People are asked to start their own topic to get attention to their problem. That’s how these forums work and other topic has not been confirmed by the original poster there that it solved his problem and not yours. * You have your own topic, please do not continue to try and chime into other’s _to get attention to your own problem_. Those posts have been deleted and will remain so. * Thread Starter [Happy Coder](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lovemesomecode/) * (@lovemesomecode) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore/#post-7555451) * Happy to post the fix. * [https://wordpress.org/support/topic/duplicator-creates-a-new-install-not-a-duplicate?replies=38#post-7752708](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/duplicator-creates-a-new-install-not-a-duplicate?replies=38#post-7752708) * and * [http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5659835/xampp-and-mysql-all-colimns-in-table-are-lower-case-in-php](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5659835/xampp-and-mysql-all-colimns-in-table-are-lower-case-in-php), * particularly, this answer * [http://stackoverflow.com/a/8587744](http://stackoverflow.com/a/8587744) * was the solution for me. * If you are on Windows or Mac using XAMPP, WAMP, etc. and you **want** to use case senSiTiVe characters for your table names, so to speak, if you set a case sensitive table prefix in your `wp-config.php` like so * `$table_prefix = 'hfjRhjgvnjmDzgnme_';` * then you must set * `lower_case_table_names = 0` in your `my.ini` file * in the `[mysqld]` section of that file. Find the `my.ini` file in the \mysql\ bin\ folder of your XAMPP or WAMP installation. * And **then** you must deal with the warning that Duplicator correctly throws you during scanning. * **Though your MySQL databse will be restored correctly with case senSiTiVe characters as table prefix to the host/server!** * Duplicator works **regardless of this MySQL configuration**! Attention there Windows and Mac users! * Depending on where you restore the archive to the MySQL configuration might be different, it can happen that WP does not recognize the WP install because the table prefix is all lowercase and because of that WP throws the install screen as it wants to create a new set of a database. * > 3. For table name case sensitivity issues either rename the table with lower > case characters or be pre-paired to work with [the lower_case_table_names system variable setting](http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/server-system-variables.html#sysvar_lower_case_table_names). * [would be good to change `per-paired` to `prepared`] * So do we have to use lowercase table prefixes on Windows and Mac machines if we want to work with various hosts? * **Are lowercase table names the (preferred) standard?** * I assume so since many hosting companies are based on Linux systems, no? * Duplicator does the job right, though the table names are **borked** if you are on Windows or Mac and use UPPERCASE characters in your table prefix. * So basically the chances are quite high of someone running into this error. Attention there users, this is not really Duplicator related. * How could Duplicator though kind of warn users on Windows or Mac systems about the use of UPPERCASE characters as table prefix? * Thread Starter [Happy Coder](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lovemesomecode/) * (@lovemesomecode) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore/#post-7555455) * > **To avoid problems caused by such differences, it is best to adopt a consistent > convention, such as always creating and referring to databases and tables using > lowercase names. This convention is recommended for maximum portability and > ease of use.** * [http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/identifier-case-sensitivity.html](http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/identifier-case-sensitivity.html) * Quite simple. User **lowercase** for your WP table prefix in wp-config.php and you are fine on any host and with Duplicator. * Thread Starter [Happy Coder](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lovemesomecode/) * (@lovemesomecode) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore/#post-7555531) * Given [this post by plugin author](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-not-online-just-a-blank-wp-install?replies=4#post-8621025) I am resolving this issue. * **Yes** would be great to **inform users** about the upper- and lowercase differences on Windows and Mac systems regardless of the plugin’s capabilities. * Thank you Cory * [Cory Lamle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/corylamleorg/) * (@corylamleorg) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore/#post-7555551) * Thanks for the update! Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total) The topic ‘Cannot restore – always promted to do fresh WP install’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/duplicator/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=2906985) * [Duplicator - Backups & Migration Plugin - Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More](https://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/duplicator/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/duplicator/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/duplicator/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/duplicator/reviews/) * 8 replies * 3 participants * Last reply from: [Cory Lamle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/corylamleorg/) * Last activity: [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-restore/#post-7555551) * Status: resolved