Title: Clueless Newbie with WordPress database error
Last modified: August 19, 2016

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# Clueless Newbie with WordPress database error

 *  [pacojo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pacojo/)
 * (@pacojo)
 * [17 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/clueless-newbie-with-wordpress-database-error/)
 * My website is avidlaw.com. It was designed by my son, who is in South America
   doing humanitarian service and is not available. My web hosting company has been
   helpful, but I need more help. The site is based on WordPress and has worked 
   for about 18 months since my son left. About a month ago, the site has been down
   most of the time. When down, it shows a screen that says “WordPress Error establishing
   a database connection This either means that the username and password information
   in your wp-config.php file is incorrect or we can’t contact the database server
   at localhost. This could mean your host’s database server is down.
 * I don’t think the host is down. I’ve been told the database names or user names
   are too long. I don’t know how to change them.
 * I’m also brand new to the forum, so for all I know there is an existing answer
   out there. If so, I would appreciate it if you could point me to it.
 * Thanks.

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)

 *  [MichaelH](https://wordpress.org/support/users/michaelh/)
 * (@michaelh)
 * [17 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/clueless-newbie-with-wordpress-database-error/#post-1023234)
 * Don’t know how you could have a working site, then it be down, then working…
 * If the information in wp-config.php is wrong then the site would ALWAYS be done.
 * Neverless, [Editing wp-config.php](http://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_wp-config.php)
   discusses the database fields that are configured in wp-config.php. Also review
   [Installing WordPress](http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress) and the
   section on adding a database and user.
 * Again, if your site sometimes works, then a call to your host is the more appropriate
   solution.

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)

The topic ‘Clueless Newbie with WordPress database error’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [Database Error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/database-error/)

 * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/)
 * 1 reply
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [MichaelH](https://wordpress.org/support/users/michaelh/)
 * Last activity: [17 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/clueless-newbie-with-wordpress-database-error/#post-1023234)
 * Status: not resolved

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