Title: Database Problem
Last modified: August 18, 2016

---

# Database Problem

 *  [GeodesicDragon](https://wordpress.org/support/users/geodesicdragon/)
 * (@geodesicdragon)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-problem-1-2-2/)
 * I am trying to install my WordPress, but when I open install.php, I see the following:
 * Can’t select database
    We were able to connect to the database server (which 
   means your username and password is okay) but not able to select the blog database.
 * Are you sure it exists?
    On some systems the name of your database is prefixed
   with your username, so it would be like username_wordpress. Could that be the
   problem? If you don’t know how to setup a database you should contact your host.
   If all else fails you may find help at the WordPress Support Forums.
 * What’s wrong? Do I need to set up the database first? If so, what do I have to
   put into it?

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

 *  [whooami](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whooami/)
 * (@whooami)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-problem-1-2-2/#post-564949)
 * yes you do have to set up the databse first, and that database needs to be reflected
   inside your wp-config.php
 * did you follow the install instructions?
 * [http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress#Detailed_Instructions](http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress#Detailed_Instructions)
 *  Thread Starter [GeodesicDragon](https://wordpress.org/support/users/geodesicdragon/)
 * (@geodesicdragon)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-problem-1-2-2/#post-564954)
 * That didn’t help.
 * I use MySQL query browser to access my databases.
 *  [whooami](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whooami/)
 * (@whooami)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-problem-1-2-2/#post-564965)
 * That does help.
 * what you use to access your database isnt the issue. Use whatever you want.
 * You must have a database.
 * Create one, with whatever tool you happen to use.
 * Edit your wp-config.php ..
 * etc..
 *  Thread Starter [GeodesicDragon](https://wordpress.org/support/users/geodesicdragon/)
 * (@geodesicdragon)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-problem-1-2-2/#post-564978)
 * No, you don’t understand what I am trying to say.
 * What actual syntax do I use to create the database?
 * Something along the lines of:
 * CREATE TABLE wordpress
    ( item1 CHAR(50) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY, item2 CHAR(50)
   NOT NULL, item3 CHAR(35) );
 *  [whooami](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whooami/)
 * (@whooami)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-problem-1-2-2/#post-564980)
 * Actually, I do understand — you dont.
 * what you just posted is not making a database. that making a table:
 * `CREATE TABLE wordpress` <— TABLE
 * WordPress creates the necessary tables during the install.
 * It NEEDS a MySQL database to create those tables inside of.
 * If you dont understand how to create a db using whatever client you are using,
   perhaps contacting your current host will help. You may even have a pre-created
   database that you aren’t aware of.
 *  Thread Starter [GeodesicDragon](https://wordpress.org/support/users/geodesicdragon/)
 * (@geodesicdragon)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-problem-1-2-2/#post-564986)
 * Right, I get it now.
 * I don’t have permission to create new databases. I’ll have to ask my host to 
   sort that out.
 * Thanks for your help, and I apologise for being a nuisance.
 *  [whooami](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whooami/)
 * (@whooami)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-problem-1-2-2/#post-564987)
 * no worries, your questions were atleast more than the usual around here 🙂

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

The topic ‘Database Problem’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [database](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/database/)
 * [MySQL](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/mysql/)

 * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/)
 * 7 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [whooami](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whooami/)
 * Last activity: [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-problem-1-2-2/#post-564987)
 * Status: not resolved

## Topics

### Topics with no replies

### Non-support topics

### Resolved topics

### Unresolved topics

### All topics