Title: Database – reinstalling WordPress Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # Database – reinstalling WordPress * Resolved [Technobimbo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/technobimbo/) * (@technobimbo) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/) * My site has disappeared. I’m intending on downloading the wwwroot directory and deleting on the server and doing a complete fresh reinstall of WordPress on the server. * When reinstalling WordPress I’m not sure what it will do when it finds existing data in the database e.g it could possibly delete that data or overwrite it if using the same table prefix? Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total) * [Julian Fox (greataussiepie)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greataussiepie/) * (@greataussiepie) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/#post-4877860) * Hi Technobimbo, * If you use the same table prefix it will use the data it finds, it will not overwrite. * It is possible to install a fresh WordPress and use your current database, during the installation, give your WordPress install a different prefix from the one currently in your database. * After the installation is complete, if you look at your database using phpmyadmin you will notice there is 2 sets of tables for everything. **updated:** One set of tables with your old prefix and one set of tables with your new and different prefix. you can switch between both by editing the wp-config.php file. * When you are ready you can edit the wp-config file to use the prefix of your old database and this will tell WordPress to start using your old WordPress data. * Hope this helps 🙂 * Thread Starter [Technobimbo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/technobimbo/) * (@technobimbo) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/#post-4877861) * Hi * Sorry – can you explain ‘prefix’? I was going to use all the same information as the old version (ie: whatever is the default prefix) then things should be ok? * Thanks 🙂 * [Julian Fox (greataussiepie)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greataussiepie/) * (@greataussiepie) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/#post-4877864) * First, i just want to double check you have made a backup of your Database and of your files before you do anything? 🙂 if you havent do this. * Yes, if you just use the same old information everything should be ok, however since you are trying to troubleshoot a problem that caused your website to disappear it may be a good idea to try some other troubleshooting tricks first, for instance back up a copy of your .htaccess file and then delete it from the server and see if your website starts working again. I get server 500 internal error and deleting .htaccess usually restores the website allowing me to further investigate. * If the problem is not with the .htaccess file, there is a chance the problem may be inside the database itself, in which case using the same default settings probably won’t fix the problem. * **Prefix explanation:** * check out the image i linked below, it shows the WordPress setup screen. Here it asks for a Table Prefix, by default it is set to wp_ * the second link is an image of phpMyAdmin and you can see all of the tables that WordPress uses to store data, they all start with the prefix wp_. * If you are unsure, it is best to first make a backup of your database from phpMyAdmin, and a backup of your WordPress files from FTP. * [WordPress setup screen](http://wpsitebuilding.com/wp-content/uploads/wordpress-installation-step-3.png) * [phpMyAdmin WordPress tables](http://www.realbloggingtips.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/phpmyadmin-1024x753.jpg) * [Julian Fox (greataussiepie)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greataussiepie/) * (@greataussiepie) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/#post-4877865) * Sorry i could have been more helpful on explaining what a prefix is. a prefix is just simply some letters or numbers that are pre fixed on to the front of everything. this allows WordPress to identify data in the database, so that it knows what data it owns and what data to leave alone. * Thread Starter [Technobimbo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/technobimbo/) * (@technobimbo) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/#post-4877866) * Hi * Thanks! Yes, do have copy of database etc. * I’ve reinstalled 3.9 and getting error 401.1 now – no intallation page etc – so a bit confused over what else I can try…. * Where do I find the .htaccess file? (For future reference). * [Julian Fox (greataussiepie)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greataussiepie/) * (@greataussiepie) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/#post-4877871) * In regards to the .htaccess file, i should have asked first if you website is running on an Apache server or a Microsoft IIS server, Apache uses .htaccess and IIS uses a file called Web.config, i am unfamiliar with IIS servers so you may have to start a new topic with error 401.1 in the title to prompt someone with the necessary knowledge to help you. * Deleting the Web.config file on a IIS server environment may or may not be a good idea, i do not know sorry. * If you are on Apache Using an FTP client like FileZilla or your cPanel file manager you can find the .htaccess file in the the wwwroot directory, the same directory that wp-config.php can be found. * If you start another topic saying something like ‘401.1 error – my site disappeared what do i do?’ and then explain careful what server you are running WordPress and any WordPress or server settings that you changed recently before the site stopped working. If i can help i will reply to that topic ASAP otherwise im sure someone who can help will notice it soon. * Hope that helps 🙂 Good luck * Thread Starter [Technobimbo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/technobimbo/) * (@technobimbo) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/#post-4877872) * OK – webhost has reset the permissions and I now have an install page… so fingers crossed * Thread Starter [Technobimbo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/technobimbo/) * (@technobimbo) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/#post-4877875) * Thanks! 🙂 * [Julian Fox (greataussiepie)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greataussiepie/) * (@greataussiepie) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/#post-4877876) * oh great that sounds good, keep posting here if you have anymore snags with the reinstall. * let us know how it goes and dont forget to mark the topic as resolved 🙂 * happy to help 🙂 Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total) The topic ‘Database – reinstalling WordPress’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 9 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [Julian Fox (greataussiepie)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greataussiepie/) * Last activity: [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/database-reinstalling-wordpress/#post-4877876) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics