Title: Website Migration Last modified: September 1, 2016 --- # Website Migration * Resolved [jimmyadams](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jimmyadams/) * (@jimmyadams) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-migration-2/) * Hello, * I have a client who has an existing website, but wanted a new one built. * I built a new site on my system, running Xampp. Once the site was almost complete, the clients wanted it uploaded so they could look at it from their various offices. So I worked with the hosting company, got a sub-domain set up and password protected and had a database created on that end, changed the wp-config.php settings to reflect the new database, and used FileZilla to copy all the files over to their servers. (They’re running on Plesk.) * When I went to log into the dashboard, it was like I was starting from scratch on a new install, and none of the editing and coding I had done previously seemed to come with it. * I also exported an .xml file and .json file, but there seems to be a lot of problems with importing the .xml file. That worked to a certain extent. All the posts and pages were imported, but none of the menu systems, etc. * Then Xampp crashed, so I re-installed it, but it overwrote all of my local files for the site. Luckily, I had just copied those same files to another server, so I have managed to copy them back, but no it’s acting like a new install on my machine as well. * My first question is, is there any way I can recuperate all my work without having to start all over? * Secondly, where did I go so wrong in the migration? * Any ideas would be really appreciated. * Thanks Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total) * [Learn WP Basics](https://wordpress.org/support/users/learnwpbasics/) * (@learnwpbasics) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-migration-2/#post-7572261) * You say that you “had a database created on that end” but you didn’t mention that you imported the database that you exported from XAMPP. This is crucial in that all your content, menus, etc. is stored in and retrieved from the DB. * Also mentioned is that when you logged in it was like looking at a fresh install. Sounds as though that’s exactly what it was 🙂 * Have a read through this codex article: * [https://codex.wordpress.org/Moving_WordPress](https://codex.wordpress.org/Moving_WordPress) * Same goes for your XAMPP “crash”. If the files were all you had backed up (copied to the server) and did not have an export of the database, then I am afraid that it is gone. * Generally, these are the steps I take to move from local to live: – export the local db – ZIP the local install files, i.e. the folder in XAMPP where the local install resides – create a new, empty db on the live host and import the local db – edit the siteurl and home fields in the wp_options table on the live db to reflect the new location (URL) – unload the local ZIP file to the correct location on the live server and unZIP (expand) it there – edit the wp-config. php on the live version to reflect the live db credentials – login to the Dashboard on the live site and install and run this plugin to update all the links/URLs to the live location: * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-search-replace/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-search-replace/) * – once that is done, go to Settings > Permalinks and just click Save Changes; this rebuilds the .htaccess file * It sounds like a lot, but after doing this many times, it usually takes me about 5 minutes. There are plugins that will do this but I prefer to do it manually as I can control each step. * Cheers! Lyle * Thread Starter [jimmyadams](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jimmyadams/) * (@jimmyadams) * [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-migration-2/#post-7572331) * Thanks Lyle, * After spending some time doing more research yesterday, that’s what I came up with. Missed exporting the db. * Luckily, it looks like there isn’t *too* much I’ll have to redo. Mostly re-directing paths. * That being said, thanks for your post. I’m going to copy, paste and save it because it’s super concise. I’m also switching up my processes a little bit. * Thank you. Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total) The topic ‘Website Migration’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Localhost Installs](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/localhost-installs/) * 2 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [jimmyadams](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jimmyadams/) * Last activity: [9 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-migration-2/#post-7572331) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics