Please help!! Can't install vbulletin and I'm not sure why
 

Hello,

I have an expired vbulletin license that will only allow me to use 3.6.8. So that is what I am working with. Anyways the issue I am having is actually installing it. I have never had this issue before and for the life of me cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong.


When I go to the URL to do the install these are already at the top of the page:

Then after I enter my customer number I get this error:

Please if anyone can tell me what the hell I am doing wrong that would be great! Usually I can do these installs in 5 minutes.

Thank You,

Bill

Your issue is with the version of php and MySQL that you are running on your server, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the vbulletin itself.

I never thought that there was anything wrong with vbulletin. How do I change the version of php or MySQL so I can get this working properly?

Thanks for the reply.

You could talk to your host, sometimes they have a way to configure things to allow you to use an older version of php. (I don't know offhand what version you need - you can probably find that out at vbulletin.com).

Otherwise, you will need to make some changes to the source code to remove the warning messages.

Thank you I will ask them! You said I might need to make changes to the source code. Would I do that if my host is unable to help me? Or what exactly would I change in the source code. I am terrible with coding lol

There is no need to change php versions.

Set display_errors to off using a local php.ini or htaccess file.

If you could explain that in the most basic terms possible that would be amazing! Is that file already located in the upload folder?

Add a php.ini file to your vbulletin main folder, its contents should be this:
display_errors = Off

OR

Add in your .htaccess file, in vbulletins main folder:
php_flag display_errors Off

OR

In the servers php.ini file, typically in /etc, edit php.ini via ssh & turn off display_errors & restart apache/nginx etc.

@snakes1100 that wont help him if the server is running the latest stable version of php or the latest version of MySQL as only vb3.8.7 and above work on them (there's even been a release for the last vb3.8 version so it will work on the latest version of php)

@Simon, how about we just let him report back, before you go making assumptions.

3.6 is going to have problems running on newer versions of php.

I tried this and unfortunately it didn't work for me. I still get the same errors. This is frustrating! I thank everyone for all the help provided so far.

have you tried talking to your host to install the right version of php and MySQL for the vb version you are using

No, that is going to be my next thing I do. Hoping that they will be able to help.

Assumption confirmed ;)

So after speaking with my host, they will not allow me to use an older version of PHP or MySql. So am I just screwed now?

Looks like you have two options either cancel your hosting or upgrade your vb to vb5. I would go for option one

You can find a host that will install an older version of php, buy a dedicated box then you can install what you like or install vb4 or later. Check your licence and see if a version of vb4 is available to you.

You should be good to go on these versions:

Apache v2.2.16 (cgi-fcgi)

PHP 5.2.14

MySQL Version 5.0.96-community

VB 4 isn't available to me of course :( why does it have to be so much to upgrade a license? Only a $50 dollar discount? That's crap in my opinion, but I also don't want to cancel hosting. I have been with them for years!

The versions I've given above should work for you, supply these to your host and ask if they can manage that, it may be that you have to move from shared hosting to VPS in order to get your set up as you need.

But it's not the vb script thats calling the shots,it's your hosting.Everything has a lifetime, if your not prepared to move on when you have the chance then simply you get left behind..Is that not the fact with everything in life?

What I did (a few years ago when this problem came up) is this: do a global search and replace on all the source file, changing
to

That just turns off the "deprecated" error messages (and hopefully the "headers already sent" message will then also go away). I think I also made a few other changes but I can't remember exactly what. If you have php5.4, my understanding is that there are other issues that might cause some features not to work correctly, but I don't have any details about that.

If they cant help you after you have been with them for years then it is time to move