How to install vBulletin forum software?

[robertall]

The first thing to use mySQL databases, you need a webhost that supports this and has least 1 mySQL database. This will take you away from auto-installers and teach you how to make this yourself.

This first thing you will need to do is go to mySQL databases in cpanel. Then create a database. When you have done this, you will notice that it will look like your username, then a underscore, and then it will contain the name you have entered, this is normal, on a server there is loads of usernames, and if they were all named forum, then they would clash.... The next thing you do is create and user and give this user a password, you must remember this so that you can enter the details in a file later on, once you have done this, then you will upload the thing that uses the mySQL database. In my case, vBulletin, then once you have loaded the files, find the file called "includes/config.php.new", this file will be the mainframe of the whole entire script

Enter the mySQL details in the file, and then rename it config.php in the same directory, do not worry about anything else...

Then you go to install/install.php, and then you will be told to enter your customer number, this is normal, and you have a file called readthis.<username> which came with the vBulletin software. Just enter the number in there correctly. Then you follow the 10 step simple instuctions, it should work, if it says that a file is not readable, then change it accordingly using FTP or the file manager. Then restart the process once it is correct. After that is complete, before you can log into admin control panel, you will have to delete install/install.php. Once that is done you can install and start adding forums. Leave all the rest of the files intact, otherwise you may have a problem.

Before you install any mods, i would recommend getting a back up of the files you have, so go to Back-up in control panel, and find the mySQL database name that you called the vBulletin software, and then you should download it, which should not take long, vBulletin is usually between 2mb and 10mb in size, depending on the usage of the forum and if there are an mods already installed. Lets pertent that you made an error with the mod, all you is delete the existing forum and upload it again, and delete the mySQL database to aviod clashes. Then you just go to MYSQL databases, and then you go to PhpMyAdmin, and then you create a database that is the same as the one that you have just deleted and add the same user into it. Then go to config.php.new and enter the details again, then you just over-right the existing things, and upload the file you have just downloaded as a backup by going to the SQL tab on the right frame. Then all you do is upload the file, and in the radio buttons you just select "GZipped" and then wait. Remember that the server has to unzip and then it has move all the tables in the correct areas and then you just wait until it is complete. Once that is done, go to your forum and it should work, but before you can access the admin cpanel, remember to delete install/install.php, once that is done you can access the forums admin control panel using all the old settings.

Moving your site.

Do the same as above, but remember that you have to make sure that you have the same username as the old forum, if not, this is not a problem, just change the mySQL details in config.php.new. Remember to rename it config.php.