Unable to load new theme (and I have a tmp directory)

[Kelleytoons]

So I'm trying to put a new theme on and it tells me that it's missing a temporary folder.  So I went and got the host to add a tmp folder above my root and I still get this message (and permissions on the folder are set for 777 so it's not a permissions issue).

Is there ANYWAY to put a new theme on elsewise?  Can I use Filezilla and upload the new theme somewhere?  Clearly doing it via the forum isn't going to work for me.

[Matt]

The tmp folder will be a server level thing, MyBB isn't going to be looking for a folder in a random place above your web root. MyBB is PHP software, it just calls PHP functions that use existing tmp folders on the server. You don't need to manually create any sort of tmp folder to use MyBB, is the first time I've heard of that being a thing in 13 years. It sounds like this server isn't set up to run PHP applications very well, you'd probably struggle installing WordPress or any other PHP software.

Are you bound to using this host? There's thousands of hosting companies that use Linux and provide cPanel control panels that wouldn't be giving you any of these headaches.

[Matt]

If the error you got was this:

PHP returned: Missing a temporary folder. Please contact your forum administrator with this error.

Then this is due to the UPLOAD_ERR_NO_TMP_DIR error code outlined on the PHP docs: https://www.php.net/manual/en/features.f...errors.php

It's not MyBB specific at all, it's a server-level issue.

[Kelleytoons]

I'm thinking more and more I'm just going to go with phpBB, the forum that's available by default on my server.

(And, yes, I need to use this server - I shopped around and it's the one I can afford. I've been with them for two decades and NEVER had issues until I tried installing this $@$#@# software).

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Oh, and WordPress IS installed and running just fine on this host. But - I just don't know what to do about any of this anymore.

[Matt]

There's several hosts that will be as little as $10 a month that will not have any of these issues. The old software you were running looks about 15 years old so was probably running on extremely old architecture, so isn't really a straight comparison.

  upload_test.php (Size: 230 bytes / Downloads: 15)

Upload this to your MyBB root and go to yoursite.com/upload_test.php

You should see a file upload field and a submit button. Browse for a file and submit the form. It will then output some text at the top. It should say int(0) - if it says any number other than 0, then there's a server issue. This script is totally separate from MyBB so will be a better test.

[Kelleytoons]

I think that by making my host install phpBB (a native application available) perhaps it will also straighten out any issues with myBB. It can't hurt, because otherwise myBB is just not going to work for me.

Sorry for taking up so much of all of you good folks time.

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Sorry, kind of cross-posted. Yeah, I tried that file and got a 6. And I don't disagree there's a server issue, just that I can't figure out how to make the issue go away.

And, as I said, perhaps making them install and get running phpBB will solve all the issues with this. It can't hurt (but, no, I tried the other route of other hosts and believe me, giving what I need, the cheapest I can find is twice what I'm paying now. All of this is just for fun for a retiree who can't really afford to spend $$).

[Matt]

You'll need to just ask your host to make it so that test script will work. That will be easier than installing anything else as you'll have the same issues uploading files to it, but they'd be able to use this test script just as easily as any other installed forum to debug and fix the issue. If they get it so that test script works, uploads everywhere else will work too, and saves you the hassle of having to install anything else first.

What do you need in terms of hosting and how much are you paying now? I'm sure we'd be able to suggest some alternatives if we knew requirement and budget.

[Kelleytoons]

You'll need to just ask your host to make it so that test script will work. That will be easier than installing anything else as you'll have the same issues uploading files to it, but they'd be able to use this test script just as easily as any other installed forum to debug and fix the issue. If they get it so that test script works, uploads everywhere else will work too, and saves you the hassle of having to install anything else first.

What do you need in terms of hosting and how much are you paying now? I'm sure we'd be able to suggest some alternatives if we knew requirement and budget.

Okay, will do (with the test script).

I need to host at least three separate forums, two of which need to be MS Access database (so Windows server capable of running Snitz).  Each Access DB is around 1GB in size (I'm actually allowed three of them and at one point I did have that).  I'm paying $155 per year and I have unlimited (or nearly so) file space (thousands of high definition images are on my site - I can get the exact file sizes if needed).  Right now I'm grandfathered (an appropriate term) into my present host because otherwise I'd have to pay hundreds more.

If you could find anything better I'd look into it, but I kind of doubt it (they also offer 24/7 tech support and are normally really good - this is the first time I've ever had these kinds of issues in two decades with them).