Importing from a backup
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Hi there. Until recently my WordPress site was hosted on tsoHosts servers.
Last Thursday tsoHosts removed the GridHosts server running the WordPress pages, and I’ve just downloaded backups of my site using ftp.
So my question is, am I able to use those backups to restart on this WordPress site?
The import options appear to only allow me to import from an existing WordPress website, and my previous one has been removed by tsoHosts.
Many thanks.WP.com: Yes
Correct account: YesThe blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Hi there, if you’re using the Business plan here on WordPress.com you can import using SFTP as well:
https://wordpress.com/support/sftp/The free, Personal, and Premium sites on WordPress.com don’t have SFTP available, but if you don’t have the XML file to import, what you could potentially do is set up a “local” WordPress installation on your computer to import your files as if by FTP, and then use that “local” version of your site to export the XML so you can import it to WordPress.com.
I should note that without the original site being online, this method may not automatically bring in any media you had and you may find you need to manually re-upload your media and update your site. We do have a little “starter” information about local WordPress installations here:
https://wordpress.com/support/alternatives-to-staging-sites/#testing-on-a-local-installation-of-word-pressThis is our guide about importing site content only using the XML file:
https://wordpress.com/support/import/import-a-sites-content/ -
Thanks for the message, It’s left me more lost and confused than before.
I don’t have a business plan, the instructions for a local WordPress seem to include installing MySQL and PHP, then I might be able to use the ftp’d data I have, and might be able to copy that to the personal WordPress version. It sounds like this is another dead end. -
@lydneytownhall getting a site up and running from backup files is a technical process for sure, but it’s doable so long as you downloaded your files and data.
If you want to host your site here with us, you will most likely need the Business Plan. We provide direct support, maintenance, and security with our managed hosting. That gets more complicated with outside code from plugins or themes you may have installed, and the backup will almost certainly have some outside code in it. If you’ll upgrade your plan, our support team can help you figure out what you have and how to get it imported.
If you prefer managing the technical end of things with your own installation of WordPress (which is often cheaper, but it usually requires more technical work on your part), you could always install another copy with a different host. Maybe find out what kind of backup file you have and see if the host supports that? We can’t help you get it uploaded to some other host, but that host may be willing to help.
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Thanks, I maintain the site on behalf of a charity, so the business plan isn’t really an option. I’ve been able to donate the annual hosting charge until now, but with limited resources I don’t want to commit to ongoing charges that are much above a pittance.
I could manage a one-off charge if there’s anyone out there able to take my backups and convert them into something that I can import into the personal WordPress site. Is that an option that anyone is aware of? -
Hello there,
I could manage a one-off charge if there’s anyone out there able to take my backups and convert them into something that I can import into the personal WordPress site.
The most you could do is export the content from the original site, via Tools > Import, and then import the content here at WordPress.com via Tools > Import in the same way.
It would maintain the content if nothing else and wouldn’t require an additional developer to do so.
The flip side to that is, in terms of theme, you’re looking at picking a new theme here at WordPress.com, and configuring the settings.
I hope this helps.
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Hello there,
I could manage a one-off charge if there’s anyone out there able to take my backups and convert them into something that I can import into the personal WordPress site.
The most you could do is export the content from the original site, via Tools > Import, and then import the content here at WordPress.com via Tools > Import in the same way.
It would maintain the content if nothing else and wouldn’t require an additional developer to do so.
The flip side to that is, in terms of theme, you’re looking at picking a new theme here at WordPress.com, and configuring the settings.
I hope this helps.
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Yes, the problem is that the hosting site has removed the server, including the website, so there’s nothing to import from. All I have is a set of files & folders obtained via ftp.
Folder tsoHosts contains folders mysql_backups and public_html.
Folder WordPress contains wp_admin, wp_content and wp_includes (and files).As far as I understand things, that”s not something I can just import straight into a personal WordPress.
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Thanks for the clarification.
I think the best way forward is to actually recreate the site with your ftp files on a local set up using something like this: https://localwp.com/ It’s going to work for content. It might not work for images, I haven’t actually done this before myself.
Once that site is created you can then do a proper export following these steps: https://wordpress.com/support/import/#self-hosted-word-press-org-site
Another option, that might be easier depending on the size of the site and the amount of content would be to copy it directly. I know that it’s not a live site any longer but it might still exist in the way back machine : https://archive.org/web/
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