By sp09 on

I'm using go daddy hosting and I need help getting start and learning how drupal works as I plan to create a unique site. First where do I place drupal in the root directory (mysite.com) or in it's own sub directory (mysite.com/drupal)? I'll go with which ever is the easiest way. Second, when I first started it said I need to upgrade. I downloaded the upgrade drupal 6.14 and how do I install it (need detail). Also where can I find better user add on's like home page picture display, video upload, etc. Didn't know this would be so difficult, I need quick help because I'm already losing too much time.

⋅ Categories: Drupal 6.x

Comments

WorldFallz’s picture

WorldFallz commented

First, you can put drupal wherever you like-- but i usually recommend against subdirectories to avoid path issues (unless you're going to use some apache rewrite foo to remove it).

Second, you should install drupal manually-- automated installers are nothing but trouble and frequently result in lots of issues.

Third, modules are available at http://drupal.org/project/Modules/

And finally, there are no shortcuts-- you'll need to read the documentation. You won't find much assistance in the forums without having done that.

sp09’s picture

sp09 commented

I installed drupal through the go daddy install, so your saying I should install it myself? And how to I do this? Down load the 6.14 file then upload it into the parent directory?

WorldFallz’s picture

WorldFallz commented

Yes-- and as I said there are no shortcuts:

Documentation -> Getting Started -> Installation Guide

There's also the INSTALL.txt file.

sp09’s picture

sp09 commented

Ok I uploaded the file drupal 6.14.tar now how do I extract the files and create the database? How can I upzip it inside the directory? I did it through my own system but I couldn't upload the entire folder into the directory. Go daddy did all of this for me.

talino’s picture

talino commented

If your host doesn't allow command-line access to the zipped file, you can either 1. ask them to unzip it for you or 2. delete it and upload everything *after* unzipping it yourself.

Creating the database is a whole different story with which your hosting provider should help you out.

In my very humble opinion, if you don't know how to create a MySQL database on a remote host you shouldn't be using Drupal, which in the current state of things requires a bit of technical knowledge in order to do anything useful.

elfcurry’s picture

elfcurry commented

The file manager in cpanel lets me upload a tarred file and extract it. I've done this with modules and it seemed not to cause any problems.
This only reduces the amount of data to upload though.

sp09’s picture

sp09 commented

did you install drupal through go daddy elfcurry? Because the other guy was saying do everything yourself because you might have issues, but if you do everything yourself you'll have to create the database yourself which I don't know how to do.

elfcurry’s picture

elfcurry commented

Above I was talking about the simple choice between uncompressing files in cpanel or on your computer (which means uploading more data). I've done cpanel unzipping when installing modules but not the whole Drupal.

I use another host which has the Fantastico auto-installer for Drupal and other software.
This has worked for up to now for new installations but I'm never sure how to upgrade (which is my current problem) and some people have had problems, so I'm not saying you should use it. Also currently it will install 6.13 and I need 6.14 so this time it's no good to me. Once I've learned to do it myself, I'll be happier.

sp09’s picture

sp09 commented

Ok I'm getting confused now, people saying different things. I'm going to start from the beginning and install and set up the database through godaddy in the root directory. Ok how do I upgrade to 6.14 because it comes with 6.13?

dddave’s picture

dddave commented

http://www.slash7.com/pages/vampires

talino’s picture

talino commented

A bit harsh IMHO :) People have the right to be beginners without feeling bad about it.

I repeat my suggestion to you, sp09: Drupal is a complex content management system. If you want to create a website quickly:

  1. Ask your hosting provider how to create a database on your remote server. Or better, do a Google search on the subject. The step-by-step tutorials are there by the bucketload. It is not difficult to understand if you put some time into it.
  2. Use a platform which is easier to install and manage for someone with little web design experience. You can do tons of stuff with Wordpress already.

Hope this helps.

WorldFallz’s picture

WorldFallz commented

Of course people have the right to be beginners-- we've all been new at one point or another. However, people do not have the right to parachute into the forums and waste everyone's valuable time because their too damn entitled or lazy to read the existing documentation.

No one's saying you can't be a beginner or clueless-- RTFM and then ask intelligent and specific questions. There's no excuse for entitlement or laziness. none.

Sunshiney’s picture

Sunshiney commented

Hi --

You know, given what you've posted here, I'd highly suggest that unless you need a visible-to-the-world site right away (which probably isn't going to be possible with Drupal unless you are creating a simple blog-like site), I'd like to step in here and suggest you work first on your home computer. That's actually called a development site -- where you can test out "things" before you go to a live server. Then, I suggest you go get an e-book on Drupal, like one of those from packt publishing. You'll find one's that will guide you from step one, installation.

I've been at this nearly a year now. And, I've been hand-coding since 1996. You will find yourself going through Drupal maturation stages. Stage one is overwhelmed and confused. But if you stick with it, one day the lightbulb goes "pop" and you get this aha feeling. That's stage two. Relief. Stage three is where you are thinking you really are smart stuff and so you dig in further, only to find out that with Drupal you can do more than you ever imagined at the start, and there's more learning to do. I'm still not Drupal brilliant. But, I've stopped pulling out my hair. I haven't stopped asking questions that stem from my Drupal-dumbness. Someday, I hope I get to Stage Four, where I can answer most of the questions here myself.

Somewhere in these forums, I thought I also heard (?) (read) that GoDaddy isn't the best place for a Drupal site?

And...last thought.... if you don't plan on reading, studying, thinking, trying things out..then you're going to be miserable.

Do I love Drupal now? Oh, you bet! Can I explain why to others outside this world. Yeah, right. That's not easy.

adam_b’s picture

adam_b commented

I've found http://www.uniformserver.com/ to be very useful when setting up a local Drupal installation - it provides the whole environment necessary in one download.

sp09’s picture

sp09 commented

It's too late to turn back now I've decided to go with drupal and I've already paid for the go daddy services so it is what it is and I need helpful solutions not bs. So if you can't help don't post anything on here. What I need to know right now is how to upgrade my drupal 6.13 to 6.14 nothing else matters at this point. And I've also found out that go daddy has provided me with 10 SQL databases. So can somebody help me with this? If not save your comments because it's only wasting my time. I'm going to figure it out one way or another.

Hari’s picture

Hari commented

if you haven't started using drupal 6.13 yet then you don't really need to upgrade, just delete your old install, and download 6.14 and start with that.

WorldFallz’s picture

WorldFallz commented

BS is expecting people to waste time retyping here what's already been documented elsewhere. Drupal is not something you can guess at-- i've already suggested you RTFM several times. All the info you need to install and upgrade drupal, including step by step screencasts that enable any moron to do it, are ALREADY AVAILABLE.

Had you just read the instructions and watched a screencast or 2 you would have been done already. Refusing to look at where you've been directed is pure crap. RTFM already.

sp09’s picture

sp09 commented

I guess you don't understand english typing WorldFallz. I don't need your comments man I ain't asking for your help so save it because it means nothing.

Hari’s picture

Hari commented

Hi sp09,
I agree a little with the posts suggesting running drupal locally on your home computer. I use WAMP server and have found it to be easy to use. The latest version of WAMP comes with PHP 5.3 which I have had issues with and have had to downgrade to PHP.5.2.9-2

Here is a simple breakdown of installing Drupal 6.14 on the latest WAMP.

  1. Install WAMP Server
  2. Install PHP 5.2.9-2
  3. Change your PHP version
  • run WAMP
  • left click on the icon in system tray, a window will expand
  • Mouse over PHP>Version>
  • Click on PHP 5.2.9-2 and make sure that a check mark appears next to it, WAMP server will restart here
  • You also need to make sure that rewrite_module is enabled in Apache:
    • Left click on WAMP Server system tray icon
    • Go to Apache>Apache Modules> and make sure that rewrite_module is checked

    Now for Installing Drupal:

    1. run WAMP Server
    2. go to
      http://localhost/phpmyadmin/
    3. Find where it says Create new database type in a name for your database, and click create
    4. go to your sites folder which is located in your Wamp directory, typically C:\wamp\sites\
    5. this next step is preferential, Create a folder in there using any name you like, I typically use the name of the website that I am creating i.e. C:\wamp\sites\example\
    6. extract your drupal download files to the folder you just created in sites
    7. go to HTTP://localhost/
    8. where it says "your projects" click on the name of the folder you just created
    9. this will open the drupal install
    10. when you get an error where drupal asks for a settings.php file, read it carefully and follow the directions, make sure that you make a copy of the default - settings.php file and do not delete the original.
    11. for the MYSQL database name use the name that you entered earlier when you went to PHP myadmin, for database username use root, no password should be required.

    Hope this helps. There are many videos around on the internet, do some searches on youtube.

    Also lynda.com has a drupal training course that is decent.
    Drupal has a learning curve but is very powerful.

    sp09’s picture

    sp09 commented

    Sounds great. I've been at it for about a year now but I'm still figuring it out.