Our Windows server expert seems busy at the moment - he could tell you definitely. But at a wild guess, I'd say it was a write permissions issue. During log in the member file gets written to - if it can't write to the member files, then bad things happen.

Hi, thanks for the quick responses guys!  

So... I had the forum all working nicely on Windows Server 2003 / IIS6 but the server developed problems and had to be replaced.

They replaced it with a Windows Server2008 / IIS7 machine (yay!) but unfortunately, my YaBB forum, copied from the backup of the old sever, won't allow the login.

Should I do a fresh install? If so, where are my data files that I need to keep so that I do not lose my configuration and postings etc?

I am a noob when it comes to YaBB so please be patient with me if I ask silly questions!  

Cheers

Hi Dandello

Thank you for the suggestion. I have deleted all cookies but the problem persists.  

I have a backup of the YaBB forum files so if you could please talk me through a complete reinstall then tell me which files to restore from the backup to 're-build' the forum as-was, I would be most grateful.

Do you know if YaBB 2.5 is fully supported on WS2008 / IIS7?

Thank you for your help.  

Steve

The ONLY way to move a YaBB install that actually works reliably is do a clean install, test and then bring back the 'data elements'.

As to 'fully supported' - It certainly runs on IIS7. Most of those installs I am aware of are on hosted servers or managed VPS's. That is not a huge number. I would bet all of them are 64 bit installs, as I can't imagine a hosting company installing the 32 bit version due to the memory mapping issue (it would be a non-starter).

Is this an in-house server, a hosted server, a VPS or a VM?

I am aware of one persistent unresolved bug on Server 2008/Active States 64 bit installs. I ran into it myself when I had a running Server2008 in core mode. Basically - you see the same text displayed twice (you'll catch this right away).  As a systems engineer, my 'guess' was that it had to do with FastCGI and how YaBB is coded.  I have had other reports of the same occurrence.

I don't think you have this problem. So the chances are you just need to set up clean, install, and test.

Make it work, when you bring back the data - the test install is lost, as all the pointers are gone.

The problem here is the low numbers, there's not enough info to say anything definitively.

Did you set up Perl/Application Handler. (like this link)?
http://www.howtogeek.com/50479/how-to-install-perl-on-iis-7-for-windows-server-2...

I strongly suggest you don't directly use Windows backup/restore methods for bringing back the data. If the old server is still online, in the same domain and on the same network use a 'copy' method to get the files onto the new server. (could be a portable drive also)  When you get to the 'bring the files back' point - copy NOT move the files to their new location, then re-apply all the correct NTFS permissions to the YaBB folders & OK the 'apply to subfolder & files' dialogue. There is (AFAIK) only one file that does not adhere to its parent's inheritance.  'Paths.pl' in the root of Yabb's install folder. It has to be set manually to 'Write' for the IUSR.

Good Luck

YOU GUYS ROCK!!!  

JonB and Dandello, you have between you got me working again and I am extremely grateful!

What worked for me was a clean install and setup of 2.5AE then a copy of Boards etc

Worked like a charm!  

Not happy to just sit back and accept that it now worked, I did a compare between the new (working) and old YaBB installations and found the problem to be something as simple as the local filepaths being defined differently on the two servers. Simple, but without you guys I probably wouldn't have found this!

JonB, for your info, I am running a dedicated server to which I have full admin rights, so this was easy for me to do.

Thank you so much.

Steve

Steve -

I'm glad you have it working now (and I am sure you are gladder than I am   )

Just so you know - We are busy evolving a really new YaBB over the next year. We have several initiatives, including improved installers and better 'server qualification'.  One of the things MOST needed is testing for IIS and IIS installation scripting.  LOL - this is 'non-destructive' testing we are talking about.

This is something I'd like to discuss with you. Please send me a PM.

Good luck & thanks very much



BTW - did you vote on the next release's theme?

http://www.yabbforum.com/community/YaBB.pl?num=1348531012

This one may be related to a little glitch relating to a *nix command that chokes some Win servers. Open Settings_Advanced.pl in a good text editor  and find

# Free Disk Space Checking
my @disk_space = qx{df -k .};
map { $_ =~ s/ +/  /g } @disk_space; 

Comment out the lines of code. (put a # in front of them.)

If that doesn't do it, then I'm sure JonB will have more questions.