1) using “forgot password” standard ability. Please be noticed there is a bug for wordpress 2.5.x - please read the following article (it is in russian but you would see code snippets and would understand idea) http://mike.nov.ru/2008/05/06/wordpress-restore-password-invalid-key/

2) in phpmyadmin, in table wp_users choose interested user and then edit record. For the field “user_pass” choose function MD5 and in the value column provide new password. I like this method.

3) the same as second item, but just modifying user_pass to the 21232f297a57a5a743894a0e4a801fc3 - this is for the password “admin”. Later in the admin panel of wordpress you would be able to change password.

Hello, my wordpressed friend!

Today we would talk on how to migrate from one hosting to another one. I would share with you some thoughts, insgights as usual, and also some useful links and advice which would allow your migration.

1) in the case you would like your readers did not notice some troubles with the blog and in general with site - be noticed it could take up to 3 days while your new DNS server would be updated with new informartion. In my case it was just 30 minutes, still it could be different time. Anyway - before making any changes at the settings of your domain registrator (it means yiu would change DNS server - which is provided by your hosting provider) prepare new hosting and perform the full movement of your site to the new hosting (old site should be kept in working state). For operating with the new hosting use temporary url which should be provided by your hosting provider

2) I would advice to make the complete backup of your site at the previous hosting (everything: files and dbs)

3) in the case you use fantastico scripts for installing wordpress or your favorite phorum (e.g. phpbb) - be accurate as this fantastico script do not ask you the encoding of newly created db and collation of the tables. In my case (belarussian and russian languages) the collation should be cp1251_general_ci, but fantastico set it to latin1_swedish_ci. As there are lots of tables - it is impossible to change the collation by hands. Here you could find appropriate discussion for the phpbb software http://www.netenberg.com/forum/index.php?topic=6579.0 In my case for phpbb I needed to install it manually not using this fantastico script, so be aware of that. For wordpress - it could be easy deal. Install it automatically using fantastico script, and then in phpmyadmin remove all the tables from DB, then change collation of DB to the appropriate (it is also done in phpmyadmin), and finally make import of the DB from old hosting If you have access to the db console or mysql configuration file you could set the following values (for collation latin1_swedish_ci) character_set_server = latin1 collation_server = latin1_swedish_ci Here you could read some information on the encoding and collations http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/charset-connection.html

4) it is a surprise for me but I found that for mysql4.x we need specify utf8 in the file wp-config.php, but for mysql5.x - utf-8. This is really strange thing..

5) conversion from phpb2.x to 3.0 manual http://netenberg.com/phpBB/docs/INSTALL.html#update I have not managed to convert this correctly, and would work over that a little, but may be it would be useful for someone.

6) be noticed wordpress has table “wp_options” containing two settings where site url is written. These settings names are “siteurl” and “home”. The thing is when working with the new hosting installation and checking all is ok you would use temporary URL (e.g. http://64.82.31.233/~snywonde/zmicer_com/). But wordpress php scrips check these settings and make the redirect to the appropriate specified resource. As result if you want use this temporary settings - adjust these settings specifying this temporary url, and all would be ok (you could do it using phpmyadmin which usually is installed in your cpanel).

7) when converting phpbb from 2.x to 3.x you need old installation to be accesible. But it is almost impossible there would be direct access to the SQL server at the another hosting. So you need install phpbb from previous hosting at the new hosting temporary using fake names, and then you would be able converting.

Good luck,  all my dear! Zmicer.

Today I would provide you with some information related to the choosing of web hosting for your internet resources.

One of my wishes was to have unlimited domains to be managed through the hosting plan.

Still seems to be almost for all the web hosting proposals it is done through domain addons when you just put content of your another side into the separated folder at the main account. Still I decided to try how it is works.

My first idea was to you http://www.webhostingbuzz.com as I saw a link for them from the smashing magazine (smashingmagazine.com), as well as this link proposed anothe price, lower then their standard proposal. The link is as follows (to avoid you to search it at the smashing magazine resource) http://www.webhostingbuzz.com/website-hosting.shtml?host_smashingmagazine-special#.

Still then I decided to read some reviews on the different hostings. And I found lots of negative reviews on them here http://www.vistainter.com/reviews/W/webhostingbuzz.com/. So I decided to search for another web hosting company, as at their native page there were only positive reviews http://www.webhostingbuzz.com/web.shtml?whb_testimonials with very good rates what is very surprising.

What is next: I just found using google the following ratings for the hosting companies:
http://web-hosting-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://www.upperhost.com/
http://www.besthostratings.com/
http://webhostinggeeks.com/
http://www.webhostingjury.com/
http://www.webhostingjudge.com/ju.html

And I have choosen http://www.bluehost.com/. This company was in all the ratings at the top5 positions, and had lots of positive comments. Also I understand that these hosting company could play not very correctly leaving some wrong comments with too optimistic information, still I decided to try.

What I could say for now:
+ normal price. I have choosen to pay for 12 month, and got a price 7.95 instead of 9.95 per month
+ they have cpanel adjusted. E.g. when I added one domain addon - special adjusted wizzard appeared, and it even contains the check on the validity of domain I have choosen to add to the existed account. There were 4 ways to prove I am owner of this domain - JInsights.com. And I like this adjustment.
+ they have 50$ for goodle and yahoo ads programs for free
+ cpanel contains lots of additional scripts like fantastico script allowing to install wordpress and all other stuff by one click.

- it is impossible to pay just for month as it is done at the http://a2hosting.com company - another web hosting company where I have sites hosted. And this is really pitty. They have option to pay for three months, still this option includes 30$ of setup. But for what. All is done automatically. And it is worth of saying - what is fucking setup for 30 dollars, guys? for some seconds of CPU working?

Also I would take a look at the following hosting company - they have very good (unusually) comments and rates
http://www.webhostingjury.com/reviews/Blurstorm

I would spend time and in next posts would talk on the tools/resources allowing you to check the quality of the hosting.

Best regards, dealing with hosting stuff,
Zmicer Harachka

p.s. I found some articles which may be usefull for you. Please have them here:
Purchasing web hosting for your business based on price
The value of a domain name
Web Site Monitoring Service
Creating your own business plan

update: just decided to mention these sites - hosters. I have an account and site at the a2hosting and one of my friends has account at eskhosting. So if you are interested in overview of their quality - just let me know.
http://www.a2hosting.com
http://eskhosting.com
http://www.imhosted.com/

Take care!