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Wordpress Website

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  • 12-01-2021 11:18am
    #1
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭


    Hi,

    My original web guy is now inAustralia and off grid and I have note from my hosts that because of loads of attempts to register by spammers etc that I need to..

    To resolve this issue we will need you to:
    1) update the WordPress software and plugins
    2) prevent new registrations on the website
    3) solve an Admin error 500
    We will need this work completed within 5 working days.

    I have had a few silly quotes and also others that question the time frame...

    I assume that you copy to :offline: and test -

    In my ignorance I can see online how to solve the admin issue and to prevent new registerations..

    So the view would be to run the iupgrade and deal with the errors generated if any...

    If all works - upload and badda boom badda bang/// NO.?

    Is it really mysterous very difficult and complex chinese rocket science as I am being led to believe.?



    Can anyone recommend someone that I can pay to fix for me..nothing really has been done on the site since origional install in 2016. IMPORTANT I have spoken to a lot of frogs.. I need a Prince - i.e. someone that actually KNOWS exactly what they are doing... will own it and sort it.. without all the BS*

    Thanks

    Eddie


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    #2
    biko
    Registered Users Posts: 81,223 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Don't use a guy, use a company. It'll cost more but you won't have "out of office" issues then as more than one person can do the work.
    Or learn to do it yourself.

    If you're in a bind now you will just have to cough up, sorry.


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    #3
    Dymo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭Dymo


    I'm not looking for the work just telling you what I think it will take in time to do it correctly.

    No company would or should touch it unless they put a backup system in place that will take time and an expense. Then more time with the back and forward with website and host access. If the site hasn't been touched in 4 years there probably not at hand.

    1) update the WordPress software and plugins
    Not really a big deal but things can go wrong and take more time to fix, if you have bespoke systems in place this could be a very big deal.

    2) prevent new registrations on the website
    Not that difficult to do, but what knock on effects could it effect could take more time.

    3) solve an Admin error 500
    That could be anything, maybe the updates will solve that or it will take more time.

    Purely from your description I would price it at €500 plus vat and aim to get it fixed in 1-2 days caveat there isn't more problems found. It was last updated in 2016


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    #4
    pnecilcaser
    Registered Users Posts: 95 ✭✭pnecilcaser


    agree that a backup of the installation and the database should be made before you make any changes. You can do that yourself if you know how, its a simple enough operaion and you could find out how on youtibe (use FTP client to download a copy of your installation files and the other part is log into MyPHP Admin via your hosting company's control panel and export a copy of your MYSQL database.

    problem 1 - yep as the other guy says - easy to fix unless something goes wrong and then it turns into a bigger problem. if you have no problems, it will take a few minutes to fix that issue. if you do have problems (due to out of date software, that could take a fair bit longer)

    problem 2 - thats a simple setting to change

    problem 3 - honestly if it s an error 500, you may need the support service of your hosting company, I would raise a ticket with them as error 500 is usually "something went wrong on the server"


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    #5
    ED E
    Registered Users Posts: 36,166 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    Wordpress can't be left, you need to keep on top of it. If you dont want to pay a regular maintenance contract then change to a Wordpress.com site or Squarespace.


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    #6
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    Dymo wrote: »
    I'm not looking for the work just telling you what I think it will take in time to do it correctly.

    No company would or should touch it unless they put a backup system in place that will take time and an expense. Then more time with the back and forward with website and host access. If the site hasn't been touched in 4 years there probably not at hand.

    1) update the WordPress software and plugins
    Not really a big deal but things can go wrong and take more time to fix, if you have bespoke systems in place this could be a very big deal.

    2) prevent new registrations on the website
    Not that difficult to do, but what knock on effects could it effect could take more time.

    3) solve an Admin error 500
    That could be anything, maybe the updates will solve that or it will take more time.

    Purely from your description I would price it at €500 plus vat and aim to get it fixed in 1-2 days caveat there isn't more problems found. It was last updated in 2016


    There seem to be a little touch of the emperors clothes to this....

    I know nothing about WordPress BUT with a little google I fixed the 2 and 3 in 30 mins, 20 of which was finding the WordPress menu//

    I am concerned with "specialist" knowledge now days and even the traditional stuff.... I had Heating specialist / plumbers look at a job recently and the first two should not have bothered... 3rd guy, appeared on time , diagnosed the exact cause of the problem the other paid did not after being paid to fix it. and sorted it out. He is the guy I want in all aspects of whatever I do....he is NOT cheap but he is brilliant at what he does and is well worth it and in the long run save me money... I have list of "non bs" guys out there that are literally priceless. So I just need to find the WordPress one... a PROFESSIOINAL in every respect of the word

    We have too many - deep intake of breath _ ohh that could cost you 500 + and too few no BS replies..

    I bought a copy of TAS BOOKs in 1994 was reduced from 399 to 199. They said I need annual updates of , at the time , 299 per annum, I asked why does it need updates - is it not fit for purpose >? so I did not buy the updates.. I am still using it... have ported it on at least 6 PC'sa and now up to Win10... and it works PERFECTLY... without the 25 years x 299 ( min ) because the "update" issue was BS.. it does take a slight "workaround to move to win 10 - but easy . I have noticed this BS “ annual fee” structure on many items and services that is not necessary/.

    I had one WordPress guy wanted 300 to give me a quote// are they off their meds... someone else on a small 2-3 page site wanting 55 a month for "maintenance" - really - are people that gullible....

    So items 2 and 3 sorted and it is more or less updated... so I really just need a PROFESSIONAL to have a look over, fix what needs to be fixed and leave well enough what does not..


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    #7
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    biko wrote: »
    Don't use a guy, use a company. It'll cost more but you won't have "out of office" issues then as more than one person can do the work.
    Or learn to do it yourself.

    If you're in a bind now you will just have to cough up, sorry.



    Actually - I dont !.


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    #8
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    pnecilcaser wrote: »
    agree that a backup of the installation and the database should be made before you make any changes. You can do that yourself if you know how, its a simple enough operaion and you could find out how on youtibe (use FTP client to download a copy of your installation files and the other part is log into MyPHP Admin via your hosting company's control panel and export a copy of your MYSQL database.

    problem 1 - yep as the other guy says - easy to fix unless something goes wrong and then it turns into a bigger problem. if you have no problems, it will take a few minutes to fix that issue. if you do have problems (due to out of date software, that could take a fair bit longer)

    problem 2 - thats a simple setting to change

    problem 3 - honestly if it s an error 500, you may need the support service of your hosting company, I would raise a ticket with them as error 500 is usually "something went wrong on the server"


    Good NO BS reply thank you..

    As you say

    Prob 1 -- so my view - lets try it and see what happens and react then.. no point in going through all the what ifs and buts now..

    Prob 2 - easiest was and suited me to disable it .

    Prob3 - quick google indicated probable password access issue and the wp-amin access was corrupted, had that fixed and problem was gone...

    very strightforward.... my kind of thinking.......


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    #9
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    ED E wrote: »
    Wordpress can't be left, you need to keep on top of it. If you dont want to pay a regular maintenance contract then change to a Wordpress.com site or Squarespace.

    Because they look after the maintanence ? Or is there some other good reason for doing so.. ?

    Generally software I purchase the full unit, I dont do this monhtly drip drip cost...


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    #10
    EKRIUQ
    Registered Users Posts: 4,386 ✭✭✭EKRIUQ


    eddie wrote: »
    So items 2 and 3 sorted and it is more or less updated... so I really just need a PROFESSIONAL to have a look over, fix what needs to be fixed and leave well enough what does not..

    The big question is would a PROFESSIONAL really want to work with you, you seem to know it all.


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    #11
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    EKRIUQ wrote: »
    The big question is would a PROFESSIONAL really want to work with you, you seem to know it all.

    A professional would of course - in out - job done ..

    the BS artists and wafflers - > no...., they hate specific questions and knowledgeable clients.. highlights their ability

    As to "knowing it all" - ad hominem attacks are really a sign of surrender in a discussion ..

    FYI there is a fantastic resource out there that allows you gain some knowledge on almost any subject - Google


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    #12
    B.A._Baracus
    Registered Users Posts: 11,179 ✭✭✭✭B.A._Baracus


    eddie wrote: »
    A professional would of course - in out - job done ..

    the BS artists and wafflers - > no...., they hate specific questions and knowledgeable clients.. highlights their ability

    As to "knowing it all" - ad hominem attacks are really a sign of surrender in a discussion ..

    FYI there is a fantastic resource out there that allows you gain some knowledge on almost any subject - Google

    Then why did you create the thread? :pac:

    Look Eddie, anyone who has any tiny bit of wordpress experience will tell you that it's great when it works smooth but an absolute nightmare to fix.

    You got lucky with fixing your error. It could have been a million other things. Here's the craic tho: when getting paid to fix a wordpress issue you don't just go "ehh give me 50 euro and I'll do it" and then for it to take a week or two to fix. So the comments you made above about being "waffle" are actually correct.


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    #13
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    B.A._Baracus wrote: »
    Then why did you create the thread? :pac:

    Look Eddie, anyone who has any tiny bit of wordpress experience will tell you that it's great when it works smooth but an absolute nightmare to fix.

    You got lucky with fixing your error. It could have been a million other things. Here's the craic tho: when getting paid to fix a wordpress issue you don't just go "ehh give me 50 euro and I'll do it" and then for it to take a week or two to fix. So the comments you made above about being "waffle" are actually correct.

    If a PROFESSIONAL tells me I have issues and it will cost 1000 to fix I would say ok..

    If a waffler told be it costs 50, 150, 250, 350 etc etc to fix I would run a mile

    My "problem" is that without learning a LOT more ( from Google ) I cant as yet tell the difference - I can spot the waffelrs no problem but I am having difficulty trying to find the professional; and that is why I asked was it that complicated and were there any professionals out there...

    so far - most I have met - just want to sell me a "package " at X per month and that is NOT what I want./ and you simply would not believe some of the BS they tried to foist on me...

    I thought what I was asking was quite a simple question../


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    #14
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    B.A._Baracus wrote: »
    Then why did you create the thread? :pac:

    Look Eddie, anyone who has any tiny bit of wordpress experience will tell you that it's great when it works smooth but an absolute nightmare to fix.

    You got lucky with fixing your error. It could have been a million other things. Here's the craic tho: when getting paid to fix a wordpress issue you don't just go "ehh give me 50 euro and I'll do it" and then for it to take a week or two to fix. So the comments you made above about being "waffle" are actually correct.

    Another interesting footnote , is the number of times, I have it explained to me - like it was some big complicated industry secret, that my site would need to be backed up and then copied to another server / location / site for testing / adjustment and when proved to be OK, then reloaded...

    In my ignorance assumed that – FOR EVERY SITE - that would be common practice, absolutely standard operation.. but how it was portrayed, more than a few times to be coincidence - was a big complicated time consuming expensive effort... !

    A little like some of the professions that went ballistic at any question about their level of fees, the WordPress community seem more pre-occupied in justifying the BS than suggesting options.


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    #15
    Dymo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭Dymo


    I'm sure there are plenty of professionals looking at this thread and also used to dealing with clients similar to you.

    I recommend you keep fixing your website yourself and then look for the professional when you can't go any further.


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    #16
    ED E
    Registered Users Posts: 36,166 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    eddie wrote: »
    A professional would of course - in out - job done ..

    This is what Im saying.


    Wordpress isnt in out, you need regular maintenance. Theres a CVE against it or a super popular plugin nearly every week. Fire and forget isnt applicable.


    If you use Wordpress.com/Squarespace all the infra is managed by them, no need to patch. Novice user safe. Wordpress itself is not.


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    #17
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    Dymo wrote: »
    I'm sure there are plenty of professionals looking at this thread and also used to dealing with clients similar to you.

    I recommend you keep fixing your website yourself and then look for the professional when you can't go any further.

    Is a pity you feel like that becasue I thought that your 1st response was the most helpful so far... and seemed very professional.

    As for the "clients similar to you" – pity to sink to that level - people seem very sensitive about being questioned - BUT as derogatory as you may wish that to sound, I was simply asking of the forum for information on what is involved so I could make an informed decision on how to separate the facts from the amazing tonnage of BS I have encountered and help me identify a non-sensitive professional..

    I am also wary of any field that gets quite ehh – excited – when questioned about skill levels, workloads and costs… usually NOT a good sign.


    Hopefully some professional will come across this,. Like what they see and offer to take a look and offer a costing…. Stranger things have happened.


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    #18
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    ED E wrote: »
    This is what Im saying.


    Wordpress isnt in out, you need regular maintenance. Theres a CVE against it or a super popular plugin nearly every week. Fire and forget isnt applicable.


    If you use Wordpress.com/Squarespace all the infra is managed by them, no need to patch. Novice user safe. Wordpress itself is not.

    Excellent - thank you for that - clears up a lot of points....


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    #19
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    So just to put a cap on this/... Thank you for all the positive input, ( you know who you are )

    Outside of Boards - A well known company, specialist in this field came back with a very detailed explanation of the state of play, a very itemised plan and the specific steps that should be followed.. the purchases that needed to made and the overall cost and time frame and it was well within my expectations..

    It was as I envisiged quite starightforward and unsurprising and none of the "what if " / " you never know" waffle... / oldschool if you like /

    The attitude from them was YES this is our business and we are very expereinced, Yes we know what needs to be done, Yes we know knock on effects there may be, Yes we can do it and Yes the cost will be approx. -- > so, of course, I have gone with them..

    Out of 7 companies and 3 individuals approached ( not counting Pm's here ) the chosen company was the ONLY company to provide the information I needed to make a decision, in a clear and unabmbigious way. i.e ZERO BS... I have a few other projects on the horizon and they will be the only people I would be interested in talking to.. YMMV. !


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    #20
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    Dymo wrote: »
    I'm sure there are plenty of professionals looking at this thread and also used to dealing with clients similar to you.

    I recommend you keep fixing your website yourself and then look for the professional when you can't go any further.

    LOl... that was not unexpected..

    Anyway I found a highly recommmened very skillful, professional on an international specialist skills linking site and had him look at my issues, which was quite a list, and he sorted out all of them.

    I also had an online tutorial on how to update products / site content etc ( easy I know, but I did not know how to do it and wanted a detailed run through.. )

    Nothing was a problem, unlike my experience to date in Ireland where everything was a problem or potential problem/.

    All tasks accomplished to my demanding standards and to my satisfaction.

    Total cost of EVERYTHING was US 300

    I am very happy... YMMV


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    #21
    Dymo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭Dymo


    And it only took 3 months, amazing.


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    #22
    eddie
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭eddie


    Dymo wrote: »
    And it only took 3 months, amazing.

    Lol... It was done in hours .,.. I was busy and just catching up on mail.

    Was not expecting illogical snipe shooting.. just outlining the experience I had , trying to find a competent person to carry out some work.. and how I got on, as I say YMMV.. !

    Refusing to acknowledge that there is a problem is usually the most difficult part of the problem to resolve.


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