I could have called this post:
“How I Fixed My Blog While Doing BodyPump”
Because in the span of a single hour, I:
- lost 724 blog posts plus a dozen or so pages (built over four years)
- sent two panicked tweets to VaultPress@kwidrick Hi Katy, stay calm :) we will get back to you as soon as we possibly can.
@vaultpressVaultPress
- attended a 60-minute class at the gym
- had my site back and better than ever
And here’s the thing. What happened to me could happen to you. Because I didn’t cause the posts to disappear. Some nasty little fluke in the Web apparently ate them.
Or, in VaultPress’ more technical speak:
Looks like your wp_posts table crashed! Fear not, there was no data loss. Not sure what caused it, but the MySql database server seems to have choked when trying to write to the wp_posts table. This caused MySql to not be able to read from the table as well. That is why WordPress was reporting 0 posts.
I was able to log into the site and get it fixed by installing a plugin called Portable phpMyAdmin. This gives you the ability to work with the database directly. The wp_posts table was marked as crashed, so I ran a query to fix it. “REPAIR TABLE wp_posts;” That seemed to do the trick.
Right. What he said.
(((furrows brow)))
In case you missed the timeline of events:
4:45pm Logged into my site and realized the posts were missing
4:47pm Sent a panicked ticket to the VaultPress safekeepers
4:55pm Confirmed via Twitter that my case was being looked at
5:30pm Started my BodyPump class
5:42pm Got email from VaultPress confirming blog was back
5:45pm Got email from VaultPress letting me know that it had also discovered some plugin files that were making my site lag, offering to clean them up
6:30pm Finished my BodyPump class
6:35pm Sent email basically offering to have all of VaultPress’ babies (or make cookies for them — whatever they preferred)
{{{Also during that time, I ran through the gamut of emotions. I freaked out — all of that work! All of those links! What if they were gone forever? I felt relief — well, blogging takes up a lot of my time and energy and perhaps this is a sign that it’s time for a break. Then I freaked out again — but if I’m not a blogger, who will I be? What will I do? And how in the world will I share this crazy internal conversation I have going? Finally, I ended with a silent prayer to the blogging gods. If they would just get things back up and running, I would promise to be the best blogger EVER.}}}
I pay $15 a month for Vaultpress, and it’s worth.every.penny. Even if I’d had the database backup, and had backed up the plugins, uploads and theme files on my own, there’s no way I would have been skilled enough to get everything back up and running.
I’ve professed my love for VaultPress before:
but now that I’ve actually had to test those services, I’m even more adamant that bloggers need to consider using this product.
I don’t get paid by them, or get any commissions or affiliate money for signing people up. I just get the warmth in my soul of knowing that perhaps my warning will save some of you.
(I even signed Lucas up for VaultPress last night and had his entire site backed up in 15 minutes.)
So I ask: if you lost your blog, what your immediate reaction be?
About Katy
Hmmm…as a casual blogger, I think your techie posts don’t often apply to me (although I loved your series with one item to work on each day). However, you made me think…what if I lost everything? I only have 400+ posts and a few years’ musings, but do I want to lose it? Are my chances as a casual, standard WordPress client less than your specialized, customized blog to lose content? Hmmm…so much to think about!
Lynna recently posted..Glory days…
I just get the warmth in my soul of knowing that perhaps my warning will save some of you. I’m even more adamant that bloggers need to consider using this product.
Rochelle recently posted..investing online
haha, immediate reaction = call Katy. Maybe make an adult beverage and drink it quickly while dialing.
Ahhhhhhhhhh! Must back up things now. Panicking just imagining everything just…GONE…
Vinobaby recently posted..A Gabberflasted Santa
I would be devastated if I lost my blog posts, and I’ve only been blogging for a little over 2 months! You’ve sold me on vaultpress – I’m signing up. If nothing else for peace of mind.
Amanda recently posted..Simple Lentil Soup with Lemon & Dill
Honestly, I agree with Paula. I probably would freak out, get some wine, and then shoot YOU a panicked tweet or 7!
Kate @Pastafreerunner recently posted..Saturday Workday
I’m sure I would freak out more than a little bit. My platform is in blogger – does vaultpress work there too?
Bari recently posted..We Have A Winner!
Bari —
VaultPress is for self-hosted blogs. Blogger and WordPress.com blogs are backed up by their systems. But I’m pro-self hosting in most cases, so if you ever decide to move over, you may want to consider it.
Thanks! (Does it matter that I have a dot com thru godaddy but the blogger platform?) I’m so not techie in this regard.
Bari recently posted..We Have A Winner!
It sounds like you’re on your own domain but NOT self-hosted. Do you pay a monthly fee to someone like GoDaddy, BlueHost, DreamHost or otherwise?
If you don’t, you’re not self-hosted. And I’m 99% sure you’re not, since it’s not possible to be self-hosted through Blogger.
I pay a yearly fee for the domain name but my site runs through blogger.
Bari recently posted..We Have A Winner!
Nope, not self-hosted. You own the domain, but that’s all. So, Blogger *should* be backing you up. But I haven’t used Blogger in a long time.
Thanks, Katy!
Bari recently posted..We Have A Winner!
ooohhh myyyy gosh. I would probably have the same reaction you did! complete panic and shock. I agree though, I might take it as a sign that I need to take a break. although if you did so, I’d be mighty depressed.
Alyssa @ Life of bLyss recently posted..Nutrition Plan Update
I have only been blogging for a couple of months, but I would be bummed! I haven’t put as much time or effort as most other bloggers, and it would still be so sad. Definitely need to look into this.
Amber K recently posted..Sneaky Christmas Mouse
Well, of course I’d shoot you an email or tweet! But, what happens if we can’t afford $15/month to backup our site? Is there another way besides my WP backups?
Kristen @ The Concrete Runner recently posted..get ‘er done
Yup! They’ll take more work on your part but they are free:
a) see if your hosting company does regular backups for you. many do, but they hold onto the files and you can’t actually guarantee they’ve been done, so make sure you check.
b) use one of the WP plugins I listed in http://katywidrick.com/2011/04/21/backing-up-your-blog-youve-been-warned/ to back up your database and go through cpanel (your host can give you the login) to back up your uploads and plugins
Again, most important: if you are doing this on your own, you need to back up the database AND the uploaded files. Two separate processes.
I am going to sign up for VaultPress Right. Now. I’ve been thinking about it since you first mentioned it, but just haven’t gotten to it. Then a smaller, side blog of mine went kaplooie last week and while I just decided to let it go, I would be far less calm if it happened to my main site. Backups = awesome. Thanks again for posting about this service (multiple times, so people like me actually do something about it)!
Dawn recently posted..Start Now
Very true,loosing years work on customisation and posts would devestate most
I just got Vaultpress,though re-installing a back-up seems quite complex.
Guess I will need to rely on vaultpress as wordpress experts
Greg
Greg recently posted..Winter Snow Tires For Safer Driving
you should totally get paid by them, I just signed up! I have put over 2 years of hard work into my blog and would have a heart attack if I lost everything! def. worth 15 dollars. even if just for my pictures (if my laptop ever crashed etc at least i would still have my important pictures which most end up on the blog)
Heather Montgomery recently posted..Toxic
Thanks for the tips Katy, I won’t panic if ever I lose my blog like this.
OMG …!! M sure when you saw the “0″ posts …!! Your heart stopped for a millisecond !! LoL …!! Anyways …Good luck