Solved General

Upgraded site blocks admin on user access changes

Asked by Rolando Montano 1 year ago Last activity 1 year ago

Hello: Thanks for reading and any pointers to resolve this.

Recently upgraded a site from Joomla 3 to 4 to 5.

Installed Helix Ultimate template and plugin and SP Page Builder: I'm wondering if the template could be the problem.

I’m working on a staging copy of the original site which is still Joomla 3.

Original site - Joomla 3.9.16: ayudamutua.org
Staging site - Joomla 5.2.4: legitimatepatent.com

The problem is in the staging site with Joomla 5 and Helix Ultimate.

Original site was definitely hacked to send spam, but as far as I can see, nothing is left of the original plugins or extensions, even in the database.

Deleted all extensions save for Joomla core. Deleted leftover tables, plugins, modules and everything else I could find. As far as I could see, only articles and menu items were left. Successfully upgraded the site. (The front end still needs a lot of work.) Deleted all users save admin users, super user. (There were a lot.)

Installed Akeeba backup, JCE and Helix Ultimate template, plugin and SP Page Builder.
Every time I make any change that is related to user access, like shared sessions in the front and backend in the global configuration or when I tried to assign super-user access to a another of the 4 users remaining I immediately get the admin login page. When I try to log in, nothing: I’m locked out. None of the users has access.

I have followed every option the the “How do you recover or reset your admin password?” Joomla Documentation article: The Configuruation.php route. The Direct database edit route. The Add a new user route. Nothing works: New user and password don’t work.

Admin login page is always the same: There is no error. It appears normal no matter what user and password is used, but does not grant access to the backend. Even if I leave it for a day. Even using the new user / password set as indicated in the Joomla Documentation to recover admin access.

The only solution is to delete all files and database and restore the backup, whereupon I’m back where I started: I can work on most anything, but if I dare do anything related to user access rights, I’m bumped out and have to restore everything from a backup.

I’ve tried to think how I can use the debug function, but can’t figure out how.

Any pointers or ideas are most welcome.

Thanks for reading.

Good day.

Accepted answer

Marked as the solution

Paul Frankowski Senior Staff

1 year ago · edited

Hola Rolando,

it means that your Joomla database is corrupted, if all files are new & clean.

To fix your site fully a few hours of work is needed, and there is no magic "one click" this time.

3 more replies

Rolando Montano Asked this

1 year ago

Hello Paul,

We might be able to pay for this work, depending on the estimate.

I installed a clean Joomla and checked some of the database tables: They differ.

I don't know how to add rows to make the clean Joomla and my upgraded staging site tables similar. Plus, I don't know possible relations or links between tables.

I will link a Google Photos image album of the tables for you:

Tables with fg prefix are the staging / problem database.
Tables with soft prefix are the clean Joomla database.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/orTMe1EVASuk3hUg7

Please indicate an estimate of what this work would cost.

Thanks.

Paul Frankowski Senior Staff

1 year ago · edited

I would prefer to get Joomla 3.x backup where everything works (I mean: admin login, gallery etc)
Then make my own Joomla upgrade process. Not get damaged site and expose yourself to additional costs.

Is that possible? Or you have only J4 version?

Rolando Montano Asked this

1 year ago

Hello Paul,

Thanks for your kind reply.

Thanks for the pointers and help.

My solution in the end was "SP Transfer" extension. (NOT SP Upgrade.)

Saved my original Joomla 3 database.
Installed clean Joomla 5.
Installed SP Transfer.
Configured database credentials for Joomla 3 database in SP Transfer.
All articles, categories, menu items copied to new Joomla 5 in a minute.

Easiest Joomla upgrade from 3 to 5 you can possibly imagine.

Of course, all extensions and other stuff has to be installed in the new Joomla 5.

It worked very well for me.

If I had known, I would have done this from the start. Trying to upgrade my site was far more complicated and time consuming. Of course I have to work on the new site, but it was a great solution for me.

Many thanks: Your help was key to resolving this.

Good day.