2 versions of Xampp, *not* to run simultaneously

[BothHands]

I am not skilled at IT, but am becoming fairly capable at Wordpress design.

I've been running Xampp 5.6.24 for quite some time and it has been a tremendous help, but lately my Wordpress theme is having weird problems. The theme support techs don't recognize the problems I'm having, and I don't know of any way to give them access to my localhost environment. So we've come to a grinding halt...

I hope a newer Xampp version is the answer. I downloaded version 7.0.15 and want to install it in addition to my existing xampp 5.6.24.

I do not need to run both xampp versions simultaneously. I want to keep my 5.6.24 installation intact until I'm sure the new 7.0.15 installation will serve my needs. If 7.0.15 works out I intend to switch to 7.0.15 exclusively.

I've read several articles that come close to doing what I intend, but have not found one that is exactly on point. This thread is a good example:
https://community.apachefriends.org/f/viewtopic.php?p=175157

I would appreciate your advice and/or a link to a set of clear, reliable instructions.

Q1. Can I copy my existing C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress directory from the existing v5.6.24 installation to the new v7.0.15?

Thanks,
Tom

[Altrea]

Hi Tom,

If you set any windows services on your current xampp applications, unset these services.
download the zip version of XAMPP
extract it to a new folder
execute the setup_xampp.bat file to set the correct paths
thats it. You can now start the single components of each xampp version with its own xampp control panel.

[quote="BothHands"]Q1. Can I copy my existing C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress directory from the existing v5.6.24 installation to the new v7.0.15?
Sure.

best wishes,
Altrea

[Nobbie]

and I don't know of any way to give them access to my localhost environment.

Nothing easier than that. The solution is the "Chrome Remote Desktop", all you need is a Chrome Browser installation and also the Chrome Browser Extension "Chrome Remote Desktop". Also the Wordpress team (or whom ever you want to grant access to your PC) needs the Chrome Browser and this extension.

Follow the steps for giving access to your Desktop (i.e. you finally have to transmit a certain ID to the WordPress team, that ID is generated by that Extension and they have to enter it in Chrome Remote Desktop), there is no hassle wih firewall or routers, all data is "tunneled" via HTTP Port 80. Really easy to use, free and perfectly fits your needs.

A final note on WordPress and "weird" problems: I formerly had my homepage designed with WordPress, all running fine, but as in your case, things started to behave strange, i.e. finally the site could not be accessed anymore, always a blank page showed up. I upgraded and re-installed everything and everything was fine again. But it did not last very long, the same problems appeared again...

As i am a professional IT, i started an investigation about the problems, same thing as in your case, neither the WordPress team nor my Provider could help, they couldnt reproduce the problem. It did not take very long and i found the reason: my WordPress installation has been hacked, it has been infected by a server trojan! I went deeper into the problems, as again neither WordPress nor the Provider could help, they blamed me(!) for not securing the server (i had no idea, how to do so). I finally found out, that of course my server was NOT the problem, the problem is (and this a horrendously severe problem, which finally caused me to drop(!) WordPress FOREVER(!), i wont use it anymore) the Plugins! Plugins are NOT developed by the WordPress team, Plugins are developed by "any user" in the Word, you simply may send your code to WordPress and they will integrate it (if it is a good one). And there is no security check (what in fact would be very difficult) and if there is an asshole, which simply applies some "bad code" into the PHP Plugins, it simply will be integrated and deployed world wide! And thats what happened to my installation, it got an trojan twice in a couple of weeks, which was imported by any of my Plugins.

If you can give me a listing of all files in your WordPress Base folder and also a listing of your plugins folder, i eventually can tell you, if your WordPress installation is infected. I do not remember the file names of the critical files, but when i see these, i will remember. Anyway, i dont use WordPress anymore, i dont use any CMS anymore, i do not make suicide and I cannot believe, how weak these products are running. I am pretty sure that there are millions(!) of infected WordPress installations, but it does not always lead to "weird" behaviour (that is unwanted by the hacker, of course he does not want that you can find out, that you have been hacked).

[BothHands]

Thanks for your reply, Altrea.

If you set any windows services on your current xampp applications, unset these services.

Q2. I need a clarification. In my XAMPP Control Panel v3.2.2 there is a red "X" in front of Apache, MySQL, FileZilla and Tomcat (I only ever start Apache and MySQL). Are you advising me to Stop them all and also uncheck the red "X" for all four? Will that fully accomplish your instructions in the quoted excerpt above?

download the zip version of XAMPP
execute the setup_xampp.bat file to set the correct paths

Q3. I downloaded this Xampp-for-Windows installer:
xampp-win32-7.0.15-0-VC14-installer.exe

You mention a .zip file. Will the .exe installer work as well? I read somewhere that using the "installer" version is least complicated and provides for easy uninstall. Being IT-challenged, I'd like to keep these things as simple as possible...duh. Please advise.

Q4. I intend to copy my existing c:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress directory from my XAMPP 5.6.24 directory to the new 7.0.15 directory. I intend for both XAMPP versions to run the same Wordpress site. In that scenario, will both Wordpress sites refer to the same MySQL database?

Thanks

[BothHands]

Thanks for your detailed reply, nobbie.

Until now I've avoided Chrome, preferring Firefox instead. But it looks like I'll have to finally break down and install it as a second browser.

I found the following instructions online for using "Chrome Remote Desktop." Assuming they are the extent of what's necessary, it looks to be pretty simple:
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en

Does using Chrome Remote Desktop in that way give FULL ACCESS to my localhost computer to unknown theme techs in other countries? If so, I'm not so comfortable with that. Maybe I'm wrong about this...

I understand and share your misgivings about Wordpress. I dislike many aspects of it, not just the security shortcomings. In fact, I'm looking for a way to build a non-CMS website that would enable me to "blog" (add new content weekly, each functioning as a "post"). The trick is to find a way of commenting. I think (maybe) it's possible to implement Facebook comments or perhaps Disqus commenting on an otherwise "static" html/css website.

I would love to know your thoughts on that, and will PM you with a little more information.

Per your request, here's a link to a list of files and folders in my C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress directory:
http://bothbarrels.net/xmp/wordpress-base_contents.jpg

As regards the content of my C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress\wp-content\plugins directory, it's just a bunch of folders, one for each plugin. These plugins are updated all the time (hopefully) so I'm not sure what use the list is to you. FWIW, I use only well-reviewed, well-established plugins from Wordpress.org's own offerings - and only those that are updated regularly. Still, I'm sure it's possible that some earlier version left an open door... Please let me know if there's some better way to send you useful information on this.

Thanks

[Altrea]

Q2. I need a clarification. In my XAMPP Control Panel v3.2.2 there is a red "X" in front of Apache, MySQL, FileZilla and Tomcat (I only ever start Apache and MySQL). Are you advising me to Stop them all and also uncheck the red "X" for all four? Will that fully accomplish your instructions in the quoted excerpt above?

No. red cross means you did not add a windows service for that component which is good in your case.

download the zip version of XAMPP
execute the setup_xampp.bat file to set the correct paths

Q3. I downloaded this Xampp-for-Windows installer:
xampp-win32-7.0.15-0-VC14-installer.exe

You mention a .zip file. Will the .exe installer work as well? I read somewhere that using the "installer" version is least complicated and provides for easy uninstall. Being IT-challenged, I'd like to keep these things as simple as possible...duh. Please advise.

I don't know the installer very well.
"Uninstalling" the zip version is as easy as deleting the xampp folder. Cannot be more easy i think.

Q4. I intend to copy my existing c:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress directory from my XAMPP 5.6.24 directory to the new 7.0.15 directory. I intend for both XAMPP versions to run the same Wordpress site. In that scenario, will both Wordpress sites refer to the same MySQL database?

Try it out.

[Nobbie]

Does using Chrome Remote Desktop in that way give FULL ACCESS to my localhost computer to unknown theme techs in other countries?

Yes, if he know the unique ID for accessing your computer.

If so, I'm not so comfortable with that. Maybe I'm wrong about this...

Maybe. You desperately asked for a solution, i gave you a solution. Of course its on you to use it or not.

I would love to know your thoughts on that, and will PM you with a little more information.

In german? I am not interested in WordPress anymore and it is of course quite difficult for me not to speak my native language (what is german), so i am not very much interested in any advanced diskussion about WordPress in english. WordPress is over and out.

Your folder does not look suspicious, i cannot see any of infected files. Do yourself the favour and check them all (contents and system date), if there is any infected file, you will see it immiediately.