Cloning EE site from server to Xampp

If you’ve downloaded the site in its entirety then you should have the system folder (remember that it might have been renamed to something else, or it might have been put outside of the web root for extra security). If you have FTP or SSH access, then take another look for that folder and download it. If not, then you’ve need to download a copy of EE that matches the version on the live server. You might need to contact EllisLab to get an older version.

Once you’ve got all of the files and the database, follow the instructions here to migrate the site to your local server.

Thanks for the reply! I had done most of these things already, but Im still not getting access. So this is what I’ve done so far: Through cpanel I did a complete backup, I extracted the tar file into a directory within the htdocs folder of xampp. I ran the compatibility wizard in this same directory and it passed. I found the system file it was renamed. I created a empty database, imported the sql file from the backup, and then modified the database file to match my servers login credentials. Lastly in both index.php and admin.php the system folder path is set to ‘..\ee-admin(new name of system folder)’. I tried changing this path to the exact path but it did no difference. When I try to open admin.php it just goes to a blank page. when i try to go to index.php it goes to the directory tree instead. There aren’t too many steps to retrace so what could I be doing wrong?

I don’t understand why you’re getting a directory listing when visiting the index.php page in your browser. The double dot in your $system_path indicates that the developer has followed at least one of the post-installation best practices and moved your system (ee-admin) folder outside of the web root. You need to do likewise in your local set-up. Make sure that your ee-admin folder and web root are at the same level in your folder structure, and in Apache make sure that your domain name points to the web root.

In index.php, change the debug parameter to this:

$debug = 1;

(Once you’ve resolved the problem, it’s very important to change this value back to 0 afterwards, otherwise all users will be able to see any PHP or database errors.)

Visit the site again in your browser (without the index.php) and look for errors. You can also check your Apache and PHP error logs.

Well I’m getting closer. I started from scratch with a new xampp and testing folder. I followed all the steps again and this time it worked! kind of, upon going into the index the site come up unstyled and there is an error at the top:

A PHP Error was encountered Severity: 8192 Message: Non-static method Eehive_hacksaw::usage() should not be called statically, assuming $this from incompatible context Filename: eehive_hacksaw/pi.eehive_hacksaw.php Line Number: 11

The main structure of the page is there with the pics but no styling or anything else linked to. Ive been messing around in the common/head template where the css links are and though Ive tried several different paths nothing seems to work.

Lastly. though the index page loads I cannot move to other pages within the site. nothing executes when clicked. Is there a certain way to write the paths so they work on my local machine? I tried extending the path and I tried file:// as well. any suggestions?

Ok so where I am right now!: index takes me to the site. It is mostly styled now a few things missing, but I figured out that aspect. The links half work. Before they did nothing at all now they take me to the dashboard directory which is the the directory that comes up when you go to localhost in a browser. Im thinking its the admin settings but I adjusted them a few times now and cant get past this issue. But Ive gotten from nothing working to almost there so a-little more help is all I might need.

Thanks again for helping out, its slowly but surely going to run- eventually.

Check your channel URL and path settings - it sounds like something’s not right with those.