Important! In order for the restoration to work properly, the original site must have a readable and valid configuration.php on its root. This means that a 'trick' many webmasters use, that is providing a configuration.php which includes an off-server-root PHP file, is incompatible with the restoration procedure. The provided installers are hard-coded to look for the configuration.php in the site's root, include it and read the configuration variables off the resulting memory array. If the 'trick' has been effective on the original site, the installer will have blanks in its options and if the user proceeds with the restoration/installation procedure the site will not work, as crucial options will have the default no value at all!

Important! When restoring a backup, JoomlaPack restores the .htaccess file as well. Since this file may contain filters and restrictions appropriate only for a configured site (such as SEO redirection filters or access permissions on system folders) it is advisable to temporarily rename this file to something like temp.htaccess, restore your site, then rename it back to .htaccess to get your site working.

The following instructions assume that you have used "JoomlaPack Installer 1" during backup. If you have used "JoomlaPack Installer 2" the process will be similar, but not exactly the same as the one outlined in this section, see the section Restoring the Backup - JoomlaPack Installer 2 (default).

Assuming that your site's domain is www.example.com, point your browser to http://www.example.com/installation/index.php.

Follow the installation screens. If you are restoring to the same host as the one you got your backup from, you simply have to click on "Next" at every screen. Otherwise, make sure the database parameters are correct, or enter the correct values.

Important! Do not navigate to the site's root, i.e. http://www.example.com as it will simply give you an error instead of the installation screen! Many users delete the configuration.php from their server root in order to make http://www.example.com point to the installation page. This is wrong! If you do that, any customized behavior in configuration.php will be lost!

In the next steps, the connection information to the MySQL database is confirmed and the database restore begins.

Your site name defaults to the name of the site when it was backed up. You may change the site name if necessary.

You may change the site's URL, absolute path or administrator email on the following screen.

Known “issue” Setting a new administrator password has no effect. This is because the Super Administrator record already exists in the database. JoomlaPack Installer 2 addresses this issue, though, working as expected.

Finally, using your FTP client or any other preferred means, remove the installation folder. You are ready!