I created a mySQL database called "testsite" using phpMyAdmin and downloaded all of my joomla files from my live site to the folder wamp/www/testsite. (I already have a live site that I would like to have on a localhost).
When I want to look at the site I get the following error: "Error displaying the error page: Application Instantiation Error"
I undestand this is because the configuration.php file is not set up properly, here is the relevant part of it, I don't know where my mistake is...
public $dbtype = 'mysql';
public $host = 'localhost';
public $user = 'root';
public $password = '';
public $db = 'testsite';
public $dbprefix = '';
I know this does or should not cause the error, but here is the other part that I need to change and am not sure as to what exactly to change, this is what I have tried:
public $log_path = '/C:/wamp/www/testsite/logs';
public $tmp_path = '/C:/wamp/www/testsite/tmp';
Simple answer, the database credentials you have entered in the configuration.php file aren't correct.
This line must be correct as you already mentioned you have created a database called testsite
public $db = 'testsite';
After this, you're supposed to create a user and assign this user to the database. You are currently using the user root which I believe is a default user, however have you assigned it to the database you created? Either way, I would not do this, I would create a completely new user with a password of your choice and assign this one to the database.
Update
You have strict errors appearing on your site. This happens a lot with Joomla and PHP 5.4+
Turn turn them off, firstly, open the php.ini file for wampserver (check the last comment on my answer to another question here)
Then set error reporting to :
error_reporting = E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE & ~E_STRICT
Update 2
Here is another approach that worked for me:
In the configuration.php look for public $error_reporting = 'default';
and change it to public $error_reporting = '30711';
I had this problem, but it may have been my fault. I had amended the my.cnf file in the mysql directory.
Set it back to the original settings and all worked ok.
Just for reference the file I edited was:
/etc/mysql/my.cnf