Elgg installation Problem solutions by jugaad technology!

1. If the error is cannot connect to database using given credentials then manually enter your credentials in
elggfolder/engine/settings.php
2. if mod_rewrite is not loaded it gives 404 error for this check out the following:

a. Create a test file for testing mod_rewrite refer this link: http://docs.elgg.org/wiki/Mod_rewrite_test
b. create the .htaccess if not created earlier, this file specifies the pattern match for conversion of url's. Check your RewriteBase configured for your elgg installation directory for eg. If my access to elgg is http://localhost/social, then it should be
RewriteBase /social/
don't forget to leave the trailing /.
c. Now check your apache server for configuration
go to /etc/apache2 and find the apache2.conf file(remember apache2 has config file as apache2.conf rather than httpd.conf)
d. find the AllowOverride clause make it all eg.
AllowOverride all
e. check whether AccessFileName is set to .htaccess

f. Create a symbolic link to modules

first navigate to /etc/apache2/mods-enabled
ln -s /etc/apache2/mods-available/proxy.load proxy.load
and
ln -s /etc/apache2/mods-available/rewrite.load rewrite.load

g. enable the modules by:
mohit@mohit-laptop:~$ sudo a2enmod rewrite
it may ask for restart
mohit@mohit-laptop:~$ sudo service apache2 restart
similarly-->
mohit@mohit-laptop:~$ sudo a2enmod rewrite
h.Above step is also useful for finding whether a module is being loaded properly(being loaded may not mean it will work guys!)

i. find this statement in /etc/apache2/sites-available/default
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews

now make the following changes:
AllowOverride all
Order allow,deny
allow from all

j. Go to /etc/apache2/sites-enabled and change the file 000-default
find: Options Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews

make the following change in statements below:
AllowOverride all
Order allow,deny
allow from all
k. Make other AllowOverride's in the file as all(jugaad technology!!!)

3. After each step you may need apache restart, do it by
mohit@mohit-laptop:~$ sudo service apache2 restart

4. All the best for the installation!! remember if nothing works after doing all this then it's only your jugaad which can help you..never give up, you may be an inch away from glory!
5.

ALTER DATABASE `username_databasename` DEFAULT CHARACTER SET `utf8`;