Web Application Blog

Problem: Countless folks get this error while they attempt to install Joomla! content management system – “Error: the XML response that was returned from the server is invalid”

Solution # 1:

1. Open php.ini file
2. find this option setting –

   error_reporting = E_ALL

3. change the above setting to –

   error_reporting = E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE

Solution # 2:

1. Install Joomla without installing sample data.
2. Do not delete the Installation folder after installation is done.
3. Download the joomla.sql file from installation/sql/mysql or check joomla sample data folder – (…/yourjoomla/installation/sql/mysql/sample_data.sql)
4. Use PHPmyAdmin to install this SQL file into your Database.
5. If problem persist and Joomla installation force you to install sample data then edit sample_data.sql file and find

   TYPE=MyISAM

   and change to

   ENGINE=MyISAM

6. If you have created or copied a configuration.php file from configuration.php file-dist due to warning message in beginning of installation page. Just remove ‘configuration.php’ file, and just ignore the warning message. Now you won’t see the ‘Error:the xml response that was returned from the server is invalid’ again.

Solution # 3:

1. Check your PHP version. Joomla 1.5.x doesn’t support PHP 4.3.9, 4.4.2 or 5.0.4
2. Check your PHP version. Joomla 2.5.x, 1.7.x and 1.6.x requires PHP 5.2.4 +, PHP 5.3 + recommended
3. Joomla is not yet compatible with MySQL 6.x, check your mysql version

Still it is not working?

Solution # 4:

1. From php.ini file, check that extensions are enabled
2. In order to use SEO URLs, you will need to have the Apache mod_rewrite extension installed.
3. Check your PHP setting from php.ini file, you can check memory limit setting for sure. Edit the php.ini file of your system and set the “memory_limit” to at least 256M or 512M. For shared hosting, you may need to contact your hosting provider to change this setting.
4. Some systems have specific file permissions that might prevent a file from being readable. Find out the proper permissions for your hosting environment and apply them to the “…/yourjoomla/installation/sql/mysql/sample_data.sql” file or check Solution #2
5. Make sure the database user has all permissions on the database used