Why is Confluence Server suddenly starting with the setup page?

[Axel Zoell]

After years of working without errors Confluence Server is starting with the setup page. What to do?

[Pramodh M · Accepted solution]

DB config file is not present or may have changed, please check.

Check the connection with the Database.

[Axel Zoell]

Where is this config file? I installed it about 10 years ago and forgot about everything.

[Pramodh M]

Check this

https://confluence.atlassian.com/confkb/how-to-find-confluence-s-database-connection-parameters-779172320.html

And one more point to notice here is, 

If you have backup of your confluence, you can test it first whether it is working fine.

Thanks,
Pramodh

[Axel Zoell]

We are getting closer. The directory with teh config Files doesnt exist anymore. It is a Windows/User directory and Microsoft changed it apparently because it is empty

[Elifcan Cakmak · Accepted solution]

Hello,

This can't happen all of a sudden without changing anything. Did you upgrade, move db or anything similar recently? You should check the db connection and the server logs of confluence when starting. This is not enough information to give any solid answer to.

Regards,

Elifcan

[Axel Zoell]

Microsoft Windows did some upgrades . . . 

In the Postgres admin I can connect to the db Confluence. Postgres is running.

[Elifcan Cakmak]

Check out this document:

https://confluence.atlassian.com/confkb/how-to-find-confluence-s-database-connection-parameters-779172320.html

There is a config file under home directory: <confluence_home>/confluence.cfg.xml

You can find the home directory here: confluence/WEB-INF/classes/confluence-init.properties  ("confluence" being your installation directory)

Check out the db config file and see if it points to the right db.

Regards,

Elifcan

[Axel Zoell]

We are getting closer. This directory doesnt exist anymore. It is a Windows/User directory and Microsoft changed it apparently because it is empty

[Axel Zoell]

Ok, we have got it. For some miracuously reason the confluence.cfg was replaced by a new initial file.

Thank you very much for your advice.

[Elifcan Cakmak]

You're welcome, glad it worked out.