I decided to try Drupal 7 this past weekend using Netnation as a web host. Here's what I learned.
I've had an account with Netnation for at least 10 years, so I'm comfortable with their control panel and when I've need help they've been good. All 4 times that I've needed them.
Created the mysql database. No problem.
I was able to download the drupal installation files and upload them to the website and run the install.
First problem the PHP version was too old, v4.2. Yeah, 4.2 was released in 2002. So I called tech support and they told me that I was on a really old server and they couldn't upgrade the PHP version on that server, but that they would move my site to a new server. Unfortunately this required an administrator. Given that I was calling on a Friday afternoon I wasn't expecting this to be done until Monday, but when I got home I had an email indicating that the change had been completed. Awesome Job tech support!
New PHP version is 5.4. This is as good as it gets.
So I re-uploaded everything (I told tech support to blow everything away in the move to the new server) and re-ran the install.
Set the permissions on setting.php and /default.
Second problem. The database was created with pre-4.1 16 byte hash on the passwords. (mysql session variable old_password=1) PHP only supports the 41 byte hash. Used the Netnation ticket system to log the problem. They replied back after about 6 hrs that they had found the problem and fixed it. Excellent.
Decided that I should get a clean start on everything, so I delete the database and all the files, re-created the database and re-uploaded the files.
Re-ran the install and the mismatched password hash problem was back. Arg. The problem is really on the server and when the database is created the 16 byte hash is used for the user account.
I was able to piece together the hack that tech support used. basically:
mysql -h yourdatabase -u drupal_user -p
--show the hash. It will be 16 digits
select password('user');
--look for the old_password value. This needs to be Off.
show variables;
--set the session variable off for old_passwords. That's the number zero btw.
set session old_passwords=0;
show variables;
--This will set the password with the 41 byte hash which is the default method
set password = password('password');
-- display the new hash value. Should be 41 digits
select password('user');
exit;
Ok. Re-run the install and get the main setup screen, but it doesn't look like Install guide. Changed the $base_url and the $cookies_domain in the setting.php file. Re-run the install. Much better.
Added all the DB info and click save and continue. Ohoh... looks like installer is trying to write to the CGI-BIN directory.
Re-run installer, setting.php file was updated by the installer. Need to reset the $base_url and update the permissions again.
Re-run the installer entered all the settings, save and continue. Now I have a blank screen. More info on that here ===> (https://drupal.org/node/158043)
Fixed the settings.php file again and reset permissions. Deleted all the tables in the database.
Re-run installer and that fixed the problem. I now have a working Drupal install and can update.
Now to make work the way I want it to.