Use a database, XML, and wp-content, to make a copy of your WordPress site

How to reproduce an identical copy of your WordPress website using a copy of your Database, your XML file and your wp-content folder.

It’s really not that hard to re-build a WordPress site if you have a copy of these 3 items: You should try this first with a test install.
your sql database
your XML file
your wp-content folder.

I’ll tell you how to get each one of these guys.
Your DB: Go to your PHPMyAdmin page for this database

STEP ONE:

In your hosting panel, look for an icon or link that will open your available databases, like this, for example:

Find the database you are using for your WP site and click on it’s name.

A PHPMyAdmin tool window with your database will open.

Find the sql database you are using for your WP site and click on it’s name.  A PHPMyAdmin tool window with your database file will open.

Click the name of the one you need to select it (at the top, left-hand-side menu).

Look at the main menu bar TO THE TOP RIGHT, and find and press the “Export” button, (second to last). (See image on left.)

Once in the Export window, make sure that:
You ‘Select All” ( just the “wp-” prefixes, if you are running more than one application in one DB)
The SQL button is selected
The “Save as file” at the bottom of the page is also selected, so that your DB is downloaded to your desktop, or folder of choice. (See next image).
Save the file to a folder.

STEP TWO

Download your a WP XML with your site info:

In your WP Dashboard, go to

Tools -> Export (bottom of main menu column to the left)

A window like this one below, will open:

Select the author (if more than one) and Press the “Download Export File” button

A copy of your XML will be waiting for you on your desktop, or selected download folder.

MAKE A NOTE OF THIS FOLDER. In fact all documents noted here, should go to the SAME folder. Recreating the site is much faster that way.

STEP 3:

Open a copy of your ORIGINAL/OLD wp-content folder. If you are recreating your website in the same hosting account;  all you’ll need to do is to replace your fresh wp-content folder with the older one, via the cPanel of your host account, once your new install is done.
Otherwise, download a copy via FTP to your desktop.

If you are recreating the WP site using a different hosting company, still no problem, follow these steps AFTER CREATING YOUR NEW DATABASE.

Create a fresh WordPress install via the new hosting company cPanel. I for example can do it via my “Web Tools” menu:

Once the install is done,
Upload the wp-content folder we created in STEP 3 to your Fresh WordPess install

Now, go and select your new db in your new host panel to open it’s PHPMyAdmin window.

Once the window opens, select your OLD database from your desktop folder, (or any folder you chose to save the DB), Confirm that you have the correct character set, and press this time the “IMPORT” and “Go’ buttonmenu:

Check that the import went fine.

NOW: Go to your WP Dashboard and from the “Tools menu” we visited before,

Press the “Import” menu, you’ll see a window like this next image:

Press the WordPress option, at the very bottom of the list.
An up-loader will open, press the “browse” button and select your WordPress XML file you downloaded on STEP 2.
you are almost done.
Go to your Posts and Pages section, and make sure that everything is where is supposed to be. (If you follow these steps, it will.
Select your Theme and update your necessary customizations (if any)
That’s it.