Getting started
- If you have not published all of your latest changes or pages, make sure to complete sections A, B, and C.
- If you are sure that you have published all of your latest changes or pages, just complete section B.
Section A: Back up your SiteBuilder data files
If you are using:
- Windows XP go to C:\Program Files\Homestead\SiteBuilder\data\user\Sites.
- Windows Vista and Windows 7, Windows 8 go to C:\ProgramData\Homestead\SiteBuilder\data\user\Sites. To learn how to find this folder, read Show hidden folders in Windows.
You will see one or more folders named "XXXXXXXXXX", but with a number sequence instead of the letter "X". Copy the folders to a "backup" location on your computer hard drive, like C:\sitebackup.

Section B: Perform the clean installation of SiteBuilder
Uninstall SiteBuilder
- Close all of your Web browser sessions.
- Go to the Control Panel. (Click Start in the lower left corner of your computer desktop. Then click Control Panel.)
- In the Control Panel window, double-click Add or Remove Programs.
- When the Add or Remove Programs window appears, select Homestead SiteBuilder, and click Change/Remove. Then click Next.
- To confirm the deletion click OK.
- When the deletion is complete, go to your SiteBuilder directory and delete it.
- Windows XP users go to: C:\Program Files\Homestead\SiteBuilder.
- Windows Vista and Windows 7, Windows 8 users go to: C:\ProgramData\Homestead.
- Remove all SiteBuilder Shortcuts:
- If you have a SiteBuilder icon on your desktop, drag it to the Recycle Bin.
- Click Start in the lower left corner of your computer desktop. If you see Sitebuilder in the start menu right click on the file name and click Remove from This List.
- Click Start in the lower left corner of your computer desktop and select All Programs. If you see Homestead >SiteBuilder in the All Programs list right click SiteBuilder and Click Delete.
- Restart your computer. This will safely remove SiteBuilder from your computer.
Note: In Windows Vista and Windows 7, Windows 8, Program Data is a hidden folder. For more information, go to Show Hidden Folders .
Reinstall SiteBuilder
- Go online and open a Web browser (make sure you have disabled any firewall programs like ZoneAlarm or Norton Internet Security).
- Go to: https://www.homestead.com/~site/Scripts_SiteManager/SiteManager.dll?CMD=CMDDownloadPage.
- Click Download.
- If you are using:
- Internet Explorer
- File Download Security Warning box will open, click Run.
- Internet Explorer Security Warning box will open, click Run.
- Mozilla Firefox
- Opening SiteBuilderSetup.exe box will open. Click Save File.
- In the Downloads window double click, SiteBuilderSetup.exe
- Open File Security Warning box will open. Click Run.
- The SiteBuilder Install Wizard will launch. Click Next to Download and Install SiteBuilder.
- You will need to choose an install location for SiteBuilder. Click Next to begin install to the default location. Approximately 8 MBs of files will download to your computer during installation, so it may take several minutes on a dial-up connection. After the installation is completed, the following message appears: Click Finish to launch SiteBuilder.
- Click Finish and SiteBuilder will start.
- After SiteBuilder has started, enter your Login Name and Password, and click OK.
- Under Open Site, select a site from the dropdown menu, and click OK.
- Close SiteBuilder.
Note: Make sure you are connected to the Internet throughout this process. During installation SiteBuilder files will need to be downloaded and unpacked to your computer, so it may take several minutes to complete the process. If you are installing the .NET version of SiteBuilder, you'll need to have .NET 2.0 installed. Use the following links according to your system requirements:
32 Bit Systems: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en
64 Bit Systems: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b44a0000-acf8-4fa1-affb-40e78d788b00&displaylang=en
Section C: Restore your SiteBuilder Data files
- Go to the location where you backed up your site folders in Section A.
- Select the folders and copy them (CTRL+C).
- Navigate into the SiteBuilder folder on your hard drive.
- Windows XP users locate the following folder: C:\Program Files\Homestead\SiteBuilder\data\user\Sites.
- Windows Vista and Windows 7, Windows 8 users locate the following folder: C:\ProgramData\Homestead\SiteBuilder\data\user\Sites.
- Paste the backup site folders into that location (CTRL+V).
- Now that your clean installation is complete, try starting SiteBuilder again.
SiteBuilder will normally run fine at this point. If it does not then there may be something on the computer interfering with the program, usually security/antivirus software. Just turning it off does not always prevent it from interfering so you will likely have to find the section in the software to add the SiteBuilde “exes” as program exceptions. Every program (security software) is different so you will need to look for a section to exclude programs from being blocked. If you can’t find it by clicking around in the program just you can Google it.
The exes that need to be added as program exceptions are all the ones in C:\Program Files (x86)\Homestead\SiteBuilder:
SiteBuilderLPX.exe
SiteBuilderLPXLauncher.exe
SiteBuilderLPXLauncherUpdated.exe
updater.exe
ForceUpdate.exe
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
Posted 6 years ago
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102 Points
SitBuilder Crashing.
When editing my pages I'm getting a very frequent "SiteBuilderLPX.exe" has quit working message and windows shuts it down. Windows 7 and IE. Anyone else? Very frustrating.
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102 Points
Can't get help......
I can't not download site builder in my Windows 8 computer......and I am a computer illiterate -- I can't get anyone to answer the help line (for three weeks now I've been listening to musak for thirty minutes at a stretch before I give up and hang up). On-line live chat isn't working either.... Anyone have a solution for me?
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
Drew
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294 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
The exes that need to be added as program exceptions are all the ones in C:\Program Files (x86)\Homestead\SiteBuilder:
SiteBuilderLPX.exe
SiteBuilderLPXLauncher.exe
SiteBuilderLPXLauncherUpdated.exe
updater.exe
ForceUpdate.exe
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294 Points
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294 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
If so a reinstall won't necessarily fix the problem. See my previous post above. This error means that there is something on your computer blocking the file from running and you'll have to allow it to run. This is usually a result of a setting in your security software. You'll need to add the list of .exe files shown above as exceptions to your security software.
Mike
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92 Points
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
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244 Points
Error Updating Message.
Hi. I am unable to update my website. For a few weeks I get "Error Updating: There was an error pdating your software. You may be unable to publish pages." Indeed, I cannot publish them. Thanks.
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244 Points
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300 Points
Todd H, Social Media Specialist
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20,824 Points
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300 Points
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152 Points
Once I updated to Windows 8.1, can no longer use Sitebuilder. Won't reinstall, won't open, nada. Any suggestions? Need to get to ASAP! :).
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152 Points
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152 Points
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152 Points
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
You might have to do the clean install again after adding that, but hopefully that will solve it.
Drew
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152 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
If you repeat the clean install, and add those files as exceptions, and still can't get it to run, we can always convert your account to the web based version, SiteBuilder Plus.
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82 Points
troubleshooting Windows 7 and old site..
I have an old sitebuilder site - it was working fine on this computer. Now some of the elements are missing and when I try to login the login in box is blank and does not respond to anything I do. I have windows 7 - I have uninstalled it and downloaded the correct version and I up dated my java. It still does not work. Any ideas?
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82 Points
Have to download Sitebuilder each time I need to work on my site..
When I launch sitebuilder and it asks about allowing changes and I click on "Yes", it simply disappears. If I click on "no", it loads my site but won't allow publishing. I tried the "force update" to no avail. As of now, I have to download sitebuilder just to work on my site.Any help would be appreciated. I run Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
Let us know if you want us to add the option to your account.
Mike
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102 Points
Sharon P.
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
Drew
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
Drew
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2,456 Points
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
If you use Plus and want to add keywords, see the Keyword topic
Drew
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2,456 Points
Then I guess this is just a Scam when they say that they are working for Google!!!
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2,456 Points
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
I'm glad you have done so well, but watch this video. Matt Cutts is Google's voice on what things matter and what things don't. This is from 2012. You likely have a great description and great content on your page, which is where keywords are drawn from. Matt says it very clearly here.
You are correct, keywords matter, but now keywords come from content, not the meta keywords.
Drew
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2,456 Points
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
However, in no case do I advise changing if you are getting great results. Don't mess with success!
Drew
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2,456 Points
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254 Points
how do I access sitebuilder?.
Drew N, Alum
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262,696 Points
Thanks
Drew
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232 Points
Screen keeps locking up.
Hi
Have been having problems with pages locking up and not allowing me to save & or publish changes to my site and then having to force a log off each time.
Not a problem I have had before. Any suggestion / solutions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Steve
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142 Points
SiteBuilderLPXLauncher.exe has stopped working.
Using my shortcut to start using homestead results in the above message. I tried downloading as suggested by you to know avail. Not sure what to do next.
I'm running Windows 7 Professional Version 6.1
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102 Points
I receive a message that I am not connected to the internet when I attempt to publish pages but I am connected to the internet..
i keep receiving a message that I can not publish a page because I am not connected to the internet but I am connected to the internet when I click publish.
- 70 Points
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
Drew
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102 Points
I followed your instructions and did a complete uninstall and reinstall and it seems to have fixed the problem.
Thanks
- 70 Points
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
Drew
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456 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
Mike
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456 Points
- 60 Points

Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
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82 Points
Site builder always force closes.
Why does sitebuilder constantly shut down? I have tried it on 3 different computers and it is the same on all 3. Seems like every 10 minutes or so it force closes and makes it impossible to be efficient. So frustrating. The entire program runs really slow as well. Im really considering just getting rid of this service.
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
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456 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
Mike
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456 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
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456 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
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102 Points
Sharon P.
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
Thanks
Drew
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456 Points
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456 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
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456 Points
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456 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
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456 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
Mike
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92 Points
Program wont open.
Error message on startup- SiteBuilder was unable to launch. Site Builder could not launch. Sitebuilder requires permission to write to its install directory.
Can this be fixed without losing local Data?
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82 Points
Attempt to Edit..
I logged on and made an attempt to "edit" my website. All I get is the page that says "loading website editor". It never opens or allows me to get in. Anyone know why? This is the second time I have had this happen. Last time I had to call and someone directed me to reinstall website manager again. Do I have to do this every time I want to make changes?
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
Drew
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122 Points
Trouble with Updating Site Builder.
How often does SiteBuilder need an update? I just recently updated, now it's saying that I need to update again to publish pages. It is saying that "There is a problem with updating," what should I do?
Drew N, Alum
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262,816 Points
Drew
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82 Points
My site will not update the new software, so I can't make any changes to all the updates will software are done.
please help.
website www.courduffhardwoodflooring.com
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82 Points
SiteBuilder crashes when editing photo gallery.
Why does SiteBuilder crash EVERY time I try to edit text in a photo gallery? I have even reinstalled sitebuilder and it still crashes when I try to edit or add text to my photo galleries.
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294 Points
Sitebuilder shutting down....
Sitebuilder in my PC keeps shutting down while doing an update on my website. This problem has been going on since last month, I was helped by technical support, was told to uninstall and install the program...worked fine after reinstalling but little bit later shuts down again. I am running out of patience as I have to constantly save every little change I make instead of saving them all at the end.
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82 Points
I'm running Windows 8.1 w/ Intel i5 processor and cannot get the sitebuilder app to launch. Please help.Thx.
Drew N, Alum
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262,696 Points
Thanks
Drew
If this post helps, please give me a "Star" and complete this survey to rate my performance.
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294 Points
Sitebuilder does not load since upgrade to windows 8.1.
I have tried clean download and have excluded relevant.exe s from antivirus but still get error message:
SitebuilderLPXlauncher.exe has stopped working

Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
There's no cost to convert so just let us know if you would like us to make the change.
Mike
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92 Points
Mike F., Alum
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184,678 Points
Mike
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2,456 Points
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