Question

Is there a way to disable a magento extension from the database? We can’t access our admin area due to a corrupt extension so we can’t disable the extension from the admin section..

Answer 1

If it is a properly created Magento extension, it will have a control file in app/etc/modules. You want to use this file to disable the extension as it prevents the module from loading. Disabling in the database allows the code to load but disables its output, an important distinction for something that is causing Magento to fail in its operation.

In this file will be a line, true. Change true to false and the module will be prevented from loading and executing.

Sample code for module Desitex_Checkoutnewsletter

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
    <modules>
        <Desitex_Checkoutnewsletter>
            <active>true</active>
            <codePool>community</codePool>
            <depends>
                <Mage_Checkout />
            </depends>
        </Desitex_Checkoutnewsletter>
    </modules>
</config>