Site stopped working - is it htaccess?

I purchased this site recently and it worked jut fine at first, but now every link goes back to the home page. Also, my Google diagnostics says I have 375 pages that are 404.

The guy I bought it from said he thought it was the "result of a mod-rewrite using .htaccess", but he wasn't sure.

What does he mean? Any tips on why it would just stop working? Obviously I'm a complete noob about this part of webmastering.

Thanks for any help you can send my way.
jhoward

 

In your root directory (where your index file is) you will find your htaccess file. Download a copy and open it up using notepad or a text editor and post the contents or forward it to your host and let them know the problem you are having. If you don't see it using a ftp program, use your control panel to find it.

 

It sure looks like there is a problem with a mod-rewrite directive in the .htaccess file. If memory serves me correctly, someone else had the exact same problem with the exact same site a few months back. That is very strange.

Personally, I would be troubled by the fact it seemed to work correctly for a period of time and now it does not. My paranoid side wonders if there is an unpatched vulnerability in your website scripts which is allowing someone to access that file and rewite its contents. This could be due to a flaw in the admin module, which is probably in a known location and might have some funny default password or which might not do password checking on all pages. In that case, someone might be able to toggle switches in the admin module which create the effect experienced at your site.

Since you are a noob, there is a lot that needs to be checked out with your scripts.

You can view the contents of your .htaccess file by gaining shell access to your server and using an available text editor to view its contents. Or gain shell access and type cat .htaccess from the top level directory. That command displays the files contents to the screen . . . though it is not an editor. Most installs today come with user friendly editors. The command for them is nano or pico. To use them, go to the top level directory and type nano .htaccess and hit return. If nano is installed, you can view and edit the file. But, since you know nothing, find some online tutorials first.

 

It is the error trapping of the 404 redirecting your links to index page.

Best chance to resolve it is to post your .htacess file as has been requested.

Did you move this from one sever to another or is the site on the same host as when you bought it?

 

Thanks for the replies. I will post the htaccess tonight. I can't access those files from work.

Colbyt -
It's on a different host, but the seller moved it all over for me and updated the settings. Everything was working very smoothly until just a few days ago. It ran fine on my host for several weeks now, and a sister site I purchased from him which is running the same script and on the same host is still working fine. It's gomyspace . info

Thanks again and I will get the file contents posted tonight (unless I get too caught up in the UFC Fight Night on Spike! )

 

Based on your reply I would compare the contents of the two .htaccess files.

I think therin is your problem. A space, a comma, a semi-colon or lack thereof can make all the difference.

Hope your guy won.

 

Well, here it is. Much longer than I expected. I'm still going to compare them as Colbyt suggested, but I wanted to post here too. Oh yeah, he did win!


ErrorDocument 404 /index.php

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^contact-tables$ index.php?app=contact-tables [L]
RewriteRule ^contact-tables/([0-9]+) index.php?app=contact-tables&pageNum=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^contact-tables/large/([0-9]+)$ index.php?app=contact-tables&action=large&id=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^contact-tables/generate$ index.php?app=contact-tables&action=generate [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-backgrounds$ index.php?app=myspace-backgrounds [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-backgrounds/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-backgrounds&pageNum=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^preview-background/(.*) index.php?app=myspace-backgrounds&action=preview&bg=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-animations$ index.php?app=myspace-animations [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-animations/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-animations&pageNum=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^viewimage/(.*) index.php?app=myspace-animations&action=viewimage&bg=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-cartoons$ index.php?app=myspace-cartoons [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-cartoons/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-cartoons&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^extended-network$ index.php?app=extended-network [L]
RewriteRule ^extended-network/([0-9]+) index.php?app=extended-network&pageNum=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^extended-network-large/([0-9]+) index.php?app=extended-network&action=large&id=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^extended-network-gen$ index.php?app=extended-network-gen [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-glitter-graphics$ index.php?app=myspace-glitter-graphics [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-glitter-graphics/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-glitter-graphics&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-glitter-words$ index.php?app=myspace-glitter-words [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-glitter-words/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-glitter-words&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-icons$ index.php?app=myspace-icons [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-icons/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-icons&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^online-now-icons$ index.php?app=online-now-icons [L]
RewriteRule ^online-now-icons/([0-9]+) index.php?app=online-now-icons&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-words$ index.php?app=myspace-words [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-words/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-words&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-graphics$ index.php?app=myspace-graphics [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-air-force-1$ index.php?app=myspace-air-force-1 [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-air-force-1/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-air-force-1&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-days$ index.php?app=myspace-days [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-days/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-days&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-dividers$ index.php?app=myspace-dividers [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-dividers/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-dividers&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^funny_pictures$ index.php?app=funny_pictures [L]
RewriteRule ^funny_pictures/([0-9]+) index.php?app=funny_pictures&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-happy-holiday$ index.php?app=myspace-happy-holiday [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-happy-holiday/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-happy-holiday&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-misc$ index.php?app=myspace-misc [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-misc/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-misc&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-mlb$ index.php?app=myspace-mlb [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-mlb/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-mlb&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-movies$ index.php?app=myspace-movies [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-movies/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-movies&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-names$ index.php?app=myspace-names [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-names/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-names&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-nba$ index.php?app=myspace-nba [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-nba/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-nba&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-nhl$ index.php?app=myspace-nhl [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-nhl/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-nhl&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-pimps$ index.php?app=myspace-pimps [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-pimps/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-pimps&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-sexy-dolls$ index.php?app=myspace-sexy-dolls [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-sexy-dolls/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-sexy-dolls&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-shoes$ index.php?app=myspace-shoes [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-shoes/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-shoes&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-smilies$ index.php?app=myspace-smilies [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-smilies/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-smilies&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-sports$ index.php?app=myspace-sports [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-sports/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-sports&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-welcome-signs$ index.php?app=myspace-welcome-signs [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-welcome-signs/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-welcome-signs&pageNum=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-codes$ index.php?app=myspace-codes [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-center-profile$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-center-profile [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hide-about-me$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hide-about-me [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hide-extended-network$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hide-extended-network [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hide-contact-box$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hide-contact-box [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hide-comments$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hide-comments [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hide-details-section$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hide-details-section [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hide-friends$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hide-friends [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hide-general-info$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hide-general-info [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hide-last-login$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hide-last-login [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hide-search-form$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hide-search-form [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hide-url-box$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hide-url-box [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-scrolling-friends-comments$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-scrolling-friends-comments [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-tables-switch-sides$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-tables-switch-sides [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-hover-link-sparkles$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-hover-link-sparkles [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-lower-case-links$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-lower-case-links [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-remove-addcomment-link$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-remove-addcomment-link [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-special-characters$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-special-characters [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-codes-resize-comment-images$ index.php?app=myspace-codes-resize-comment-images [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-generators$ index.php?app=myspace-generators [L]
RewriteRule ^falling-objects$ index.php?app=falling-objects [L]
RewriteRule ^nav-bar-generator$ index.php?app=nav-bar-generator [L]
RewriteRule ^overlapping-text-generator$ index.php?app=overlapping-text-generator [L]
RewriteRule ^comment-box-gen$ index.php?app=comment-box-gen [L]
RewriteRule ^color-code-picker$ index.php?app=color-code-picker [L]
RewriteRule ^auto-bulletin-repost-button$ index.php?app=auto-bulletin-repost-button [L]
RewriteRule ^video-code-gen$ index.php?app=video-code-gen [L]
RewriteRule ^song-code-gen$ index.php?app=song-code-gen [L]
RewriteRule ^auto-comment-generator$ index.php?app=auto-comment-generator [L]
RewriteRule ^whore-me-generator$ index.php?app=whore-me-generator [L]
RewriteRule ^friends$ index.php?app=friends [L]
RewriteRule ^friendscode$ index.php?app=friends&action=friendscode [L]
RewriteRule ^friendspicurl$ index.php?app=friends&action=friendspicurl [L]
RewriteRule ^flashmp3player$ index.php?app=flashmp3player [L]
RewriteRule ^flashmp3player-code$ index.php?app=flashmp3player&action=flashmp3player-code [L]
RewriteRule ^glitter-text-generator$ index.php?app=glitter-text-generator [L]
RewriteRule ^glitter-word-gen-1$ index.php?app=glitter-text-generator&action=glitter-word-gen-1 [L]
RewriteRule ^glitter-word-gen-2$ index.php?app=glitter-text-generator&action=glitter-word-gen-2 [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-editor$ index.php?app=myspace-editor [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-editor-preview$ index.php?app=myspace-editor&action=preview [L]
RewriteRule ^train$ index.php?app=train [L]
RewriteRule ^trainadd$ index.php?app=train&action=add [L]

RewriteRule ^upload$ index.php?app=upload [L]
RewriteRule ^uploadpop$ index.php?app=upload&action=uploadpop [L]

RewriteRule ^myspace-tutorials$ index.php?app=myspace-tutorials [L]
RewriteRule ^layout-snatcher$ index.php?app=layout-snatcher [L]
RewriteRule ^counter$ index.php?app=counter [L]
RewriteRule ^counter/([0-9]+) index.php?app=counter&action=show&fid=$1 [L]


RewriteRule ^myspace-layouts$ index.php?app=myspace-layouts [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-layouts/([0-9]+)$ index.php?app=myspace-layouts&cat_id=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-layouts/([0-9]+)/page/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-layouts&cat_id=$1&pageNum=$2 [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-layouts/viewimage/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-layouts&action=codes&id=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^myspace-layouts/preview/([0-9]+) index.php?app=myspace-layouts&action=preview&id=$1 [L]

RewriteRule ^admin$ index.php?app=admin [L]

 

I compared the current htaccess file with the one that came in the zip of the site I received and didn't see any difference. Is this something I should contact my host about?

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be causing this?

Thanks,
Jhoward

 

Since i"m not getting anywhere on this problem, I'm willing to pay a little something to someoen who can fix it.

Here's the thread I created for that:

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?p=1954534#post1954534

Hopefully I'm not violating any TOS by posting links between these two threads. I just wanted to put them in their proper areas without having posts with duplicate information.

Thanks,
jhoward

 

Does it happen on a particular browser or on both IE and FF ?

Did you change host ?

Some thing similar happened to me and so I think I know this.

 

Host is the same. I'm pretty sure it's all browsers as I use IE at work and Mozilla at home.

I also don't understand why sometimes the text bleeds over into the right margin and forces my AdSense ads to the bottom of the page. Sometimes the text wraps properly and it looks great - other times it's all out of alignment.

Is this indicative of a host problem or site problem?

 

Try this :

In all the folders where the files are there , make a file named "php.ini"

and put the following content in it :

phpsuexec = off

And try

 

Good news. It's now working. The guy who I bought the site from was kind enough to get me straightened out. He told me I had modified the wrong index.php file. Still figuring out this whole php stuff.

Thanks for all your advice, suggestions, and help!!
jhoward