Redirected to Installation Instructions During Checkout...

[Rick5150]

As the post title says, when I tried a test transaction, when I got to the payment options, PayPal seems to word fine - it brings me to the PayPal site and all of the information is correct. The standard "Go to checkout" returns this... message:

You are seeing this page for one or more reasons:

This is your first time using Zen Cart® and you haven't yet completed the normal Installation procedure.
If this is the case for you, you will need to upload the "zc_install" folder using your FTP program, and then run zc_install/index.php via your browser (or reload this page to see a link to it).

Your /includes/configure.php and/or /admin/includes/configure.php file contains invalid path information and/or invalid database-connection information.
If you recently edited your configure.php files for any reason, or maybe moved your site to a different folder or different server, then you'll need to review and update all your settings to the correct values for your server.
Additionally, if the permissions have been changed on your configure.php files, then maybe they're too low for the files to be read.
Or the configure.php files could be missing altogether.
Or your hosting company has recently changed the server's PHP configuration (or upgraded its version) then they may have broken things as well.
See the Online FAQ and Tutorials area on the Zen Cart® website for assistance.
Additional *IMPORTANT* Details: includes/configure.php file contents invalid. ie: DIR_FS_CATALOG not valid or not set

I have expressed concern in another thread that even after the update, my configure.php files refer to version 1.3.9 and the admin control panel states 1.5.1.

Here is the ADMIN configure.php

<?php
/**
 * @package Configuration Settings circa 1.3.9
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2010 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * File Built by zc_install on 2010-10-27 08:41:40
 */


/*************** NOTE: This file is similar, but DIFFERENT from the "store" version of configure.php. ***********/
/***************       The 2 files should be kept separate and not used to overwrite each other.      ***********/

// Define the webserver and path parameters
  // Main webserver: eg-http://www.your_domain.com - 
  // HTTP_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.your_domain.com
  // HTTPS_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.your_domain.com
  // HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.your_domain.com
  // HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.your_domain.com
  /* 
   * URLs for your site will be built via:  
   *     HTTP_SERVER plus DIR_WS_ADMIN or
   *     HTTPS_SERVER plus DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN or 
   *     HTTP_SERVER plus DIR_WS_CATALOG or 
   *     HTTPS_SERVER plus DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG
   * ...depending on your system configuration settings
   *
   * If you desire your *entire* admin to be SSL-protected, make sure you use a "https:" URL for all 4 of the following:
   */
  define('HTTP_SERVER', 'https://www.mysite.com');
  define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://www.mysite.com');
  define('HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER', 'http://www.mysite.com');
  define('HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER', 'https://www.mysite.com');

  // Use secure webserver for catalog module and/or admin areas?
  define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'true');
  define('ENABLE_SSL_ADMIN', 'true');

// NOTE: be sure to leave the trailing '/' at the end of these lines if you make changes!
// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)
  // these paths are relative to top of your webspace ... (ie: under the public_html or httpdocs folder)
  define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', '/ecommerce1/admin/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/ecommerce1/');
  define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN', '/ecommerce1/admin/');
  define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/ecommerce1/');

  define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
  define('DIR_WS_ICONS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icons/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_IMAGES', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'images/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_TEMPLATE', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/templates/');
  define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
  define('DIR_WS_BOXES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'boxes/');
  define('DIR_WS_FUNCTIONS', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'functions/');
  define('DIR_WS_CLASSES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'classes/');
  define('DIR_WS_MODULES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'modules/');
  define('DIR_WS_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'languages/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');

// * DIR_FS_* = Filesystem directories (local/physical)
  //the following path is a COMPLETE path to your Zen Cart files. eg: /var/www/vhost/accountname/public_html/store/
  define('DIR_FS_ADMIN', '/home/mysite/public_html/ecommerce1/admin/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/mysite/public_html/ecommerce1/');

  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_IMAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'images/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_MODULES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/modules/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/templates/');
  define('DIR_FS_BACKUP', DIR_FS_ADMIN . 'backups/');
  define('DIR_FS_EMAIL_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'email/');
  define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'download/');
  define('DB_CHARSET', 'utf-8'); 

// define our database connection
  define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
  define('DB_PREFIX', 'znc_');
  define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');
  define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'mysite');
  define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', 'password');
  define('DB_DATABASE', 'mysite_znc2');
  define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
  define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db');
  // for STORE_SESSIONS, use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage

  // The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
  // For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from:  none, database, or file
  // If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory where your apache 
  // or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
  // ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache   -- leave no trailing slash  
  define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none'); 
  define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/mysite/public_html/ecommerce1/cache');

// EOF

Here is the STORE configure.php:

<?php
/**
 * @package Configuration Settings circa 1.3.9
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2010 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * File Built by zc_install on 2010-10-27 08:41:40
 */


/*************** NOTE: This file is similar, but DIFFERENT from the "admin" version of configure.php. ***********/
/***************       The 2 files should be kept separate and not used to overwrite each other.      ***********/

// Define the webserver and path parameters
  // HTTP_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.your_domain.com
  // HTTPS_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.your_domain.com
  define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://www.mysite.com');
  define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://www.mysite.com');

  // Use secure webserver for checkout procedure?
  define('ENABLE_SSL', 'true');

// NOTE: be sure to leave the trailing '/' at the end of these lines if you make changes!
// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)
  // these paths are relative to top of your webspace ... (ie: under the public_html or httpdocs folder)
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/ecommerce1/');
  define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/ecommerce1/');

  define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
  define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
  define('DIR_WS_FUNCTIONS', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'functions/');
  define('DIR_WS_CLASSES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'classes/');
  define('DIR_WS_MODULES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'modules/');
  define('DIR_WS_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'languages/');
  define('DIR_WS_DOWNLOAD_PUBLIC', DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'pub/');
  define('DIR_WS_TEMPLATES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'templates/');

  define('DIR_WS_PHPBB', '/');

// * DIR_FS_* = Filesystem directories (local/physical)
  //the following path is a COMPLETE path to your Zen Cart files. eg: /var/www/vhost/accountname/public_html/store/
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/server/public_html/ecommerce1/');

  define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'download/');
  define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD_PUBLIC', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'pub/');
  define('DIR_WS_UPLOADS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'uploads/');
  define('DIR_FS_UPLOADS', DIR_FS_CATALOG . DIR_WS_UPLOADS);
  define('DIR_FS_EMAIL_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'email/');

// define our database connection
  define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
  define('DB_PREFIX', 'znc_');
  define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');
  define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'mysite');
  define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', 'password');
  define('DB_DATABASE', 'server_znc2');
  define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
  define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db');
  // for STORE_SESSIONS, use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage

  // The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
  // For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from:  none, database, or file
  // If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory where your apache 
  // or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
  // ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache   -- leave no trailing slash  
  define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none'); 
  define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/mysite/public_html/ecommerce1/cache');

// EOF

I finally have the site ALMOST working the way it should and I am hoping I do not have to mess with it much more as I am afraid of ruining what I have done so far. So close....

I did have to replave the "http" with "https" to this line to get rid of an error message in the admin section and allow me to update my PEM file.

define('HTTP_SERVER', 'https://www.mysite.com');

[DrByte]

I have expressed concern in another thread that even after the update, my configure.php files refer to version 1.3.9 and the admin control panel states 1.5.1.

That's because it was with v1.3.9 that your configure.php files contents were generated. They are not replaced during a database-upgrade.

I did have to replave the "http" with "https" to this line to get rid of an error message in the admin section and allow me to update my PEM file.
define('HTTP_SERVER', 'https://www.mysite.com');

That's normal, and is described in the SSL FAQ article, and also in the admin configure.php file itself.

[DrByte]

Additional *IMPORTANT* Details: includes/configure.php file contents invalid. ie: DIR_FS_CATALOG not valid or not set

When you get the "Thank you for installing message", what's the complete URL in your browser's address bar?
Is that URL different from the store where your configured Zen Cart is operating?

Your symptoms sound very much like you're being pointed to another not-yet-installed copy of Zen Cart.

[Rick5150]

I have no idea now. When I went back to the store my session had timed out. At that point, I logged back in and went directly to the checkout link and "Step 2 of 3 - Payment Information." I went back to the shopping cart link instead of the checkout (as that is where the problem occurred before) and that also brought me to "Step 1 of 3 - Delivery Information" then I could continue to "Step 2 of 3 - Payment Information" without incident. I deleted the item and walked through the process as I did before and there are no longer issues. I did not change a single thing as I was gone all morning.

Where does that "Thank you for installing message" come from? I have no "install" folder, so was this possibly a cache issue?! I did not actively clear it since this morning either.

I have not taken the final step to confirm whether the payment will go through, but all is now well up to this point, and I thank you for your continued responses while I stumble my way through this upgrade. With the help of everyone here, I am starting to think there may be some light at the end of the tunnel...