rename admin directory issue

[godt]

Each time I attempt to rename the admin directory as per securing site instructions - and following the procedure as outlined - I can no longer access the site, and get a page inviting me to install or something. This is extremely aggravating, as it seems to necessitate re-installing. What is the issue here?

[countrycharm]

Is this what you did====
A - Open your admin/includes/configure.php, using a simple text editor like notepad. Change all instances of admin to your chosen new admin folder-name. For maximum security, you may want to consider that new folder name should include numbers and a combination of upper and lower case letters. The longer you make this folder's name the more secure it will be. Make sure you leave all the / intact.

Change this section:

define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', '/admin/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN', '/admin/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/');

And this section:

define('DIR_FS_ADMIN', '/home/mystore.com/www/public/admin/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/mystore.com/www/public/');

B - Find your Zen Cart™ /admin/ directory, using your FTP software or your webhost File Manager. Rename the directory to match the settings you just made in step A.


C - To login to your admin system you will now have to visit a new URL that matches the new name used in steps A and B above. For example instead of visiting http://www.example.com/admin/ visit http://www.example.com/NeW_NamE4u/. Use of SSL is highly recommended to protect you and your customers' information. To protect the new admin folder name from packet sniffers, use https in the example link above (this of course depends on your server having an SSL certificate installed).


D - You should also protect your admin area by using an .htaccess file similar to the one shown below, and placing it into /admin/includes. This should already exist in Zen Cart™ versions 1.2.7 and greater.

If you followed this like it says you shouldn't have any problem.

[godt]

Yep, exactly like that. No SSL though. Upload the configure.php file, go to the new URL, and I get a Zencart page which suggests I haven't installed properly, I think. I've had several goes at it, with care. I must be doing something wrong, but the process is really straightforward

[countrycharm]

Make sure your configure.php file is set to 777 before you upload the file. Better yet just delete it and re-upload it. Clear your catch on ff or IE then see what happens.

[Kim]

There are 2 configure.php files - one in the /includes/ directory, one in the admin/includes/ directory. They both need to be changed and uploaded to their respective areas.

[countrycharm]

Kim is right, just make sure the one in the /includes/ directory has your web site address right.

around line 16 and 17
define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://your_site.com');
define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://your_site.com');

[godt]

Thank you people. I'll double check these things before I steel myself to go through it again.