500 Internal Server Error - EZ Pages

[jill8026]

Ok this has happened on a a few sites i have worked on over the course of the year - all different hosts and (although all Linux) and all different circumstances and I really need to figure out what causes it.

I am working on a site at http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle

I input some of the EZ Pages and the client entered a few over the last few days. I worked on one myself just yesterday.

Today we had to enter a few to get the merchant account approved - I went in to enter them, hit update and got the dreaded server error. Everything worked fine yesterday.

Again - this has happened very intermittently on several sites over the last year and it is just frustrating the hell out of me....

Here is the exact error:
Internal Server Error

The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.
Please contact the server administrator, [email protected] and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error.
More information about this error may be available in the server error log.
Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.


Here is my error log from the host (just gave you a few lines):

[Thu Jun 17 20:05:01 2010] [error] [client 24.187.17.38] File does not exist: /home/twodogs/public_html/500.shtml, referer: http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle/ad...=13&action=new
[Thu Jun 17 20:01:29 2010] [error] [client 24.187.17.38] File does not exist: /home/twodogs/public_html/500.shtml, referer: http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle/ad...=13&action=new
[Thu Jun 17 20:01:24 2010] [error] [client 24.187.17.38] File does not exist: /home/twodogs/public_html/500.shtml, referer: http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle/ad...=13&action=new
[Thu Jun 17 20:01:24 2010] [error] [client 24.187.17.38] File does not exist: /home/twodogs/public_html/500.shtml, referer: http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle/ad...=13&action=new
[Thu Jun 17 20:01:09 2010] [error] [client 24.187.17.38] File does not exist: /home/twodogs/public_html/500.shtml, referer: http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle/ad...=13&action=new
[Thu Jun 17 19:59:24 2010] [error] [client 24.187.17.38] File does not exist: /home/twodogs/public_html/500.shtml, referer: http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle/ad...=13&action=new
[Thu Jun 17 19:52:44 2010] [error] [client 24.187.17.38] File does not exist: /home/twodogs/public_html/500.shtml, referer: http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle/ad...=13&action=new
[Thu Jun 17 19:48:19 2010] [error] [client 24.187.17.38] File does not exist: /home/twodogs/public_html/500.shtml, referer: http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle/ad...=13&action=new
[Thu Jun 17 19:45:23 2010] [error] [client 24.187.17.38] File does not exist: /home/twodogs/public_html/500.shtml, referer: http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle/ad...=13&action=new

It does not happen on all the pages....and I actually entered the text in through the database...the one page this is giving me the problem is

http://www.2dogsdesign.com/candle/in...age=page&id=13

Which was one that I wound up entering through the database - so there is no formatting or anything.....

Can any help me? The client really wants to enter mroe pages and she cannot and I feel like an idiot that I cannot get this working....the about page and wholesale pages are fine and can be edited......and I tried even adding a new page and that does not work either.....

Please help?!?!?!?!?!

[schoolboy]

A 500 error is a SERVER error, and while it may be a result of a php command coming out of ZC, the problem is on the SERVER.

If you have a decent host, they may provide access to the ERROR LOG, and this is where you will get an accurate pointer as to where the breakdown is occurring and why.

There is no more advice to give at this point.... until we can see what the Server's Error Log has been reporting.

[jill8026]

THanks Schoolboy - i figured as much....I did post a bit of the error log above is that not what is needed - that came out of the Cpanel and just repeats what it is above for every instance of trying to update the page that occurred?

Is there another file I can provide that may help better troublesheet?

I am hosting with Liquidweb on a virtual dedicated server and have full access to everything...also I have about 10 other sites ont his server and it is not a problem on most sites....

I guess what is baffling is why would it work one day and not the next if nothing in the account has been changed?

[jill8026]

....and thank you.....

[schoolboy]

What happens if you try to add a completely new EZpage? Create a new one with just one character in it... the letter "a"...

What happens?

If all OK with this new page, re-open it for editing and copy and paste THIS into it and try updating:

Privacy and Security Thank you for visiting WickitGood.com.

Wickit Good Candles is committed to honoring and protecting your privacy while at the same time providing you with a first rate on-line and shopping experience. As an important part of respecting your privacy, we believe that you have the right to know what information is collected by this Web site, how such information may be used, and what security measures are taken to protect your information.

Collection and Use of Information When you visit our Web site, place an order, and/or contact us via e-mail, certain information is or may be collected. Among the types of information that may be collected are the following: domain names of visitors to our site; if you place an order or contact us, your name, address, e-mail address and whatever credit card information you provide in connection with your purchase; "navigational information" regarding the traffic patterns of our Web site, including the number of visits to a particular page and user-specific information on which pages a guest visits, average length of time spent on the site and similar site usage data; and any information that you may choose to submit in connection with any e-mail messages, on-site surveys, registry programs, contests and the like. We use this information in order to analyze, manage and improve our Web site so that we may continually strive to provide you with the best shopping experience that we possibly can. Information on traffic patterns and the number of page visits and the like helps us to further develop and improve our site layout to better meet your needs.

Of course, we also use information such as your name, e-mail address and credit card information to contact you, respond to your inquiries, send you a catalog and to process, deliver and receive payment for your purchases. We may use such information to notify you of services, special offers, new products and other services that we believe may be of interest to you, or to notify you of important new changes in our Web site. Finally, we use collected information to help us diagnose problems with our server or other technical issues relating to the performance of the Web site. For further information, please see "Cookies" and "Providing Third Party Information" below. Cookies "Cookies" are small bits of data that a web site can send to your browser and may then be stored on your hard drive. We use cookies in connection with certain features on our Web site, although we note that our cookies do not contain any personally identifying information such as your name. We use the cookies to enable us to store items in your shopping cart and may also use them to help provide you with customized or tailored information or services. You can set your web browser so that you will always be notified when you receive a cookie. Security Wickit Good Candles takes reasonable precautions to protect the security of your personal information. Our Web site is hosted on secure servers and utilizes SSL secure server software. Any personal information that you provide is encrypted while it is being transmitted over the Internet in order to reduce the possibility that such information can be read by an unauthorized person. Any information collected by us is stored in private files behind a firewall designed to protect your information by denying unauthorized access by outside users. Opt In/Opt Out If you do not wish to receive e-mail regarding special offers, or catalogs, please let us know by sending us an e-mail to [email protected] Please be sure that your e-mail includes your name and address. You can also let us know by mailing us c/o Wickit Good Candles, 604 Ocean Road, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742, or by calling us at 732.899.0999.

If you would like to correct or update any information that you have previously provided, you may do so via e-mail to [email protected], or by mail or phone call as set forth above. Please note that sometimes these requests may take up to 6-8 weeks to be effective, particularly if we are removing your name from postal mailings. In addition, when you purchase from us online, we may need to contact you via phone, email or mail to address questions or issues specific to your order, entry, etc., even if you have opted to not receive communications. Providing Third Party Information To serve you better, we may combine information you give us online, in our stores or through our catalogs. We may also combine that information with publicly available information and information we receive from or cross-reference with our Select Partners and others. We use that combined information to enhance and personalize your shopping experience with us, to communicate with you about our products and events that may be of interest to you, and for other promotional purposes. We may collect, store or accumulate certain non-personally identifiable information concerning your use of this Website, such as information regarding which of our pages are most popular. We may share or transfer such non-personally identifiable information with or to our affiliates, licensees and partners. We may disclose any information, including personally identifiable information, we deem necessary, in our sole discretion, to comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request. We may contract with companies or persons to provide certain services including credit card processing, shipping, data management, promotional services, etc. We call them our Service Providers. We provide our Service Providers with the information needed for them to perform these services. We also ask our Service Providers to confirm that their privacy practices are consistent with ours. Although unlikely, in certain instances we may disclose your personally identifiable information when we have reason to believe that it is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against persons or entities who may be causing injury to you, to Wickit Good Candles, or to others. We may also disclose your personally identifiable information when we believe the law requires it. When you visit this Website or view one of our e-mails, we may use pixel tags (also called "clear" gifs), tracking links and/or similar technology to note some of the pages you visit on our Website and personalize your experience. We may also use pixel tags to determine what types of e-mail your browser supports. We may use the information collected through pixel tags, tracking links and similar technology in combination with your personally identifiable information. We may use the information you provide in aggregate form for internal business purposes, such as generating statistics and developing marketing plans. We do not sell or rent your personally identifiable information to third parties without your consent, except as disclosed in this Privacy Policy.

As we continue to develop our business, we might sell certain of our assets. In such transactions, user information, including personally identifiable information, generally is one of the transferred business assets, and by submitting your personal information on the Website you agree that your data may be transferred to such parties in these circumstances. Changes to this Privacy Policy We may revise this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we decide to change our Privacy Policy, we will post the revised policy here.

As we may make changes at any time without notifying you, we suggest that you periodically consult this Privacy Policy. Please note that our rights to use your personally identifiable information will be based on the privacy policy in effect at the time the information is used. If you object to any such revisions you must cease using our website. Continued use of our website following notice of any such revisions shall indicate your acknowledgement of such revisions and your agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of the revised Privacy Policy.

[jill8026]

Adding a new page with the A was OK.....

I copied the code from my email that you put into the response that caused the internal server area....so I swung over to the forum to pull the code from your post directly and it worked.

I also tried to copy and paste it into the original page that was just giving me problems and it worked.

I am just baffled....on the page that was giving me trouble...I originally copied in what the client set - because she was getting the error...then when I copied it I got the error....then I removed all formatting from the text using Notepad and tried copying it...still an error...then I typed it all in by hand....and still an error....


Now it works?!?!?!!?!?

What causes this.....like I said it is VERY intermittent......and I do not see other posts about it so it apparently is not common.....

[schoolboy]

Jill... what I did (as you saw) was a copy/paste of your privacy notice.

Now... I first "pasted" the text directly into the ZC input window... but noticed it behaved strangely when I tried to add paragraph breaks. I had to hit the [ENTER] key a few times before the paragraph break occurred.

Then I removed the text and copied/pasted it AGAIN... this time into Emerald Editor.

I applied my paragraph / line breaks in Emerald, then copied THAT text, and pasted it into the ZC input window, then as you see, encased it in [code} tags.

I surmise that hidden somewhere in the ORIGINAL text, there is some rogue formatting that PHP doesn't like.

So... my next question...

What program are you using to compose that text? Are you doing it all in the EZPages editor? Or are you writing it up in a word-processor or wysiwyg html tool, then copy/pasting it into the EZPages editor?

I suspect you're getting formatted text somehow, where the hidden formatting is clashing with the PHP...

[jill8026]

Thanks Schoolboy - here are the steps I took......

client emailed me text
i copied and pasted into zencart
500 error

I copied and pasted text into notepad to remove formatting
copied again
placed into ezpage
500 error

typed text into ezpage manually
500 error

copied text into SQL database from notepad
that took but I cannot edit the pages

So last night I put in what you gave me and it worked....this morning I get a bunch of emails from my client who tried to edit that page and got the error.....although everything input fine....

I am going to take a peak at things and see what else I can figure out....I am not seeing any extraneous code anywhere.....this is very frustrating!!!! But thank you for your time.....

[jill8026]

OK, so this morning I deleted all three of the pages I was struggling with yesterday.

I start a brand new page called Returns.

I type in the first 2 paragraphs and hit update. No problems - it saves just fine.

I go back in to the page to type in the last 2 paragraphs.

I get the 500 error when I save it.

This is with me typing it in - no formatting of fonts or anything.

I am really confused here.......

[jill8026]

Just spoke to the host - they changed the mod security settings.....he was not 100% convinced that this is the issue, but keeping fingers crossed - 2 test pages went OK! Schoolboy - thank you.....hopefully I won't be back!!!