Error 500 internal server

[volkswest]

My zencart version 1.3.9.h was running brilliant up until i got the following error in the logs file in CPanel.
[Sat Jan 12 01:13:27 2013] [error] [client 157.55.32.75] PHP Fatal error: require_once(): Failed opening required 'hide_config_files.php' (include_path='.:/usr/share/pear53:/usr/share/php:/usr/share/ZendFramework') in /home/cluster-sites/28/volkswest-store.co.uk/public_html/index.php on line 28

All i get when i go to the main or admin page is error 500 internal error. I have not touched anything at all.
can anyone shed any light on this for me on how to fix the problem please.

[Design75]

like the message says, it is missing the file hide_config_files.php at the given path.

hide_config_files is to my knowledge not a standard file inside the ZC file-set.

[joejoejoe]

Your host's server may also be down - broke, overloaded, routine maintenance etc. Whenever I get a 500 I try and log into my cpanel or ftp in. If I can't get in there then it means the host's server is down and I get to go yell at their customer service again.

[RodG]

My zencart version 1.3.9.h was running brilliant up until i got the following error in the logs file in CPanel.
[Sat Jan 12 01:13:27 2013] [error] [client 157.55.32.75] PHP Fatal error: require_once(): Failed opening required 'hide_config_files.php' (include_path='.:/usr/share/pear53:/usr/share/php:/usr/share/ZendFramework') in /home/cluster-sites/28/volkswest-store.co.uk/public_html/index.php on line 28

All i get when i go to the main or admin page is error 500 internal error. I have not touched anything at all.
can anyone shed any light on this for me on how to fix the problem please.

This is a generally permissions or coding problem (not a missing file error).

As stated, this isn't a part of the standard zencart files.

Cheers
Rod