First and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone for their input. There still seems to be a mis-communication about my setup so i'll try to clarify and respond to each of your suggestions.
@ kobra: I have deleted the .htaccess in my root directory. The same links plus more are broken as before (contact, privacy, t&c, sitemap) but even worse is they don't redirect to the main page but instead return as 404. In addition, all sidebox category links are now 404 as well.
I'm not a keen as you guys are on this butmy guess is when I did the fresh install of 1.5 to my sub-directory/domain, it installed using rewritten urls as directed by the leftover httaccess file that was forgotten in the root.
Here is the leftover .htaccess
Code:
# Use PHP5 Single php.ini as default
AddHandler application/x-httpd-php5s .php
##### NOTE: Replace /shop/ with the relative web path of your catalog in the "Rewrite Base" line below:
# For security reasons, Option followsymlinks cannot be overridden.
#Options +FollowSymLinks
Options +SymLinksIfOwnerMatch
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
# From Ultimate SEO URLs
RewriteRule ^(.*)-p-(.*).html$ index\.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=$2&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
# Normal Ultimate SEO URLs (disable if using ADD_PRODUCT_CAT)
#RewriteRule ^(.*)-c-(.*).html$ index\.php?main_page=index&cPath=$2&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
# ADD_PRODUCT_CAT Ultimate SEO URLs (disable if not using ADD_PRODUCT_CAT)
RewriteRule ^(.*)-c-(.*).html$ $1-c-$2/ [R=301,L]
RewriteRule ^(.*)-c-([^/]+)$ %{REQUEST_URI}/ [R=301,L]
RewriteRule ^(.*)-c-([^/]+)/$ index\.php?main_page=index&cPath=$2&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
RewriteRule ^(.*)-m-([0-9]+).html$ index\.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=$2&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
RewriteRule ^(.*)-pi-([0-9]+).html$ index\.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=$2&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
RewriteRule ^(.*)-pr-([0-9]+).html$ index\.php?main_page=product_reviews&products_id=$2&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
RewriteRule ^(.*)-pri-([0-9]+).html$ index\.php?main_page=product_reviews_info&products_id=$2&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
RewriteRule ^(.*)-ezp-([0-9]+).html$ index\.php?main_page=page&id=$2&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
# All other pages
# Don't rewrite real files or directories
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f [NC]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*).html$ index\.php?main_page=$1&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
# Handle when a resource is not found (404 Error Page)
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index\.php?main_page=page_not_found&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
And here is a rough mockup of my structure:
root: contriveitnow.com
had old 1.39 cart in it but I deleted all files, DB and folders "except" htaccess
under root is my subdomain directory /contrive-it.net
Installed new 1.5 here with a new DB but without realizing the htaccess file was left behind. DOH!!
@lhungil: I prefer to have the url rewrite and intended to install a module on my fresh 1.5 but to my surprise, it was already being done. Unfortunatly to my surprise as well is the broken links. I'm thinking an edit of the leftover htacess file is in order but I have no clue what or where. All I know is if I delete it, things get worse. On a side note, Im thinking a new install of the useo may do the trick.
@Schoolboy: I tried deleting it but matters got worse as stated above. I read about rewritten urls not having any credit to SEO but I have evidence to the contrary. IMO any time a key word can be put into the url, its a good thing. Maybe some SE will ignore it but I have reports that tell me some do not. Besides, I like having the "human readability" factor and find it easier to make internal/external links this way.
@ DivaVocals: I'm not using either SSU or USEO in my new 1.5 install into a subdomain. My urls are being rewitten by a leftover htaccess file from the original install on my root.
I'm not sure if you're aware but nowadays, hosts can hide a subdomain. Of course one can access my subdomain by typing "contrive-it.contriveitnow.com". But, by use of some magic tricks, my host has made it a lot easier. All one has to do is type "contrive-it.net" and the average Joe will never know its not the TLD.
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Thanks again everyone! I appreciate your valuable input and hope you may have more for me. I've been putting this off way to long. I will soon be working on my link juice but need to have this issue solve before I can do that.
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