Tranferred Site to New Host Provider Receiving Blank Page

Hi Zen Cart Users....

I finally got smart and am moving my hosting from Godowndaddy to another host. I am receiving blank pages now.

Steps on New Server:

1. Installed Zen-Cart using fantastico.
2. Installed php/html working files.
3. Let Dreamweaver update links in sql database scripts.
4. Imported database scripts
5. Copied over configure.php for /included and admin/includes from step 1 over step 2 (paths were wrong for old system). Verified these two files have the correct path of my new server.

Problem:
Getting blank pages. Put on debugger and it gives me this:

27-Dec-2009 05:22:14] PHP Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '}' in /home/content/c/s/l/cslakans/html/zenpro/includes/templates/pr_320162/templates/tpl_product_info_display.php on line 307

Now, sure I would go look at line 307 of that file, however, that path does not exist. That /home/content/c/s/l/cslakans... is the path of my old host server. But I can't figure out where it's coming from. I don't know anything other than importing scripts in databases, but I tried a search of that string and it found nothing (if I did it right). I also verified no blank spaces at eof in configure.php files (well had one but fixed it but didn't fix problem)

I tried to get help from the new host provider, but they said they don't support 3rd party applications. Any help in this matter would be appreciated. Thanks!

Sounds symptomatic of incomplete files as a result of failed FTP downloads and/or uploads.

I actually zipped in 3 files (images/includes/and the rest). Then transferred because I would have many file transfer errors when it came to many files being FTP'd. I'll try rezipping and transferring and unzipping again. Thanks for your reply DrByte! Luv the name!

Actually, in looking at your post again, you've overlooked something. Did you look at the DATE of the error message? It's from December, indicating that the debug log file you're looking at is old, and not related to whatever you're doing on the new server. It probably was a result of an error made while attempting to customize that file way back then.

Nice catch! It's actually not writing to a log at all and I opened last log written to it. I have enable_error_logging.php in /includes/extra_configures/(file) ?!?

And, if it still has to do with that file, how come it's not logging that problem like it did back then?

This problem started last night. I'm going to start over fresh and see what happens. I'll let you know!

If it's not writing debug logs, then either the folder isn't writable, or there are no PHP errors being triggered after the logging is enabled, and that could mean a problem before the logging tool is triggered (ie: bad configure.php files).

Well I completely started from scratch (removed zen cart completely), and did all the steps I mentioned before. And, this time everything went perfect and it's up! Who knows what it was, but it's all good now. That was even my second try as well, guess 3rd time is a Charm! Thank-you DrByte! :clap:

Now on to transferring my forums.....:yuck: At least I'll be on the phpbb forum if any problems there.

Guess I spoke too soon! I hadn't checked out the Admin! Weird thing is happening now. And, let me know if I should just start a new thread....

When I try to turn off a box from "layout boxes controller", it does not save and goes to the index page.

From:
'http://mydomain.com/admin/layout_controller.php?page=&cID=109&action=edit'

So from this URL I click "off" and then "update and it completely leaves that area and goes to home admin index page.

On Save/Update Goes to:
'http://mydomain.com/admin/index.php'

And, it doesn't save! Very strange!

Those symptoms are very common if one has attempted to install the June 2009 admin security patch but opted to not update the /admin/includes/functions/html_output.php file. Some people, for some unknown reason, skip that file, or they update the non-admin version by mistake, thus ultimately breaking both admin and non-admin sides.

I never installed that patch. My site was completely installed (1.3.8a) in Oct or November so I'm guessing my version already had it build in. Plus it worked fine before I moved my files! Noticed other areas failing as well, and I did a lot of work in the admin before and had no problem?!? :(

Okay, so the easy answers don't work for you.
You'll need to do a COMPLETE file-comparison between ALL your files from the OLD server and the NEW server, and make sure nothing's missing or damaged.
http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.php/Troubleshoot_-_Diagnosing_Obscure_Issues

That isn't an easy task and a guarantee method for me because my old live one is actually a head a version. I was planning on going back to the previous backup (the one I'm transferring) because the mods Numinix and Sidebox Only don't work together. But, figured why bother if I was going to a new server and can just restore over there. I guess I would have to restore on my old, see if it works, compare every file, ahhh nightmare. Wish there was an easy answer. And I was so happy at first when I thought it was all finally working :cry: Got another site, and all 6 forums transferred last night with no problems at all. So this Zen Cart site is all that's left and being a pain to me.

Thanks for your answer! If you think of anything else let me know. Today I have some house projects I need to do, so might have to wait until tomorrow.

Well, lost internet at home because of a bad modem, but I'm up and running again and back on this issue.

I started from scratch, but same thing happened. I then went back another backup version and the exact thing keeps happening. I really doubt a missing or corrupt file when I go back other versions now.

Then, I noticed that when I transferred my files to the other host, they lost permissions from my previous. Like most files were not executable anymore. I'm changing them back which is taking some time but I'm concerned when I do bulk changes that I may change files that should not be set a certain way. Besides me manually comparing the old file permissions with the new ones, do you know of or where it might say what files I should be careful and not give much permissions to? I know the two configure.php files, but I'm not sure if any others would be a problem being set to 755. Thanks!

Zen Cart requires very little in terms of special permissions settings.
The default of 644 for files and 755 for folders is appropriate for almost everything. Regular defaults.
There are a few added exceptions where some folders need to be writable but only if you want certain added functionality which requires them; and the 2 configure.php files need to be read-only.
Related FAQ: https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=9

cslakans:

Well I completely started from scratch (removed zen cart completely), and did all the steps I mentioned before. And, this time everything went perfect and it's up! Who knows what it was, but it's all good now. That was even my second try as well, guess 3rd time is a Charm! Thank-you

When you do transfer from one host to another ..the major problem occurs is .htaccess files are not transfered as this are hidden files.

And they need to be rechecked and manually transfered.

I guess site transfer help should be provided by hosting providers.. and the have better access and solve this issues faster.

Sweet, I'll look into both of these and let you know. At least I have options to check! Thanks to you both!

Solved! :clap: So much time wasted on this though.

DrByte, I feel bad I didn't look into what you said about the security patch much sooner. The problem is that, like I said before, I never installed the patch. However, the new host installed it with their automatic installer and when I restored my files it copied over html_output.php I did not know that they had installed the patch and no warning about over riding that file.

The sad thing is that I tried to have their support help me and I explained the problem in the admin, and about 4 different second tier support guys had no clue. But they did fix some of the file permissions. I followed your doc that you gave me. It did need to be fixed.

Just wish I looked into your idea sooner, but I just knew I didn't install it. Comparing those files don't help either because they will still match. I tried everything else before comparing files, because I'm restoring a version back from my live one because of problems so I knew a lot would be different. They didn't delete this file: security_patch_v138_20090619.php and I finally found that.

I emailed their support so they do something different or at least educate their support people for the next person that comes along and does the same.

Thanks again for all your help!