Http 500 internal server error

Look at what you are using in the file:
/admin/includes/configure.php

for the:
DIR_FS_CATALOG

you should be using the same thing ...

Thanks, Ajeh

Well, I think that I'm at the end of my rope. Still getting a blank page when I try to access my catalog. Do you think that I will have to start over from the very beginning with a fresh installation?!!!:cry:

Do you think that I will have to start over from the very beginning with a fresh installation?
How much product data do you have?
Was/is this an upgrade or a fresh install?

What debug logs are being generated in the:
/cache

directory when you hit the blank page on your site? :unsure:

Many thanks Ajeh and Kobra,

The tragedy for me is that I had just gotten the site to a point at which I felt comfotable enough to begin loading my products. I have "zero" programming skills, so getting to that point took weeks of siiting in front of the computer with the Zen Cart manual. And now it seems that all is lost!

The most recent error from my debug file is found below. What's strange is that the error is from 3/21. Nothing between 3/21 and today.

[21-Mar-2011 13:12:43] PHP Warning: require(DIR_WS_TEMPLATEStemplate_default/common/html_header.php) [<a href='function.require'>function.require</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/drea2221/public_html/index.php on line 43
[21-Mar-2011 13:12:43] PHP Warning: require(DIR_WS_TEMPLATEStemplate_default/common/html_header.php) [<a href='function.require'>function.require</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/drea2221/public_html/index.php on line 43
[21-Mar-2011 13:12:43] PHP Fatal error: require() [<a href='function.require'>function.require</a>]: Failed opening required 'DIR_WS_TEMPLATEStemplate_default/common/html_header.php' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/drea2221/public_html/index.php on line 43

Kobra,

It was a fresh installation.

Do you have this line in your file, that is on the server, for:
/includes/configure.php

define('DIR_WS_TEMPLATES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'templates/'); 

I recently installed zen cart 1.39H and experienced the same blank pages you describe. I can offer this. My 'work in progress - I'm migrating databases' store sits on a a shared server so I don't have access to apache root config files. However by adding a index directive to both the admin .htaccess file and adding the same directive to the store .htaccess file solved the problem for me. errors were of 500 internal server error type at the admin and at the store.

add on seperate line

DirectoryIndex index.php

Thanks Ajeh,

Yes. In my include/configure.php I have:

define('DIR_WS_TEMPLATES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'templates/');

Could you post, from the server, without your password, the file:
/includes/configure.php

Thanks so much, Ajeh.

I have substituted ##### for identifiers:

<?php
/**
 * @package Configuration Settings circa 1.3.9
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2010 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * File Built by zc_install on 2010-07-19 11:48:50
 */
// Define the webserver and path parameters
// HTTP_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.your_domain.com
// HTTPS_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.your_domain.com
define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://bylargesse.com');
define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://bylargesse.com');

// Use secure webserver for checkout procedure?
define('ENABLE_SSL', 'true');

//NOTE: be sure to leave the trailing '/' at the end of these lines if you make changes!

// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)
// these paths are relative to top of your webspace ... (ie: under the public_html or httpdocs folder)
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/');

define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
define('DIR_WS_FUNCTIONS', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'functions/');
define('DIR_WS_CLASSES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'classes/');
define('DIR_WS_MODULES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'modules/');
define('DIR_WS_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'languages/');
define('DIR_WS_DOWNLOAD_PUBLIC', DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'pub/');
define('DIR_WS_TEMPLATES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'templates/');

define('DIR_WS_PHPBB', '/phpBB2/');

// * DIR_FS_* = Filesystem directories (local/physical)
//the following path is a COMPLETE path to your Zen Cart files. eg: /var/www/vhost/accountname/public_html/store/
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/#####/public_html/store');

define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'download/');
define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD_PUBLIC', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'pub/');
define('DIR_WS_UPLOADS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'uploads/');
define('DIR_FS_UPLOADS', DIR_FS_CATALOG . DIR_WS_UPLOADS);
define('DIR_FS_EMAIL_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'email/');

// define our database connection
define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
define('DB_PREFIX', 'zen'); // prefix for database table names -- preferred to be left empty
define('DB_SERVER', 'bylargesse.com');
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME',######_zc1'root');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '##########'');
define('DB_DATABASE', '######_zc1'');
define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db');
// use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage
// The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
// For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from:  none, database, or file
// If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory
where your apache
// or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
// ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache   -- leave no trailing slash
define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none');
define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE',
 '/home/#######/public_html/cache');

?>

You are using:

define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/#####/public_html/store');

But I do not believe you are using your Store in the directory:
/store

are you?

If not, that should be:

define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/#####/public_html/');

Thank, Ajeh.

I removed /store. Still getting a blank page. :(

Check and see what your current (most recent) debug log is in the:
/cache

directory ... be sure to refresh your FTP when looking in there ...

I have marked in RED some oddities I noticed.

// define our database connection
define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
define('DB_PREFIX', 'zen'); // prefix for database table names -- preferred to be left empty
define('DB_SERVER', 'bylargesse.com');
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME',######_zc1'root');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '##########'');
define('DB_DATABASE', '######_zc1'');
define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db');
// use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage
// The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
// For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from: none, database, or file
// If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory
where your apache
// or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
// ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache -- leave no trailing slash
define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none');
define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE',
'/home/#######/public_html/cache');

Compare to what I think they should be.

// define our database connection
define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
define('DB_PREFIX', 'zen_'); // prefix for database table names -- preferred to be left empty
define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', '######_zc1root');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '##########');
define('DB_DATABASE', '######_zc1');
define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db');
// use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage
// The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
// For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from: none, database, or file
// If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory
where your apache
// or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
// ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache -- leave no trailing slash
define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none');
define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/#######/public_html/cache');

Although I do not know what type of Server your account is on nor how it is setup for database usage, the above oddities are worth checking out to see if changes are required. Check with your Hoster if not sure.

Thanks Ajeh,

My most recent debug log is:

[24-Mar-2011 18:55:49] PHP Warning: require(DIR_WS_TEMPLATEStemplate_default/common/html_header.php) [<a href='function.require'>function.require</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/drea2221/public_html/index.php on line 43
[24-Mar-2011 18:55:49] PHP Warning: require(DIR_WS_TEMPLATEStemplate_default/common/html_header.php) [<a href='function.require'>function.require</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/drea2221/public_html/index.php on line 43
[24-Mar-2011 18:55:49] PHP Fatal error: require() [<a href='function.require'>function.require</a>]: Failed opening required 'DIR_WS_TEMPLATEStemplate_default/common/html_header.php' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/drea2221/public_html/index.php on line 43

On a technical level, you're seeing DIR_WS_TEMPLATES mentioned in the error messages because the define() statement for that isn't being loaded properly.
And, since it's defined in your /includes/configure.php file, that points to you having problems in that file.

And, as Website Rob has pointed out, you have a number of syntax problems in your /includes/configure.php file. Start by sorting those out.

Also note that your admin side is controlled by a DIFFERENT file: /admin/includes/configure.php. While its contents are similar to the /includes/configure.php file, THEY ARE DIFFERENT, and not interchangeable. If you've mixed up the files, then things aren't going to work.

My Thanks to everyone who has posted a suggestion. Unfortunately, even after fixing my syntax issues in the configure.php file, I am still getting a blank page when attempting to connect to my online catalog. Found below is the most recent error from my debug file. As always, any suggestions would be appreciated.:frusty:

[24-Mar-2011 18:55:49] PHP Warning: require(DIR_WS_TEMPLATEStemplate_default/common/html_header.php) [<a href='function.require'>function.require</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/drea2221/public_html/index.php on line 43
[24-Mar-2011 18:55:49] PHP Warning: require(DIR_WS_TEMPLATEStemplate_default/common/html_header.php) [<a href='function.require'>function.require</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/drea2221/public_html/index.php on line 43
[24-Mar-2011 18:55:49] PHP Fatal error: require() [<a href='function.require'>function.require</a>]: Failed opening required 'DIR_WS_TEMPLATEStemplate_default/common/html_header.php' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/drea2221/public_html/index.php on line 43

Could you go to your Tools ... Developers Tool Kit ... and in the bottom input box enter:
DIR_WS_TEMPLATES

select Catalog in the dropdown and click search ...

Do you see:

/includes/configure.php

Line #35 : define('DIR_WS_TEMPLATES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'templates/');

largesse1,
Your post on March 26 is saying that the "latest" error log is dated March 24. Is that just because you didn't try accessing your site on March 26 at all?