Can't login to admin

What version of Zen Cart are you using? Zencart 1.3.9h
Has your site been upgraded? When? From what version(s)? Upgraded sometime last year from 1.3.9 something. I keep it current.
What addons have you installed? When? Haven't added any addons before the problem started.
In what ways is your site customized or different from a brand new uncustomized install? slightly customized, no SEO.
If you're encountering problems that could be related to your server or hosting company, include the name of your hosting company (not their URL). Storm on Demand (LiquidWeb)
HAVE YOU LOOKED IN THE FAQ AREA for answers to your question? (ie: a search for your error message or what you want to edit/change, etc) Yes, I've looked and tried everything I could find.
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=14
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=2

Have you searched the FORUM for your error message or for answers to the question you're asking? Yes
WHEN did the problem "start"? How does that compare with other events of your hosting company, changes you've made to your site files/addons, or your admin settings, etc? Started after the host installed SSL.

I had the host install SSL and then I can't login to the admin.
I reset it to Admin/admin and it's not working.
Checked the FAQ, cleared the cache, restarted the browser/computer. Tried from a second computer...
Changed the DB storage to file on both configure files, no change
Renamed the .htaccess to htaccess_bak: no change.
Cleared the session table.
Cache folder is writable.
Disabled SSL in admin folder in config file.

You can try here

Customers can login fine. I just can't login to the Admin side of it. It was working fine before the SSL install. The host couldn't find anything wrong.

This is driving me insane.

If I try to go to your Catalog ... it switches me to the secure URL ...

Do you have something setup that is doing this?

Have you reviewed the "Similar threads" listed at the bottom of this posting?

Kobra: yes. I looked for a few days, going through pages of threads with similar issues, nothing worked.

Ajeh: I'm asking.

We are running PHP 5.2.17. I forgot to add that.

Could you post, from the server, without your passwords or secret admin directory name, the files:
/includes/configure.php
/your_secret_admin_dir/includes/configure.php

I meant to say that I didn't see any redirect in the htaccess but I'm asking to be sure.

I XXXed out the db info and the admin folder name.

Here's the includes/configure.php

<?php
/**
 * @package Configuration Settings
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2007 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: dist-configure.php 6329 2007-05-16 15:36:56Z drbyte $
 * @private
 */
 
/*************** NOTE: This file is similar, but DIFFERENT from the "admin" version of configure.php. ***********/
/***************       The 2 files should be kept separate and not used to overwrite each other.      ***********/


// Define the webserver and path parameters
// HTTP_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTPS_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.yourdomain.com
  define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://nakedsoap.net');
  define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://nakedsoap.net');
  define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'false');

// 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/soap/public_html/');

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_');
  define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');
  define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'xxx');
  define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', 'xxx');
  define('DB_DATABASE', 'xxx');
  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/soap/public_html/cache');

?>

the admin/includes/configure.php

<?php
/**
 * @package Configuration Settings
 * @package Admin
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2007 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: dist-configure.php 6329 2007-05-16 15:36:56Z drbyte $
 * @private
 */

// Define the webserver and path parameters
// HTTP_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTPS_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.yourdomain.com
/* 
 * URL's for your site will be built via:  
 *     HTTP_SERVER plus DIR_WS_ADMIN or
 *     HTTPS_SERVER plus DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN or 
 *     HTTP_SERVER plus DIR_WS_CATALOG or 
 *     HTTPS_SERVER plus DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG
 * ...depending on your system configuration settings
 *
 * If you desire your *entire* admin to be SSL-protected, make sure you use a "https:" URL for all 4 of the following:
 */
  define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://nakedsoap.net');
  define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://nakedsoap.net');
  define('HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER', 'http://nakedsoap.net');
  define('HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER', 'https://nakedsoap.net');

  // secure webserver for catalog module and/or admin areas?
define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'false');
define('ENABLE_SSL_ADMIN', 'false');

// 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_ADMIN', '/xxx/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/');
  define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN', '/xxx/');
  define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/');

  define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
  define('DIR_WS_ICONS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icons/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_IMAGES', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'images/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_TEMPLATE', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/templates/');
  define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
  define('DIR_WS_BOXES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'boxes/');
  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_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');

// * 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_ADMIN', '/home/soap/public_html/xxx/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/soap/public_html/');

  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_IMAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'images/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_MODULES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/modules/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/templates/');
  define('DIR_FS_BACKUP', DIR_FS_ADMIN . 'backups/');
  define('DIR_FS_EMAIL_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'email/');
  define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'download/');

// define our database connection
  define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
  define('DB_PREFIX', 'zen_');
  define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');
  define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'xxx');
  define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', 'xxx');
  define('DB_DATABASE', 'xxx');
  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/soap/public_html/cache');
?>

The problem is that the settings are turned off for the Secure Pages:

define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'false');
define('ENABLE_SSL_ADMIN', 'false');

But your site is forcing secure pages ... so the code is fighting with some setting on your site ...

Check and see if you have something in your .htaccess file on the server forcing your site to go to your secure url ...

Sometimes you can see this in your Control Panel for your domain in the Redirects ...

NOTE: when you are ready for your site to use the secure ... you can control that in your configure.php files by changing the setting to true ... then Zen Cart will manage when you should be secure ...

I looked in cpanel and the .htaccess and found nothing. No redirects are in place. I'm asking the host.

Let us know what you discover ...

I have come across sites over the years where the host set something or another and off the top of my head I forget where/what I had to fix ... kind of need to poke around the site to find those when broken ...

They did indeed have some redirect going on....

I'm glad I wasn't completely crazy there!

Thanks for the update that this is now working once your hosting provider fixed whatever it is that they broke ... :smile: