Search not working

I am using v1.3.9h of Zen Cart and for some reason when you type any word into the Search field and press Submit it comes up with an error page (http 500). This is the same regardless of which Search I use (simple/advanced/from sidebox/from header) so I assume there is corruption in the results file, but I am struggling to find the right file to check.
Does anyone know which files I should be looking at to see if anything has been altered?
Many thanks.......

Are you able to get to the Advanced search page:
/index.php?main_page=advanced_search

If so, what happens when you attempt a search?

Hi, no I can't get to the Advanced Search - when you click on it the same thing happens:

"The website cannot display the page - HTTP 500"

More info would help.

When did this suddenly start?
What version of PHP?
Have you read the FAQs on the topic? https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=63
What's your URL?
Does it happen regardless of what text is entered as search criteria?
Have you asked your hosting company about what's in the server's errorlogs and mod_security logs for each of the 500 Error occurrences?

As far as "what files", it doesn't sound like any one or two files is the issue. More likely a server config. But if you're concerned about altered files, it's silly to think that just a couple files might be all you need to worry about, since if something rogue has gotten in and altered your files without your knowledge then it's not likely just a couple files to worry about. In such case a full compare of all files against originals or the last known good working backup would be your best approach. In fact, that's often the best place to START when something awry is occurring on your site. We can tell you to check abc.php and def.php but you'll almost certainly come back and say they're fine ... and then ask for which other files to check. It's like asking us to tell you where your needle in your haystack is. Do your own full-site comparison and you'll find out far more than we can help you blindly. http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.php/Troubleshoot_-_Diagnosing_Obscure_Issues

Check that you have the directories and files on the server for:
/includes/modules/pages/advanced_search
/includes/modules/pages/advanced_search_result

/includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_advanced_search_default.php
/includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_advanced_search_result_default.php

/includes/languages/english/tpl_advanced_search_default.php
/includes/languages/english/tpl_advanced_search_result_default.php

Also, look in your templates and overrides directories for these files ...

If you see them in your templates and overrides directories and rename or remove them from the server do things start working again?

If you reload the files from a clean Zen Cart v1.3.9h ... do things start working again?

Ajeh:

Check that you have the directories and files on the server for:
/includes/modules/pages/advanced_search
/includes/modules/pages/advanced_search_result

/includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_advanced_search_default.php
/includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_advanced_search_result_default.php

/includes/languages/english/tpl_advanced_search_default.php
/includes/languages/english/tpl_advanced_search_result_default.php

Also, look in your templates and overrides directories for these files ...

If you see them in your templates and overrides directories and rename or remove them from the server do things start working again?

If you reload the files from a clean Zen Cart v1.3.9h ... do things start working again?

Thank you so much for listing the files that relate to the search function - I checked through them and found one that had a couple of errors. It now works - very much appreciated, you have saved me a lot of hard work, thanks again :clap:

You are most welcome ... thanks for the update that you were able to resolve this problem ... :smile:

i have a similar problem, but replacing the files suggested has had no effect.
on any search - my page goes to http 500 error

any suggestions please

website is https://www.supergiftstore.com

Based on the error that I am seeing, can you look in your directory:
/cache

and see what the most recent debug log files are and what they say?