Customers getting error when trying to checkout

Hi,

I have the zencart zen template installed & it has been working up until a few days ago. When a customer selects a product & wishes to checkout they are asked to log in or create an account as is normal. When they do log in or create an account they get the following error message on the next page.

Whoops! Sorry, but you are not allowed to perform the action requested.
You are still logged in to your account and may continue shopping. Please choose a destination from a menu.

Not sure where to go from here without re-installing the template. Any suggestions?

Not sure where to go from here without re-installing the template
It is unlikely that it is the fault of the template
You can check by switching to the classic template and running a test purchase
it has been working up until a few days ago
I would look for other changes back to a few days ago

I haven't made any changes in the past 3-4 weeks so don't know why. I tried the classic template & it does the same thing.
Now while testing I did do something that is unusual. Once I added to the shopping cart & tried to checkout, I got the whoops message. I then clicked on the cart & deleted the items. I then went back and added to the shopping cart and it went through with no problem.

Use FTP and sort your files on the server by date
Look for recently changed files

Hmmm..don't know what is causing this issue. I even restored from a backup from early Sep. & it still does it.

Sounds like a cookie or session issue?

Thanks...I cleared the cookies in my browser & it seems to be working after the backup restore.

I cleared the cookies in my browser & it seems to be working after the backup restore
This is almost always a situation for those that manage a site & not normally seen by those that just shop

I think that something got mangled on the restore regarding Store Admin -> Sessions.

Different settings, etc.

Have you cleared your cache directory (server side, Zen) not PC.

I have now thanks for the help.

Unfortunately I had a customer running into this problem again. If they use the paypal button to checkout no problem but if they create an account or log in they get the whoops message. I can recreate it & it happens to me. Its weird but after I log in and get the whoops message I can clear my shopping cart and then add a product again and it works fine.

Ok I have narrowed this down. Only returning customers that have products in their shopping cart from a previous session are getting the whoops message. New customers or returning customers with an empty cart can proceed through checkout with no problems.

Time to get to basics
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Ok double checked the file system using filezilla against new install files. No directories are missing. I even drilled down into the shopping cart files. Cleared out the cache on the server and local pc.
Checked admin settings. Everything seems ok. I know I must be missing a php file somewhere but I didn't locate it.

When you reply
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Hi Kobra,

I didn't see the questions you are referring to. Sorry.

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Hi Kobra,

I'll try to answer the most relevant questions. Using v150 with the google feeder installed by numinix. Have the zencart zen template installed but no other mods.
It was a fresh one click install back in July 2012. I use hostgator and they have the most up to date php and sql.

Do you get this url when the opps message is displayed??

/index.php?main_page=time_out

Hi,

Yep I do get that message. https://perkalatte.com/index.php?main_page=time_out