Blank Admin Page After Installation - Hosted on Godaddy

Hi Zenners!

I just installed the latest version of Zen Cart on my website hosted on Godaddy.

Here the details:
Zen Cart 1.3.8a
Installed/downloaded on: September 12, 2008
Domain name: domainname.com
URL: domainname.com/zencart/
Admin URL: domainname.com/zencart/admin/login.php
FTP path: /zencart/
Server technologies: LINUX, PHP 5.1, CGI 2.0, PERL 5.0, PYTHON 2.4, RUBY 1.8.4, MYSQL 4.0.27, 4.1, 5.0

Problem:
After installation completed, the store-front (/index.php) work fine and there are no error messages, but when I try to access the admin page (/admin/index.php), it does not load and display blank page. (IE: loading... forever; FireFox ErrMsg: Redirect Loop).

I have read through all the posts on this forum and tried out all the mentioned methods or solutions but unfortunately nothing does help. I even contact Godaddy's technical support for assistance but I have been told to consult Zen Cart technical personnel, because this is not their (Godaddy's) issue.

However, I have been working on the solution for about a week, all the following methods I have tired but still can't figure it out what's wrong:

1. Ensure the browser and Firewall allowed to accept cookies.

2. Ensure no file is uploaded with 0 byte.

3. Verify the admin configuration at /admin/includes/configure.php:
   Set all HTTP/HTTPS SERVER to http://domainname.com (without prefix "www.", this is Godaddy's inistial setting, the prefix is not require.)
   Set ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG & ENABLE_SSL_ADMIN to 'false'
   Set SQL_CACHE_METHOD to 'none'

Full admin/includes/configure.php info:

define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://domainname.com');
define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://domainname.com');
define('HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER', 'http://domainname.com');
define('HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER', 'https://domainname.com');
define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'false');
define('ENABLE_SSL_ADMIN', 'false');
define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', '/zencart/admin/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/zencart/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN', '/zencart/admin/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/zencart/');
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/');
define('DIR_FS_ADMIN', '/home/content/d/o/m/domainname/html/zencart/admin/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/content/d/o/m/domainname/html/zencart/');
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('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
define('DB_PREFIX', 'zen_');
define('DB_SERVER', 'dbname.secureserver.net');
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'dbusername');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', 'dbpassword');
define('DB_DATABASE', 'dbusername');
define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db');
define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none');
define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/content/d/o/m/domainname/html/zencart/cache');

4. Ensure the configure.php in /admin/includes and /includes are set to chmod 444.

5. Ensure the Database was created successfully.

6. Ensure website is CGI support and PHP version 5 and above. (I am using Godaddy's Deluxe Hosting plan hence the CGI support is enabled)

7. Read through the tutorials and tried all the instruction mentioned:

• I can't login to the Admin after installing Zen Cart
  (https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=84)
• I am getting a blank page (or blank part of a page)
  (https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=82)
• When I log into Admin, first page is slow or it just hangs forever.
  (https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=81)
• I can't stay logged in to my Admin area -- or -- PHP Session Handling isn't working for me.
  (https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=281)

8. Uninstall / Re-install the Zen Cart, drop/delete DB and install new DB for Zen Cart

9. Install Zen Cart 1.3.8 from Godaddy's HostingConnection Site (https://hostingconnection.godaddy.com). The reason doing this is because to avoid the issue of "uploaded 0 bytes file" through FTP and also use the "friendly & compliance version" web application that already verified by Godaddy.

10. Install Zen Cart 1.3.8a onto my other website that hosted on other web hosting. Results- work perfectly, no issue with the same setting and configuration. (It proved that my computer's Browser and Firewall setting has no problem)

11. Changed setting:

• Set version_check=off in skip_version_check.ini file
• Tried renaming the .htaccess in the admin/includes directory, but it can't solved the problem.
• "cache" folder set to read/write (chmod 777)

12. Tried to load the admin page with/without the prefix (www.) e.g http://www.domainname/zencart/admin/login.php and http://domainname/zencart/admin/login.php

All these suggestions/solutions/methods don't work, I have no idea what to do now… :wacko:

Any help would be much appreciated. :smile:

Best Regards,
Kenny

I assume you've searched the forum for admin loop.

Do you have any redirects set up?

Are you prepared to switch hosts?

Hi stevesh, thanks for your quick reply.

1. Yup, I did searched for all the related threads in this forum for the past few days, unfortunately none of it does help me to solve the problem.

2. I did not setup any redirect (file) nor domain masking/forwarding.

3. I do not expect to change the web hosting vendor. My clients have been using Godaddy for a long time and they are satisfied with Godaddy's package and service. And now they are ready to enable the shopping cart for the online store-front. Changing of web hosting will affect their daily biz operations and it is a big challenge to conduct a change for large number of user's setting (such as MS outlook, login, file manager and etc).

Headache :frusty:

Btw, here is more info on the hosting:
PHP version: 5.2.5
Web Hosting: Godaddy - Deluxe Plan, Linux OS

I believe it is not PHP version issue, because I have tested Zen Cart 1.3.8a on other web hosting with PHP 5.2.5 and 5.2.6, it work fine.

And I guess it is some sort of session, re-directing, htaccess or server setting issue with Godaddy, but they refuse to take action and do not provide alternative solution. (As I already told them that I installed the Zen Cart from their compliance web applications list, Godaddy tech support should have experience in solving this issue.)

Well, I like to use Zen Cart. If worst come to worst and problem still can't be solved, I have no choice switch to osCommerce or CRE Loaded. But this is not what I wanted. :(

Thanks a lot,
Kenny

If you are within the "trial" period, I'd RUN to another host. Otherwise, you're building your house on a swamp.

dbltoe:

If you are within the "trial" period, I'd RUN to another host. Otherwise, you're building your house on a swamp.
The house is already on the swamp. :blush:
I just takeover the shopping cart project.

can you post a link to the swamp?

Thanks dbltoe, here you go:

Store-front URL:
http://www.branded1.com/zencart

Admin area URL: (Problem- Page is blank)
http://www.branded1.com/zencart/admin

Note:

• I installed it through Godaddy's HostingConnection (https://hostingconnection.godaddy.com)
• Above is a development (non-production) website.
• This is a fresh installed Zen Cart 1.3.8. All setting on this Zen Cart is auto-configured by Godaddy.

Below is the content of configure.php in admin/includes/

define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://branded1.com');
define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://branded1.com');
define('HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER', 'http://branded1.com');
define('HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER', 'https://branded1.com');
define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'false');
define('ENABLE_SSL_ADMIN', 'false');
define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', '/zencart/admin/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/zencart/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN', '/zencart/admin/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/zencart/');
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/');
define('DIR_FS_ADMIN', '/home/content/h/i/k/hikenny/html/branded1/zencart/admin/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/content/h/i/k/hikenny/html/branded1/zencart/');
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('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
define('DB_PREFIX', 'zen_');
define('DB_SERVER', 'XXXXXXXXXX.secureserver.net');
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'XXXXXXXXXX');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', 'XXXXXXXXXX');
define('DB_DATABASE', 'XXXXXXXXXX');
define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db');
define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none');
define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/content/h/i/k/hikenny/html/branded1/zencart/cache');

Best Regards,
Kenny

Configure.php looks OK.

One thing I would try is doing the install manually with an FTP client rather than through the GoDaddy installer.

I've never been a fan of auto-installers like that one or Fantastico.

Just upload all the files to the directory of your choice, create a database, and point your browser to the root of the Zencart installation to start the GUI installer.

I have never used GoDaddy, but if their control panel file manager has an 'extract' function, as CPanel does, one way to save time and minimize corrupted files is to upload the Zencart zip file and extract it on the server.

Sure, I will manually install the Zen Cart 1.8.3a onto another direcotry @ http://www.branded1.com/zencart2.

Will post the update here once its done.

Thanks,
Kenny

Sigh, no luck. :dontgetit

After mannually installation, it is still having the same problem. The Admin page is load nothing:

http://www.branded1.com/zencart2/admin/login.php

Btw, I believe it might be the physical file path issue, because I just installed the Zen Cart on another deluxe hosting account (also Godaddy), it has no problem to load the Admin page. The different is I have several domains hosted on the problem deluxe hosting plan. Will try to figure it out and post it up here if there's any update.

Thanks for your help however,
Kenny

Might want to clear the cache.

Works for me.

Good news, I finally found the problem. :smile:

There's nothing wrong with Zen Cart's configuration file in admin folder. It is just because a PHP config file (php.ini) issue.

Before I decided to use Zen Cart, I have actually tried out osCommerce and Magento application. Magento, which needed to change the php.ini to php5.ini during installation on Godaddy hosting (Godaddy's problem again!)
(magen tocom merce.com/wiki/groups/227/error/no_input_file_specified). However, I didn't expect the change of php.ini will caused so many issues.

For those facing the same problem as me and website hosted on Godaddy (if you ensure all the above configuration and setting are correct and no file is corrupted/0 byte), you may create a php file with the content <?php phpinfo(); ?> to check your php configuration whether is correct. The information of "Loaded Configuration File" in php should be "/web/conf/php5.ini" instead of "/home/content/d/o/m/domainname/html/php5.ini". And below is the standard content in php.ini:

register_globals = off
allow_url_fopen = off

expose_php = Off
max_input_time = 60
variables_order = "EGPCS"
extension_dir = ./
upload_tmp_dir = /tmp
precision = 12
SMTP = relay-hosting.secureserver.net
url_rewriter.tags = "a=href,area=href,frame=src,input=src,form=,fieldset="

[Zend]
zend_extension=/usr/local/zo/ZendExtensionManager.so
zend_extension=/usr/local/zo/4_3/ZendOptimizer.so

I hope the above information does help.

Nonetheless, thanks for all your help and information. I support Zen Cart all the way! :clap:

Best Regards,
Kenny

Glad you got GoneDaddy working.

I've got the same or similar problem. attempting to modify the template to reflect something more conforming to my site products I totally screwed the installation up. so i re-installed after uninstalling and upon accessing the admin/categories list I am confronted with the regular page mostly but there are no buttons visible to modify either the "status" or the "actions" also no "update" button either on that page or and others in the admin area.
there is some fine print between the header and the categories area that reads left to right
"legend: status:off status:on linked Product: Meta tags defined
yes:no

I admit to this being my first experience with shopping carts and php but I KNOW I would've seen something that would enable me to turn on and off the admin area function tools.

hikenny:

Good news, I finally found the problem. :smile:

There's nothing wrong with Zen Cart's configuration file in admin folder. It is just because a PHP config file (php.ini) issue.

Before I decided to use Zen Cart, I have actually tried out osCommerce and Magento application. Magento, which needed to change the php.ini to php5.ini during installation on Godaddy hosting (Godaddy's problem again!)
(magen tocom merce.com/wiki/groups/227/error/no_input_file_specified). However, I didn't expect the change of php.ini will caused so many issues.

Hey Kenny,

Thanks so much for posting the solution - I had the exact same issues (previously installed magento on shared godaddy hosting) and your post saved my day! Thanks for taking the time to post the complete issue and solution! :clap:
Liz

can any one help i have installed zencart did not come up with any problems when it finished i pressed the admin button but it just comes up with a ie screen saying can not display page i have read other stuff on this problem but nothing has fixed this

Yes, I am experiencing the same blank page problem when I have loaded zencart successfully before.
It was when I adjust the permissions that things go wrong.
I've tried about 8 times. takes ages. My host is helpful but I now have to contact them again for the 3rd time.

The FAQ area is full of articles dealing with Frequently Asked Questions, such as this.

Try step 2a of this article: https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=82

I have the exact same issue on GoDaddy shared hosting. But, they told me they will not put my php5.ini file in the /web/conf/ directory - it can only be in my site root.

Kenny, how did you get GoDaddy to fix this for you? Thanks!

first, let me say that there was no problem with my godaddy one button install.
having said that. other applications may require you to modify php.ini; some may interface with ZC.

in order to determine which PHP is being used, create a php file, upload it to the server and run it, where the content is ```

If it is PHP5, create or modify php5.ini in the root directory 

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