Forbidden error

[madfitz]

Suddenly today I can't create a new topic.

You don't have permission to access /forum/index.php on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

I can reply to existing topics but cannot create new.

My members tell me they can't reply to topics OR create new topics.

Nothing has been added or modified since it was working.

Any ideas?

[madfitz]

OK, now I (admin) can't reply to posts or make new topics.

Basically, nobody can post anything.

Help!

[madfitz]

No, there isn't (should there be?)

Where can I find the correct CHMOD settings for all files/folders? Isn't a "403 Forbidden" related to permissions? (I'm clutching at straws right now because I want to get this fixed).

[madfitz]

I found this FAQ article and my permissions match those.

[snazster]

If it happened suddenly, did anything happen immediately prior to that?  Have you applied any mods between now and the time it last allowed posting?  If so, go to the package manager and uninstall them, then reinstall one at a time. 

Additionally, you could have a look at your error log and see if that's thrown anything up. 

Alternatively, how viable is it for you to restore from last backup? 

Hope you get this fixed. 

[madfitz]

On re-reading my OP I can see it wasn't very clear (I had a long day and was reduced to speaking in grunts and whistles) but I tried to say that nothing had changed (no mods etc) before it stopped working.

I checked the error log but the only thing showing is view permission errors when guests try to view my photo gallery (they have no permission so I'm OK with that). Nothing about topic/reply posting errors.

[snazster]

If you don't have a backup to restore from, make one now, for both your forum and your database. 

Then I would suggest you reinstall smf 1.1.9 and restore your database.  This way you won't lose any data. 

Hope this works for you. 

[madfitz]

Sounds like the last resort. I'll do that after work tonight and get back here if it all fails.

Thanks for the help.