Unable to create a new topic

[Greyhound]

I just upgraded from 2.0.8 to 2.1.3.   We are now not able to create new topics.  We can reply to the topics that existed but when creating a new topic it goes to a blank page and says the site cannot handle the request.  It also does not allow to preview the post. 

Below is what is happening when you click post.

This page isn't working www.yourdomain.com is currently unable to handle this request.
HTTP ERROR 500

The same things happens when trying to create a poll.

Any ideas what is causing this?

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

A HTTP 500 is a server side error, so you should look at your server's error logs for a more detailed error message.
There should be some hint at what causes the error, and to fix it we need to know what "it" is.

[Greyhound]

I'm not seeing 500 errors in the error log but below is the errors from today. 

Code Select Expand

[Sat Dec 03 11:08:10.247297 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 125664:tid 22665694111488] [client 184.91.39.176:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm;f=inbox;l=-1;done=sent
[Sat Dec 03 11:08:10.170007 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 125664:tid 22665683605248] [client 184.91.39.176:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm;f=inbox;l=-1;done=sent
[Sat Dec 03 11:08:10.166096 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 125664:tid 22665687807744] [client 184.91.39.176:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm;f=inbox;l=-1;done=sent
[Sat Dec 03 11:07:44.735386 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 125434:tid 22665675200256] [client 184.91.39.176:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm
[Sat Dec 03 11:07:44.702903 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 125666:tid 22665635276544] [client 184.91.39.176:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm
[Sat Dec 03 11:07:44.657423 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 125434:tid 22665603757824] [client 184.91.39.176:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm
[Sat Dec 03 11:07:44.564811 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 125434:tid 22665618466560] [client 184.91.39.176:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm
[Sat Dec 03 11:07:44.561998 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 125434:tid 22665692010240] [client 184.91.39.176:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm
[Sat Dec 03 11:07:44.529057 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 125670:tid 22665620567808] [client 184.91.39.176:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm
[Sat Dec 03 11:07:44.485935 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 125666:tid 22665708820224] [client 184.91.39.176:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm
[Sat Dec 03 10:55:29.545973 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 98066:tid 22665697494784] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.0
[Sat Dec 03 10:55:29.522212 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 98066:tid 22665609242368] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.0
[Sat Dec 03 09:16:21.105136 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 863741:tid 22665705899776] [client 99.231.111.221:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm;f=inbox;l=-1;done=sent
[Sat Dec 03 09:16:21.041270 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 863747:tid 22665699596032] [client 99.231.111.221:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm;f=inbox;l=-1;done=sent
[Sat Dec 03 08:33:47.768109 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 667348:tid 22665684887296] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.msg42809
[Sat Dec 03 08:33:47.744566 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 667348:tid 22665638659840] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.msg42809
[Sat Dec 03 08:22:02.495690 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 653910:tid 22665628358400] [client 99.231.111.221:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm;f=inbox;l=-1;done=sent
[Sat Dec 03 08:22:02.481008 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 662044:tid 22665655674624] [client 99.231.111.221:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?action=pm;f=inbox;l=-1;done=sent
[Sat Dec 03 08:11:54.242584 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 632063:tid 22665704003328] [client 99.231.111.221:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.msg42808;topicseen
[Sat Dec 03 08:11:54.218047 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 632063:tid 22665697699584] [client 99.231.111.221:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.msg42808;topicseen
[Sat Dec 03 08:06:27.937139 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 592370:tid 22665598940928] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.msg42809
[Sat Dec 03 08:05:30.697315 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 598482:tid 22665607345920] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.msg42808;boardseen
[Sat Dec 03 08:05:30.660833 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 598482:tid 22665605244672] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.msg42808;boardseen
[Sat Dec 03 08:02:04.413028 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 592701:tid 22665687193344] [client 216.106.3.185:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.0
[Sat Dec 03 07:59:41.639263 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 572464:tid 22665710307072] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.0
[Sat Dec 03 07:59:41.612264 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 592370:tid 22665701902080] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.0
[Sat Dec 03 07:51:10.028579 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 563023:tid 22665710307072] [client 216.106.3.185:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=1fbb28b9cd6d4587a4b5cb50abcd332e&
[Sat Dec 03 07:46:02.029624 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 553169:tid 22665657775872] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.0
[Sat Dec 03 07:46:02.019825 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 553169:tid 22665645168384] [client 65.185.145.92:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.paintingtheblack.com/index.php?topic=7878.0
[Sat Dec 03 05:06:15.203626 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 1042457:tid 22665605244672] [client 147.78.47.249:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml
[Sat Dec 03 05:06:12.898679 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 1042457:tid 22665708205824] [client 147.78.47.249:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml
[Sat Dec 03 04:22:05.842209 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 925571:tid 22665640965888] [client 184.154.139.17:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml, referer: http://www.google.com/url?url=www.paintingtheblack.com&yahoo.com
[Sat Dec 03 04:05:00.871927 2022] [cgid:error] [pid 850100:tid 22665678788352] [client 194.38.20.161:0] AH01273: invalid CGI ref "/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" in /home2/famelico/public_html/404.shtml

[Doug Heffernan]

They are the same errors as you posted at your other topic.

Anyways, it looks like a CGI script is being attempted to be included within the 404 error page. Have you ensured the "fourohfour.cgi" page exists? If so, are you using the full path to it in your 404 error page?

Alternatively, can you make a backup of the 404.shtml file, then delete it and give it another go?

[Greyhound]

They are the same errors.  But it's not a 500 error which is coming up when trying to create a new topic. 

I'll check the pages but do you think this is it?  I don't think it's related to the posting issue, right? 

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

If you can see a 500 error, it should also get logged. If it doesn't, contact your host and ask them to look in to it.

[Kindred]

Also, please use the code BBC tags to enclose such lengthy logs

[Greyhound]

They are the same errors as you posted at your other topic.

Anyways, it looks like a CGI script is being attempted to be included within the 404 error page. Have you ensured the "fourohfour.cgi" page exists? If so, are you using the full path to it in your 404 error page?

Alternatively, can you make a backup of the 404.shtml file, then delete it and give it another go?

On the server the 404 error page says this: 

Code Select Expand

<!-- SHTML Wrapper - 404 Not Found -->
<!--#exec cgi="/cgi-sys/fourohfour.cgi" -->
What do you suggest I change this to? 

I'm not seeing any 500 errors in the server error logs.  I guess I'm going to have ask my host if they see some. 

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

That error is basically your 404 error page creating a 404 error of it's own, and is not related to the actual issue of the 500 error you were seeing.

[Greyhound]

That error is basically your 404 error page creating a 404 error of it's own, and is not related to the actual issue of the 500 error you were seeing.

I agree but another support person asked about the 404 page.  

I'm trying to get my host to look at 500 error now. 

[Greyhound]

The host is saying they are not seeing any 500 errors on the server.  

I can basically do everything else on the site but create a new topic or new poll.  

I'm assuming it's a permissions issue somewhere creating a new entry?  But the permissions are 755 for folders and 644 for files.  

Hoping you guys have some ideas? 

[Chen Zhen]

The referrer in your error log shows as an unsecure URL (http).
Your issue may be a cookie or session configuration problem.
Although logging in isn't an issue so maybe this is not it but worth a try.

Go to Server Settings -> Cookies and Sessions & enable the setting to force cookies to be secure.
It is also best to configure other settings to always force a secure connection if not already set as such.

Also try enabling "Use database driven sessions".

[Greyhound]

The force cookies to be secure option is grey out and I can't click it.

Just to mention, I haven't been able to make a new topic after I did the upgrade from 2.0.8 to 2.1.3.   

Hopefully it's just setting somewhere.  But since I can't click on the force secure cookies I assume https isn't activated.  Do I need to active that? 

[Chen Zhen]

Perhaps another setting causes that to occur.

For the main server settings, set SSL setting to force SSL.

For the cookie/session page try the following:

• enable local storage of cookies
• force cookies to be secure
• use database driven sessions

[Greyhound]

Tried that and now I can't log in.   So how do  fix that? 

[Greyhound]

Deleted my cookies and I could log in.  But it didn't fix the new topic issue.  

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I'm wondering if you haven't completely fixed the path problem that was breaking the 2.1.3 upgrade.  Those server errors seem to indicate that system files are not being found when a 404 is called by forum.  You get a white page because server can't find 404 files when 404 occurs.  So you may actually be getting 404s when trying to create new topic or preview, which would indicate some SMF files are missing or still in the wrong place.

[Greyhound]

I moved everything from the original folder to public html before the upgrade.   Unless there is something that repair settings didn't see, all the paths were fixed.  

If that's the case, how do you suggest I fix this? 

[Greyhound]

OK again, you'll have to excuse me being such a novice.  I used repair settings again and noticed there wasn't a selection for connection type.   After selecting that and then re-clicking all the paths again I can post new topics. 

Thanks for putting up with me again guys.  Hopefully I won't have any additional issues.  

Thanks! 

[Steve]

Glad you got it sorted.