Registration and PM errors

[rob54]

Check you version. Which version of SMF do you use?

I upgraded to 2.0.5 from 1.1.18 on about 14/8.

Sorry to bug you again, but my host answer is this:

We recently upgraded the servers to the latest version of PHP (5.4) - your website doesn't appear to be compatible with this version.

You can now set your PHP version from your cPanel control panel under the 'Select PHP Version' icon in the 'Software' section. Chose 5.2 and press the 'Set As Current' button.

This should solve the issue.

Does that sound right given I am talking about SMF to them, installed in the /forum folder, by their installer provided, and not my very crude amateur website? I'm asking you guys before trying what they suggest.

Hosts have set php version to 5.3 (don't know why when they suggested I should set to 5.2). Same problems though except I don't get the error messages display (just white screen)

[Arantor]

SMF is compatible with both PHP 5.3 and 5.4, though there are some known issues with PHP 5.5 at this time.

The white screen is because the display_errors directive is now set to off. The error messages should still be listed in the error log, you may have to check your hosting panel to view that.

[rob54]

The white screen is because the display_errors directive is now set to off. The error messages should still be listed in the error log, you may have to check your hosting panel to view that.

I have no idea what display_errors directive means! My forum is worse than useless now (unable to register members, make new posts, reply, send PMs etc) so I think I am likely to simply junk it. Or may just ask (or do myself) for a restore to pre update to 1.1.18, as that worked fine. I can see no new errors on forum logs. None on Panel either.

[Arantor]

The display_errors directive is the option in php.ini that manages whether errors are displayed or not. Since you're getting a white screen, the directive is likely off.

The thing is, if you revert, there's a better than average chance your host will actually block those things again even in 1.1.18, not to mention the fact that sooner rather than later, SMF 1.1.x is going to stop receiving security fixes. Honestly, the best thing to do is find a non ridiculous host - the only reason 2.0 doesn't work for you because your host keeps screwing it up.

[rob54]

Well, I aksed them to restore 1.1.18 but pointed out I was disappointed at how the upgrade went using their facility, and that 2.0.5 was fully supported, as the latest version, and that 1.1.x was likely to stop being supported and updated.

They restored 1.1.18 but said it was still likely to be the virus scanner causing the issues (which they, for now, disabled for the forum folder). They started the re-upgrade, asking me to complete (them not having the admin login). And, well, it works! All the issues from before not now issues.

There's just now the small matter  of how they will safely protect the forum, which I have asked about, obviously. Awaiting reply.

[rob54]

Just to conclude this thread, my host has re-enabled the virus scanner, after them having to tell it to ignore the (legit) files it flagged earlier on.

So I am now happy that I have a fully up to date working forum version 2.0.5! I might even use it for its intended purpose now, that is to replace a Yahoo Group! So hosts did come good. It's one of the cheapest available in the UK, though their hosting charge has nearly doubled in the 5 years I've been with, whilst domains have halved. So about the same outlay really.

Thanks guys for your help and advice. I'll be back!!

I'll mark the topic solved if that is OK.

[Arantor]

It's one of the cheapest available in the UK

And you wonder why you're having problems with their incompetence... I guarantee you're going to have more to come in the not too distant future.

You get what you pay for.

[rob54]

I do have another host earmarked for next June when this one ends, that comes recommended. I was going to change to them in June, but there was a discount for a reason I can't recall now, so the price difference was minimal and at that time I had other things going on so I didn't need the hassle.

However the other host has ticketing and telephone support, whereas my host has only ticketing (which to be fair is usually answered quite quickly).