WordPress.org

1. oakley56fila
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #

   I recently downloaded and installed wordpress 2.7.1. Every attempt I have made to change my permalink structure has been met with a 404 page appearing where all of my posts should be located according to the permalink change.

   I had assumed that maybe the update was just not taking hold anywhere other than to the links on the main page. I changed the permalink structure and attempted to visit the post at the default ?p=123, it also returned a 404 error. The only way to make my posts visible on their own page was to return my permalinks setting to its default.

   Any ideas? Let me know if you would like me to try / test something.

2. Chris_K
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #

   start by checking over the troubleshooting tips on the Permalinks page in the Docs section.

   After you make the change, is your .htaccess file getting updated?
   Have you tried "Almost Pretty" permalinks? (see that link above)

3. Americaninlima
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #

   Chris and Oakley,

   I am having a similar problem. Note that I am a real novice at updating my WordPress site, even though I have had it for one year.

   Chris, what would you suggest I do in response to this major mistake I made yesterday? I am hesitant to take another step on my own.

   Problem: I tried to upgrade my installation of WordPress 2.5 to version 2.7 on Friday, March 27, and as of yesterday, none of the Permalinks work on my site (http://americaninlima.com ). The new admin panel is there and the front page is up and running, though. I am upgrading through Fantastico Delux.

   I confess that I did not follow the proper upgrade procedures:
   (1) I did not backup my site prior to upgrading. The most recent full backup I have is from February 9.
   (2) I did disable plugins prior to upgrading.
   (3) I did keep a record of my hacks to WordPress prior to upgrading. I restored the code to original before upgrading, and after the upgrade, I put the hacked code back in the right and left sidebars and the footer (I’m using Cutline).
   (4) I did not delete the old WordPress files on my site when I did the upgrade. I thought that I didn’t need to do that with Fantastico.
   (5) I did not delete the htaccess file.

   I am rather at a loss where to begin to set things right. Do I restore the Feb. 9 version of my site? (I’m not even sure how to do that.) Is there some simple code I can insert into the htaccess file to repair things? (I don’t know how to get into the htaccess file. I see it in the files of my directory, but when I click on it, all I get is a screen asking me to download it, and when I do, my computer cannot open the file.).

4. Chris_K
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #

   @Americaninlima - if you visit the Permalinks page and change them to Default, do your links work?

   If so, then go back and reset them to what you want and make sure .htaccess is updated.

5. Americaninlima
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #

   Chris --

   I have pretty permalinks already. Do you mean I should change them back to default?

   Second question: How do I make sure htaccess is updated? Am I opening the file and looking at text? I have never accessed or done anything with htaccess before.

6. Chris_K
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #

   I have pretty permalinks already. Do you mean I should change them back to default?

   Yup, that's exactly what I suggested. Make sure Default works.

   Second question: How do I make sure htaccess is updated? Am I opening the file and looking at text? I have never accessed or done anything with htaccess before.

   Ideally, you can see the date the file changed using a shell or FTP client. Hopefully that date will correspond to your experimentation with the Permalinks page.

7. Americaninlima
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #

   Okay, when I change the Permalinks to Default, they work when I click on the titles on my site. When I change the Permalinks Setting to Day and Name, the links don't work on my site.

   And, obviously, my pages aren't accessible by search engines.

   Does this mean my htaccess has not been updated?

   I am trying to figure out how to use a shell or FTP client in order to check for the date.

8. Americaninlima
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #

   I am on cPanel x, using File Manager v2, examining my site's public html directory. I can click on various files (error log, index php) and folders to view properties, but when I click on .htaccess, the dialog screen says that the page cannot be found.

   What does this mean?

9. Americaninlima
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #

   Still having problems with my permalinks being broken since upgrading to 2.7. I asked my hosting company, MidPhase, to help me, but it's been 18 hours and so far they haven't found a solution. I don't know how savvy they are about WordPress but I thought I'd give them a shot since my web site is basically dead in the water.

   Can anyone suggest what next step to take?

10. Chris_K
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Could you try using an FTP client to look at the .htaccess? I have no idea what your cpanel error means, but I've never used a cpanel in my life...

    (If using FTP is a new concept, have a look at FTP_Clients)

11. Chris_K
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Also, you should've spotted this from the troubleshooting stuff on the Permalinks page, but just in case...

    When you're changing permalinks, if WP can't edit your .htaccess file it'll display a message at the bottom of the page telling you what needs to be manually added.

    And finally, if you switch to Default Permalinks while you're figuring this out your site isn't broken.

12. xewax
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    i cant understand your problem. There might be two problems. Fisrt, I think your htaccess file is corrupted by malware, but it may be a problem with permalinks not htaccess, need to see what you get when you click on any link.

13. Americaninlima
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Thanks, Chris, for keeping with me on this.

    Yes, my site works when I switch back to default permalinks from the pretty permalinks, so the site isn't totally broken, as you say.

    When I change the permalinks on the WP admin dashboard site, it does not give me that message that I have to manually add code to the .htaccess file. So that means my .htaccess file IS writable by WordPress, right?

    Just to clarify (for xewax) what the error message is when you click on the permalink. The error page reads:

    "Easy, tiger. This is a 404 page.
    You are totally in the wrong place. Do not pass GO; do not collect $200.

    Instead, try one of the following:

    Hit the "back" button on your browser.
    Head on over to the front page.
    Try searching using the form in the sidebar.
    Click on a link in the sidebar.
    Use the navigation menu at the top of the page.
    Punt."

14. Americaninlima
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Update: MidPhase hosting claims permalink problem is bug in WordPress.

    Dear Barb,

    From what I have been able to find out, this is a common issue with the current build of WordPress. The only solution that I have found that actually works is to switch your permalinks to the default setting. You can do that from wordpress admin Settings > Permalinks. Its likely that WordPress is working on a solution for this error, so you may be able to find a solution if you watch their forums. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

    --
    Because we are working to improve our ticket response quality, I will be closing this ticket at this time. If you wish to continue this ticket further, please reply to this email, this ticket will reopen and I would be happy to assist you.

    Best Regards
    Matt Reeder
    Technical Support Representative

15. Chris_K
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Well huh. That's news to me.

    What style of permalinks are you trying? Have you tried others?

16. Americaninlima
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Chris, I don't know what to make of MidPhase's message, that the permalinks disappearing is a "common issue with the current build of WordPress." Either they are just making that up as an excuse to "close the ticket" or it really is the case.

    Opinion?

    The style of permalinks that I've been using for more than one year on WordPress is day/month/year/entry-name

    If I cannot get my site to run with those permalinks I will have lost most of the traffic to my website, which comes from Google searches.

    When you're changing permalinks, if WP can't edit your .htaccess file it'll display a message at the bottom of the page telling you what needs to be manually added.

    Again, if I don't see this message when I change permalinks thru WP admin, it means that my .htaccess file IS writable by WP, right? If that is the case, why, then are my pretty permalinks no longer working?

17. Chris_K
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Just for grins (yes, just humor me here) try changing to the "month and name" style please.

    I think the key here (when you see these parenthetical thoughts you know I'm guessing... *cough*) is your chosen style of permalinks. But, before we pursue that, let's just see if one of the other more standard types works or doesn't work.

18. Chris_K
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Again, if I don't see this message when I change permalinks thru WP admin, it means that my .htaccess file IS writable by WP, right? If that is the case, why, then are my pretty permalinks no longer working?

    Usually, that's what it means, yes. 99% of the time at any rate... there are indeed "edge" cases though.

19. Americaninlima
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Chris, I changed to "month and name" style, and the links went 404.

    The permalinks style that I was using for the last year was:
    http://americaninlima.com/%year%/%monthnum%/%day%/%postname%/

    When I go into the phpAdmin site of cPanel and look under wp_options for my site/database, under permalinks it says that my style is
    /%year%/%monthnum%/%day%/%postname%/

    What isn't matching here?

20. Chris_K
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    I'm pretty much just about almost all the way stumped...

    So here's the last thought: Would you be willing to set your theme to Default and disable all your plugins? Then test.

    It would be nice to eliminate plugins... you have a few old versions installed and I'm wondering if they're the issue (yes, still grasping at straws here, but really we should've tried this yesterday!)

    As for that last permalink experiment: You had mentioned "day/month/year/entry-name " and I'm pretty sure THAT would cause issues (day before month before year). However, you've since stated you were year / month / day which is not an issue.

21. Americaninlima
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Okay, Chris. I will take the plunge: revert to Default (that's Kubrick, right?) and eliminate the plugins, not just disable.

    I feel like I am pulling the plug on Hal here.

    yes, I was wrong when I initially stated my permlink structure as beginning with the day. I corrected myself with year / month / day, which is what it is, or, rather, was.

    I will post back after the experiment.

22. Americaninlima
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Something weird is happening. I successfully deleted all of the plugins except for one that I could never make work on my blog:
    WordPress.com Popular Posts.

    Now when I am trying to delete the plug-in thru my WordPress Admin dashboard, I get this message:
    Parse error: syntax error, unexpected ')', expecting T_PAAMAYIM_NEKUDOTAYIM in /home/amerdra/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wordpresscom-popular-posts/uninstall.php on line 2

    Is this significant, that I can't remove a plug-in?

    How else can I get rid of the thing?

23. Chris_K
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Not sure if that's significant or not.

    To delete it you could try using the cpanel file manager or an FTP client and just delete the darned thing.

24. Americaninlima
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Chris, I deleted that last plug-in through the cpanel file manager, so now there are none.

    While I was there, I checked out my .htaccess file and discovered something fishy: my .htaccess file has been changed (not by me) since yesterday. (I let MidPhase tech support have my access info so it was probably them.)

    Yesterday the .htaccess file was 204 bytes and had the normal WordPress code.

    Today the file is just 35 bites and it reads:
    # BEGIN WordPress

    # END WordPress

    That is it.

    Could this be part of the problem? If so, what should I do? Make a new .htaccess file? I have never done that before.

25. rtivel
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Hi, Americaninlima,

    We have been duplicating our efforts to help you solve your problem. I seem to be offering the same information to you on thread topic 254723. Chris_K has offered some great suggestions, many of the same I offered in the other thread. I suggest we concentrate our efforts in this thread.

26. Americaninlima
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    okay, let's stick to this thread.

27. rtivel
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Hi, Americaninlima,

    I checked your site this morning and it looks like your permalinks are working. I would be interested to know what you did to fix them. I think it would be useful to include the information in this thread.

28. rtivel
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    OOPS! I see the pretty URLs but the displayed page is a 404 page:

    Easy, tiger. This is a 404 page.

    You are totally in the wrong place. Do not pass GO; do not collect $200.

    Instead, try one of the following:

    Looks like your problem is still alive and well.

29. Americaninlima
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    Yeah, rtivel, the pretty URLs lead to 404 pages. I am majorly bummed.

    Yesterday I tried to fix the problem by uploading a new .htaccess file. I changed my links back to pretty URLs and crossed my fingers. I gave it a few hours just in case my server needed time to adjust. But the links don't work.

    I also eliminated all plugins (actually scrapped them entirely).

    I will check what it says on the other board, to see if I missed any possible solutions. If I haven't, I wonder what my next step should be? Revert to the old?

30. rtivel
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #

    I am having trouble keeping in mind everything that you have already tired. However, ...

    (1) With permalinks enabled, if you write and publish a test post, does the new post display normally (with the pretty URL) when it is selected? In other words, is your customized permalink working for new posts and just not working for your old posts? If this is so, then ...

    (2) If I remember correctly, if you use the default permalink setting (and no .htaccess file), your old posts then display normally (with ugly URLs). Right? Well, if this is so, you might try loading up Permalinks Moved Permanently, a plugin that might allow you to change your permalink structure and still find the posts.

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