Title: [Plugin: BulletProof Security] Activation Problems in Admin
Last modified: August 19, 2016

---

# [Plugin: BulletProof Security] Activation Problems in Admin

 *  Resolved [dtsviolin](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dtsviolin/)
 * (@dtsviolin)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/)
 * Clicking “Activate” in the admin from the PLugins screen caused the following
   errors.
 * > Warning: mkdir() expects at most 2 parameters, 3 given in /wp-content/plugins/
   > bulletproof-security/admin/includes/admin.php on line 23
   > Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: No such file or directory in /wp-content/
   > plugins/bulletproof-security/admin/includes/admin.php on line 24
   > Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: No such file or directory in /wp-content/
   > plugins/bulletproof-security/admin/includes/admin.php on line 25

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

 *  Plugin Author [AITpro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aitpro/)
 * (@aitpro)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995605)
 * You are running PHP4 on WordPress on your web host. You need to switch that to
   PHP5. Do this google search for your web host “your web host name PHP5” and you
   should come across how to enable PHP5 to run on your WordPress installation and
   also site wide if you want PHP5 to run site wide. Thanks,
    Ed
 *  [thefandango](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thefandango/)
 * (@thefandango)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995633)
 * I also have this issue, and my php is the latest version.
 *  Plugin Author [AITpro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aitpro/)
 * (@aitpro)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995636)
 * This is a PHP4 specific error message. PHP5 will generate a different error message
   so it may appear that you are running PHP5, but actually it is PHP4. Check the
   BPS System Info tab menu for the version of PHP that WordPress is running on.
   You will need to check with your particular web host to see what options they
   offer for choosing your PHP version and if they have an htaccess directive to
   force PHP5 to run on WordPress then you can just add that directive to Your Current
   Root htaccess File using the BPS built-in File Editor. Thanks.
 *  [riceguitar](https://wordpress.org/support/users/riceguitar/)
 * (@riceguitar)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995638)
 * Hi AITpro,
    Thanks for the tip! That fixed it! Switching my sites to PHP5! Regards,
   rice.
 *  [thefandango](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thefandango/)
 * (@thefandango)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995651)
 * I do apologise, you are correct, my error is
 * Warning: mkdir() [function.mkdir]: Permission denied in /public_html/wp-content/
   plugins/bulletproof-security/admin/includes/admin.php on line 23
 * Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: No such file or directory in /public_html/
   wp-content/plugins/bulletproof-security/admin/includes/admin.php on line 24
 * Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: No such file or directory in /public_html/
   wp-content/plugins/bulletproof-security/admin/includes/admin.php on line 25
 * This happens when I activate the plugin.
 *  [riceguitar](https://wordpress.org/support/users/riceguitar/)
 * (@riceguitar)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995656)
 * [@thefandango](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thefandango/)
    Can you verify
   the exact version number of PHP that you are using? This problem shouldn’t exist
   if you are infact running the latest version of PHP5.
 *  Plugin Author [AITpro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aitpro/)
 * (@aitpro)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995657)
 * @ thefandango – This is a PHP5 error message so you do have PHP5 running on WordPress.
   
   When you activate BPS it automatically tries to create this folder /wp-content/
   bps-backup. It appears that your folder permissions are set too restrictive to
   create this folder. mkdir is the command to create a folder or Make a Directory.
   Change the folder permissions via FTP for the /wp-content folder to 755, which
   is the standard permissions for that WordPress folder. Then try to activate BPS
   again. Thanks.
 *  [thefandango](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thefandango/)
 * (@thefandango)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995658)
 * HI, yep I have the latest stable version of php, I run a VPS and upgraded it 
   a week ago.
 * /wp-content is set to 755 and always has been on my installation 🙂
 * Manually created the directory and its working now thanks – but odd it would 
   not write it when permissions were fine.
 *  Plugin Author [AITpro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aitpro/)
 * (@aitpro)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995659)
 * I released a later update to BPS that will auto correct any issues with creating
   the bps backup directory on activation so just download any of the BPS .htaccess
   files you want to keep as a back up and then uninstall BPS. Before reinstalling
   BPS FTP to your site and rename the bps-backup folder.
    /wp-content/old_bps-backup
   Uninstalling BPS does not leave your site unprotected. The root .htaccess file
   and wp-admin .htaccess will not be removed when you uninstall BPS. You will be
   able to copy any of your .htaccess modifications (if you made any) from your 
   root .htaccess file to the BPS Master .htaccess files using the BPS built-in 
   File Editor. The additional download backup is not necessary, but i prefer to
   be safe rather then sorry later. Thanks. Ed
 *  [numaga](https://wordpress.org/support/users/numaga/)
 * (@numaga)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995671)
 * I get a somewhat similar error message
 *     ```
       Warning: mkdir() [function.mkdir]: Permission denied in /home/piccaz/domains/piccaz.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/bulletproof-security/admin/includes/admin.php on line 23
   
       Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: No such file or directory in /home/piccaz/domains/piccaz.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/bulletproof-security/admin/includes/admin.php on line 24
   
       Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: No such file or directory in /home/piccaz/domains/piccaz.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/bulletproof-security/admin/includes/admin.php on line 25
       ```
   
 * How to fix this? Is it safe to use the plugin even though I get errors?
 *  Plugin Author [AITpro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aitpro/)
 * (@aitpro)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995672)
 * The error message is telling you that BPS is unable to create the /wp-content/
   bps-backup folder because your permissions are set too restrictive for the wp-
   content folder. The standard, acceptable and secure permissions for the WordPress
   wp-content folder is 755. On the next version release of BulletProof Security
   I will include a standard alerting message that will inform someone that they
   cannot activate and install BPS until they set the correct folder permissions
   for the WordPress wp-content folder.
 * To set the correct folder permissions for the wp-content folder i recommend downloading
   FileZilla. it is an FTP plugin that allows you to set your folder permissions
   by entering a numeric value 755.
 * FTP to your site with FileZilla, right mouse click on your wp-content folder,
   click File Permissions and type in 755 in the Numeric Value window, click the
   OK button. Now activate BPS. Thanks.
 *  Plugin Author [AITpro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aitpro/)
 * (@aitpro)
 * [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995676)
 * And there is another possibility. If Safe Mode is On in your php.ini file then
   mkdir will not be able to create the folder on BPS activation or when opening
   the BPS settings page for the first time. I have coded a fix for this possibility
   and it will be released in BPS .46.1. mkdir and chmod errors will be suppressed
   on BPS activation. I have added a full HUD display (Heads Up Display) that will
   go through a check list and report an error message with solution the first time
   the BPS settings page is accessed.
 * For the safe mode on issue – If safe mode is turned on then a Fix button will
   be displayed and you can just click it to create the folder from within the BPS
   settings page. This will take care of the issue with the UID compare check that
   safe mode does. Thanks.
 * HUD Checklist
    Check if Permalinks are enabled Check if required version of PHP
   is being used Check if IIS and if IIS are URL rewriting prerequisites installed
   and is BPS compatible Check if the BPS backup folder was created and if not display
   fix button to create the BPS backup folder

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

The topic ‘[Plugin: BulletProof Security] Activation Problems in Admin’ is closed
to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/bulletproof-security/assets/icon-128x128.png?rev=1731938)
 * [BulletProof Security](https://wordpress.org/plugins/bulletproof-security/)
 * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bulletproof-security/)
 * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bulletproof-security/active/)
 * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bulletproof-security/unresolved/)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bulletproof-security/reviews/)

 * 12 replies
 * 5 participants
 * Last reply from: [AITpro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aitpro/)
 * Last activity: [15 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-bulletproof-security-activation-problems-in-admin/#post-1995676)
 * Status: resolved