Plugin Contributor
redsand
(@redsand)
njrfbzr,
I’m sorry to hear you’re having these issues, but I’ll be happy to help.
Yes, anti-spam and security plugins require frequent updates to ensure maximum protection. If you find that inconvenient, there are plugins you can install that will let you automatically update your plugins when new versions are released. (WordPress has a plugin auto-update feature built in.)
Your first issue, with the old version of PHP is addressed in detail in the plugin documentation in the requirements section. We stopped supporting PHP 5.2 in version 1.8.2 for the reasons stated, so the version you had installed must have been 1.8.1 or older when you upgraded to 1.8.9.
It is good that you have it on a server with PHP 5.5, but it was not necessary to move the entire install to a different server. Upgrading PHP to 5.5 is literally just a change in configuration to switch to the newer version. If you are not familiar in how to do this, all you have to do is ask your web host and they usually will do it for you.
Regarding your second issue, of not being able to access the settings page and not having the contact form working…That means the plugin isn’t activated. Look for error messages in the admin when you activate it. You may still not have the requirements to run it on your server. See the requirements linked above in the documentation.
That is very strange, as everything has been thoroughly tested and is working quite well. I would recommend logging out of WordPress, and logging back in, and trying again.
Have you worked through the FAQs and Troubleshooting Guide? These solve 99% of user issues and only take a few minutes to do.
If the Troubleshooting Guide and FAQs do not solve the issue for you, we will need you to submit a support request at the WP-SpamShield Support Form so we can look into it further for you. That is our main support venue, and we have an excellent and thorough diagnostic process to solve these issues.
– Scott
My web host explained to me that they could not update the PHP on the server I was on because many of their customers had plugins that would break if they did. They offered to move my files to a new server with PHP 5.5.21, so I did that. I am just happy WP-SpamShield is working again. In hindsight, it could have been a caching issue. You can chalk this one up to a false alarm.
Plugin Contributor
redsand
(@redsand)
Hi njrfbzr,
I’m glad to hear you’ve got everything working now. 🙂
That is very strange your web host cannot change it per site. Most web hosts can change it for individual domains. I do understand about sites breaking…some PHP code needs to be upgraded in the switch from 5.2 to 5.3, and then again from 5.4 to 5.5 (but not too much, and nothing fatal). Also the php.ini files need to be customized for each version of PHP. Just keep that in case you ever do want to switch web hosts. At least they did move you to a new server, so that’s good.
Anyway, glad to hear it’s all working now. Have a good one!
– Scott
