Last week all my blog links were leading to a 404 error page!
This is what I did to fix it.
First I found this support thread: http://wordpress.org/support/topic/334199
but although showing someone else having the same problem, it didn’t give a reason why or offer a solution!
Then I found this, older, support thread: http://wordpress.org/support/topic/224950 this time with the statement “I fixed it!” and showing how it was fixed…
Brilliant, I thought, all I need to do is to make sure my htaccess file included the code shown in the “fixed it” post (shown below)
So, happy with my detective work, I accessed my htaccess file…only to find that it already contained the exact code required (pictured below)
?????
But I decided to copy and paste the recommended code over the existing code and re-upload the file anyway…
I reloaded my blog and all internal links we’re no longer leading to 404 error pages!!
Everything was back to normal!
It’s great that everything is working as it should again and there’s been no further problems with links going to 404 error pages since.
The only thing is that it leaves the question why it happened unanswered.
I hadn’t made any changes or updates during the time between when all internal links were working and when they all stopped working!
If anyone has any ideas it would be great to hear from you!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I suspect it has to do with the permissions of the .htaccess file. When you saved it, after cut/pasting the same text, you saved it with permissions that allowed wordpress to automatically update. See
http://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_File_Permissions for more detail.
Brilliant!!!
Thanks very much for stopping by and clearing that one up Kenneth.
It’s still a little weird that it happened with nothing being changed and after the blog running without a problem for a few months, but I’ll trust your expertise on this one.
Thank you for the ‘permissions’ link too.
Rob
Hi Rob,
I hate it when things like that happen, you’re probably the same as me when it comes to wanting the answer to why things have happened? I’m not content with just knowing its fixed now.
When something like this happens you it just makes you want to find out why, so that you can try and avoid it happening again. Rather than having to just hope it doesn’t happen again!
So on that note, I hope it doesn’t happen again, and I also hope it doesn’t happen to me either… But at least if it does I’ll know where to come to find the solution. ;)
Paul
.-= Paul Lear´s last blog ..Free Traffic Generation Tips and Ideas — Part 1 =-.
Hey Paul,
Thanks for your comment. Wordpress and I enjoy a love hate relationship and it’s been striking back at me again since this first episode which I’ll be posting about soon to help out of anyone else discovers the same problem.
But it’s just a little bump along our way!
Hope all is well mate.
As the old saying goes: There’s no such thing as a perfect system. In my case, I did encounter some errors with Wordpress. Good thing I always make a backup of my database. Having a backup is a life saver. :-)
Walter that is some first class advice and something I’m still guilty of not having done yet…must get round to it.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.
Rob
You are AWESOME! My site finally works again because of your post. Phew! I still have no idea why it stopped working all of a sudden, but who cares right, that .htaccess thing fixed everything. Thank you! Kisses, LEN
.-= Len´s last blog ..Win 1 year of life coaching (free of charge)! =-.
Hey Len,
Happy to Help!!!!
I remember what a nightmare it was with the ‘screen of death’…and what a relief it was to get it working again.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
Rob
hi rob,
where is the htaccess file?
Hey sin,
the file will be in the root directory of your website.
and probs let me know!
Rob