I'm trying to download software from a specific site, and no matter what I try to download I get this error message:
Internal Server Error
The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to
complete your request.
Please contact the server administrator, webmaster@******.com and inform them
of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have
caused the error.
More information about this error may be available in the server error
log.
Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to
use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
How is this resolved?
I'm all too familiar with this error. I see it all the time when setting up or making changes to web sites.
The good news? It's not your fault.
The bad news? There's nothing you can do.
•
Quite literally an "Internal Server Error" is an error on the web server that you're trying to access. That server is misconfigured in some way that is preventing it from responding properly to what you're asking for.
Aside from informing the site owner - which may, or may not, be the "webmaster" email address that's included in the error message - there's absolutely nothing you can do to resolve this problem, because it's not your problem. The person who is responsible for the website needs to fix it.
So what if that's you? What if you're the webmaster?
Nine times out of 10, this error results from one of two very common errors:
-
An error in a cgi script that caused it to fail or output an error message before it started producing valid HTML. It happens to me all the time if I have a syntax error in one of my Perl cgi scripts.
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A permissions issue attempting to access a cgi script. Depending on how your web server is configured, quite often it's not enough for the script to have "execute" permission, but it must also be owned by the correct user, and belong to the correct group. I can't tell you what that should be, since it varies widely from server to server (and even site to site on the same server). My best recommendation is to look at the attributes of a script that's working, and copy that.
The format of the error described here is common for Apache web servers. That means we can also look for common error logs. Once again, the location of these logs can vary a great deal based on the specific web server configuration.
-
access_log is the log of successful accesses. On a shared or virtual hosting server there may be many of these, one per web site, often with site-specific names, or in site-specific locations on the server.
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error_log is the log of errors. One some hosts, there is an error log per site. On others, though, even though each site may have its own access_log, there may only be a single error_log for the system.
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suexec_log is the log most people forget about. This log deals with the permissions used to execute cgi and other scripts. When a cgi fails to execute because its ownership is wrong, the generic "Internal Server Error" shows in the error log, but a more specific error detailing the permissions involved shows in this log.
And for the record, the message: "Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument..." indicates a second configuration error. When the web server encounters an error, the page it displays to report the error is actually just another .html file stored on the server. In all likelihood, the website has been configured to use "custom" error pages (meaning that the website can provide its own custom error messages), but the custom error pages were never created or configured.
Related:
-
Ask Leo! - How should I set up my Linux Web Server?
Article C2649 - May 10, 2006
Thank You very much. I was getting the same error message and took your advise. I had changed permissions in the file public_html/admin/configuration and public_html/admin/admin.php my in zen cart root folder as I was adding the google base feeder contribution. I was getting the above error message when I tried to access (My Admin configuration) for my store.
I changed the permissions back to 755 and it is now working. I am very grateful to John for the info. Thanks
Posted by: Marion at March 15, 2009 12:19 PMYou might have a ht.access file in the site root.
Posted by: myles at May 18, 2009 8:39 PMI made a Sharepoint website for my office and everything was working fine until today. Now, the main page gives an Error 500 while every other page works fine. Because it was made using Sharepoint, the code is not accessible (I think) offline. Any suggestions?
Posted by: Dan at June 4, 2009 7:20 AMI have a similar problem.. however.. the message I get is:
Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /forum/memberlist.php on this server.
Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apache/2.2.11 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.11 OpenSSL/0.9.8e-fips-rhel5 mod_auth_passthrough/2.1 mod_bwlimited/1.4 FrontPage/5.0.2.2635 mod_jk/1.2.25 mod_perl/2.0.4 Perl/v5.8.8 Server at fishcarverunderground.com Port 80
This comes from a forum I belong to. When a new post comes up it sends me a message allerting me of that new activity. Until recently, I could click on the link in the post and it would take me to the forum topic and the new post. Now I get this error message.. The owner of the site does not have the problem I experience.
Help???? Thanks, Bill
25-Jul-2009
this happens to me when im trying to visit a site but after reading
Posted by: noob at August 5, 2009 4:46 AMthis (my english is not so good)i think i get its the server
that somthing is wrong to not my computer ?
I got this error now...
So, From your feedbacks, i understand that i need to raise a ticket with my web hosting provider...Am i right? The Permission option makes me think differently bcos i have just changed permissions of few folders but they are not anywhere related to important folders or files so i believe like there is something fishy in the .htaccess .... I have replaced the file so that might be the reason.... Anyways thanks for the info....
Regards,
Posted by: FourPx at September 5, 2009 10:26 AMFourPx
http://www.fourpx.com
Hi, I have successfully installed PHP 5, MySQL 5.1, Apache 2.2 and phpMyAdmin. I've test the phpinfo(); and it works fine. Besides, i have tested the connection between MySQL and PHP and it connect well. I have 2 php file-1)Form.php & 2)Insert.php. The form will undergo the insert.php to insert the data into phpMyAdmin.
However, i upgraded from IE7 to IE8 and received the http 500 internal server error. I still could display my phpinfo(); and form.php. But when i submit the form after upgrading my IE, i received the internal server error. Anyway to resolve this? Thank you in advance!
Posted by: Irman at September 8, 2009 11:05 PMwow, thank you. i am still new at this stuff but i changed the file permission back to 664 and it works again. i do not like messing with that stuff at all unless i know what i am doing.
Tattoo Designs Galore
Posted by: David Lee at September 26, 2009 6:30 PMActually im getting 403 Forbidden and I dont know what to do, this is annoying me, If some1 knows the answer please share with me^^ and teach me well because im not good in english ^^
Posted by: Saeed at October 12, 2009 10:52 AMI built a web directory using phplinkdirectory. Actually, I upgrade my site to the new version. After finished upload all the files that need, I got the message Internal Server Error.
"Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request."
I'm waiting the reply of support ticket right now... I'll give the progress here..
Thank you.
Posted by: On Top Directory at October 12, 2009 9:01 PMOn Top Directory