Installation Problem

I’m new to modX and CMS. I’m trying to implement some simple CMS for a client and want to use modX. I downloaded the recent version (0.9.6.1) and installed it in the root directory like the documentation states. I checked the permissions for the access/caches and access/images to 777 like the notes say. When I try to do step 3 and 4 of the installation (follow the on-screen instructions), it will not load. This is the page:

http://eventvideo.ipower.com/install/index.php

It never loads at all. CGI and PHP are both enabled on the server, and I have created a mySQL database. What’s going on here?

Hard to say; you’ll need to provide more information, such as server type, version, etc. Also, do you have an active .htaccess file? Is that existing "home" page just an index.html file?

Yes, there is an HTML index page and .htaccess file. Here is the server info:

Platform Type
Debian
MySQL Version
5.0.45
Perl Version
5.8.8
PHP Version
4.4.7

The web host (iPower) had a specialist look into the problem. They could not figure it out and do not support third party scripting. I am canceling that hosting account and moving to a host that I know modX will work on.

http://www.ventureteams.com/install/index.php?action=language

I am encountering the same problem but I am not going to switch hosts just yet; b/c 0.9.6 worked perfectly.
However, as soon as I uploaded 0.9.6.1, and tried to run the install, the page loads infinitely (like it keeps reloading itself endlessly). I am sure the problem isn’t with IPOWER since the previous version worked just fine and I don’t know why suddenly the host would not be able to run an iteration of the same program. (Sith, I think the "specialist" looking into it and the completely inadequate response just mean that IPOWER was too lazy to actually figure the problem out. It’s your standard, run of the mill "Format your hard drive" kind of tech support advice IMHO)

Any thoughts or help on this?



P.S. I think the error might be related to the "// session loop-back tester" part of the code? (B/c it keeps reloading and it does stop at the "?action=language" part. I don’t know, I’m completely guessing, but it just has to do with the page being unable to get out of this endless "loop". I’m trying to look into the PHP to see what could be tripping it up. All advice appreciated.

Are you sure you don’t have some firewall/browser security preventing javascript from executing when accessing the install?

Hey Jason,

Not that I’m aware of (I don’t have a personal firewall and I’m not too sure about the javascript blocker). The install doesn’t work in the latest edition of Firefox or IE.

What I do know is that 0.9.6 WORKED. But the host just recently did a server upgrade and migrated everyone’s accounts, so maybe something they changed on the back end is screwing things up. I’m going to try to re-install ModX 0.9.6 and I will report my results. If it works, then we know that the problem is not with my cheap ass host, but something in the new install. Let’s hope this works because I can’t afford to switch servers right now.

Any other ideas where this "infinite loop" syndrome might be coming from? Perhaps my old ModX database is messing something up?

Firewall clients/js blockers and improperly configured servers (specifically regarding PHP sessions) are the only causes I’ve seen for that problem.

Thanks for the responses Jason. Well, I tried re-installing 0.9.6 and I’m encountering the SAME issue, so it definitely has to do with the server "upgrade".

...Just called tech support; got hung up on....scoured around the internet and found thousands of not-fake complaints from people. IPOWERWEB is a terrible host. I’m switching over to something else; the question now is just...what?! Thank god ModX exposed how much of a scam my current host is.

**Quick Update**: 9:53pm - I was on IPOWERWEB this morning and in about 12 hours, I decided to switch over to HostGator. I completely transitioned my entire site + blog + installed ModX 0.9.6.1 and the DNS is repointed without ANY PROBLEMS whatsoever as of right now. Completely painless and insanely fast...if you are using IPOWERWEB + ModX, cancel immediately!