Clueless (that’s me). 500 Error help please. Godaddy response..

Trying to simply access my WP 2.7 install from to my free shared Godaddy Windows IIS7 server. Getting the 500 error message that I see everyone gets. I’ve also tried this on Media Temple. I’ve been trying to do this for two weeks and am about to toss WP. I’m really frustrated and worst of all I know this is simple.

I have installed, renamed, deleted a .htaccess file that I created with Mac Notebook about ten times. It simply reads: php_memory_limit: php_value memory_limit 42M

I added it once I got the 500 error as I had been though this with MT. ( Their issue was that you have to be on a dedicated or Grid and I have a Shared account that runs on 4 not 5. – took them four days to figure that out. )

I have no idea what some of Godaddy’s message means. “upload .htaccess files in ASCII mode” How? I use Fetch to FTP my files. “Set the permissions to 644?” No idea what or how.

Could someone who is a pro look at the message below and help me finally install, activate WP? PLEASE!

————- Godaddy’s message:

“Thank you for contacting Online Support. I have provided additional information on the error you are receiving below:

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, [email protected] 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.

Apache/1.3.33 Server at mydomain.com Port 80

Cause:

This error can be caused by a variety of issues but is most likely caused by a corrupt .htaccess file. Check to see if there is an .htaccess file in the directory where the error is being generated or any directory above in the tree. If so, temporarily rename the .htaccess file and refresh the page. If the error does not reappear, the .htaccess file is the issue. Repair the file or leave it disabled.

Most of the time .htaccess issues are caused by trying to overwrite PHP settings, being uploaded in binary format or permissions issues.

Resolution:

Be sure to upload .htaccess files in ASCII mode

Set the permissions to 644, which makes it useable by the server, but prevents it from being read from a browser.

If you are trying to make changes to PHP settings, be sure to make said changes to the php.ini file.

For more information see How do I view my CGI error logs.

Thank you for contacting Online Support. I have provided additional information on the error you are receiving below:

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, [email protected] 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.

Apache/1.3.33 Server at mydomain.com Port 80

Cause:

This error can be caused by a variety of issues but is most likely caused by a corrupt .htaccess file. Check to see if there is an .htaccess file in the directory where the error is being generated or any directory above in the tree. If so, temporarily rename the .htaccess file and refresh the page. If the error does not reappear, the .htaccess file is the issue. Repair the file or leave it disabled.

Most of the time .htaccess issues are caused by trying to overwrite PHP settings, being uploaded in binary format or permissions issues.

Resolution:

Be sure to upload .htaccess files in ASCII mode

Set the permissions to 644, which makes it useable by the server, but prevents it from being read from a browser.

If you are trying to make changes to PHP settings, be sure to make said changes to the php.ini file.

For more information see How do I view my CGI error logs.

“Thank you for contacting Online Support. I have provided additional information on the error you are receiving below:

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, [email protected] 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.

Apache/1.3.33 Server at mydomain.com Port 80

Cause:

This error can be caused by a variety of issues but is most likely caused by a corrupt .htaccess file. Check to see if there is an .htaccess file in the directory where the error is being generated or any directory above in the tree. If so, temporarily rename the .htaccess file and refresh the page. If the error does not reappear, the .htaccess file is the issue. Repair the file or leave it disabled.

Most of the time .htaccess issues are caused by trying to overwrite PHP settings, being uploaded in binary format or permissions issues.

Resolution:

Be sure to upload .htaccess files in ASCII mode

Set the permissions to 644, which makes it useable by the server, but prevents it from being read from a browser.

If you are trying to make changes to PHP settings, be sure to make said changes to the php.ini file.

For more information see How do I view my CGI error logs.”