Error

You will have to delete the plugin data from the database before you can reinstall it.

Add the following code snippet to your theme header.php file, then run the site in a browser once, then remove the code snippet.

delete_option("vmerf_banned_referers");

After that, you should be able to reinstall the plugin.

Thanks for reporting this. I will fix it in the next version.

Be sure to place that code snippet after the first <?php tag.

Thanks for the response! If I wait for the next version will I still have to add the code snippet or can I just download and activate straight away?
The reason why I ask is, I’m afraid I might mess up something again. And I’m not sure exactly where to place the code snippet. Here is a portion of the header.php.

<meta http-equiv=”Content-Type” content=”<?php bloginfo(‘html_type’); ?>; charset=<?php bloginfo(‘charset’); ?>” />
<?php $the_title = wp_title(‘ – ‘, false); if ($the_title != ”) : ?>
<title><?php echo wp_title(”,false); ?> | <?php bloginfo(‘name’); ?></title>
<?php else : ?>
<title><?php bloginfo(‘name’); ?><?php if ( $paged > 1 ) echo ( ‘ – page ‘.$paged ); ?></title>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php if ( is_singular() && get_option( ‘thread_comments’ ) ) wp_enqueue_script( ‘comment-reply’ ); ?>
<link rel=”stylesheet” type=”text/css” media=”all” href=”<?php bloginfo( ‘stylesheet_url’ ); ?>” />
<link rel=”pingback” href=”<?php bloginfo( ‘pingback_url’ ); ?>” />
<?php wp_head(); ?>
</head>

You can just slip it in before the meta tag –

<?php delete_option("vmerf_banned_referers"); ?>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="<?php bloginfo('html_type'); ?>; charset=<?php bloginfo('charset'); ?>" />

After you insert the snippet, open your website in a browser one time. You wont notice any difference in the appearance of your website.
Then, simply remove the snippet.
<?php delete_option("vmerf_banned_referers"); ?>

When you uninstalled the plugin, the saved data was not removed from the database. So, when you reactivate, the plugin automatically rebuilds the .htaccess file using your saved data. The method above will delete that saved data from your database and nothing more.

I’m going to try this solution in a couple of days. I usually need to build up the courage to do these kinds of things. I kid you not, I almost got a heart attack the last two times the site went down. I’ll keep you posted. Thanks, Jason!

The latest version should fix this issue without the steps I outlined previously. Hopefully you wont have anymore problems.

Version 1.2.2, is that the latest? Can I just reinstall and activate straight away without having to do the steps?

Success!!! I bit the bullet and just went ahead and did as you told me. Entered the snippet and actually viewed the site at least 20 times in another browser just for good measure. Then deleted the snippet and installed the plug-in. It activated without a hitch and what’s more, those malicious ip addresses I had banned are still there. Thank you so much for the great support, Jason!