DanMSchell

Just to make sure I did not dream it and to try it again … I renamed plugins directory and created a blank new plugins directory. All plugins stopped working but the wp-admin problem is still there.

https://www.rebaxter.net/IMAGES/Capture.JPG is a pic from my cpanel

Recopied dashboard it has today date not yesterday as does the other files in the wp-admin directory.

/home/rebaxter is listed as the home directory just wasn’t sure if public_html is always the same
Will re-copy dashboard now

As best I can determine /home/rebaxter/public_html is correct however I am not sure. How can I double check from the Cpanel?

OH found dashboard.php, but i am already running from a clean copy since I downloaded a fresh wp-admin directory and renamed my old wp-admin to wp-adminOLD

Why when I corrected
/** Load WordPress dashboard API */
require_once(‘/home/rebaxter/public_html/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php’);
did this not produce a different result. This says this code is not executing since it was wrong…. is there a way to make this code execute… or am I wrong about this conclusion
THANKS AGAIN FOR HELPING ME

opps where is dashboard.php located? Remember I have loaded and am running from fresh wp-includes and wp-admin directories from new install

after logging in this
https://www.rebaxter.net/wp-admin/options-general.php
produces the same result – will try the dashboard suggestion now

I tried removed all plugins by renaming the plugin directory.
I have not tried your other thoughts but will now…

Ok added the ‘ as noted uploaded via ftp but there was no change to the behavior of the site, I wonder why since it was obviously wrong. this says that this code was not executing and perhaps still is not…

I have mmodified the wpadmin index.php file to:

/** Load WordPress dashboard API */
require_once(/home/rebaxter/public_html/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php’);

As best I can determine /home/rebaxter/public_html is correct however I am not sure. How can I double check from the Cpanel?

When I activate the directory of wp-includes that was uploaded from the new wordpress install, and have changed all files and folders to 755 I get this error

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected $end in /home/rebaxter/public_html/wp-includes/cron.php on line 383

The site is dead and nothing works. The prior wp-includes produces a working site but get 404 error after validating user name and password.

This should make sense to someone but not to me.
HELP !

I found this on the web. Does the symptom I have describe possibly fit with a host problem as described below
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You're in luck bud...I had the same issue but had more tech knowledge on the matter and was able to determine that it was a mod_sec issue that hostgator has to fix/whitelist on their own. You cannot do it yourself. Simply ask the hostgator tech to check mod_sec settings on your server.

Just to follow up, problem solved! I mentioned mod_sec settings for my server as being the possible culprit as suggested and they were able to fix this issue. Here's what the tech agent said to tell them when you go to support:  Just let them know you need the rule 340163 whitelisted for domain.com as its hitting a mod_sec rule.
Apparently you will need to do this for each domain that is having the issue, but it works. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!