Experts iin the house, I really need your help.

Let me start by saying that I dont have too much experience in web hosting and stuff. Im a beginner but hungry to learn.

I have a forum which I have been managing because I developed a love for webmastery. Recently, I tried performing some functions in the ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL and at the end I guess the site ran into some problems. Now when I try browsing thhru the forum this is the message that comes out.


Not Found

The requested URL /index.php was not found on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found 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 DAV/2 mod_auth_passthrough/2.1 mod_bwlimited/1.4 FrontPage/5.0.2.2635 Server at naijareign.com Port 80

Please, I need for you guys to help me out .Pleeeeease. I contacted my website host but the problem is still unattended to.

Please guys, help a fellow forumite. Dont ignore this. I DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP.

404 is just what it says - file not found. Since this is a forum, I would say make a backup of your database, uninstall the forum, reinstall and import your database again.

At least, this is what I would do. Any others?

Solved

The url to your forum board = http://naijareign.com/board/

The hyperlinks of your forum categories point to = http://naijareign.com/index.php?board=23.0

You see the difference?

correct = http://naijareign.com/board/
wrong = http://naijareign.com/index.php?board=23.0
correct = http://naijareign.com/board/index.php?board=23.0
wrong = http://naijareign.com/index.php?topic=50.0
correct = http://naijareign.com/board/index.php?topic=50.0

They are not the same. the second hyperlink is wrong. You are missing the /board/  subdirectory in your url somewhere.

You need to go into the control panel and look for something under the url to your forum and set it up to

http://naijareign.com/board/

I cant remember all the specific control panel options in smf or where to look in smf. This is the best i can give you. That is the problem and the solution is to add  /board/ in the url link somewhere

Thanks so much for the replies. I really appreciate it.

@Yewa-ti-de
Your explanation sounds so much simpler to me. How do I go about making a backup of my database, uninstalling, installing and importing the backup? Right now I cant access the Admin panel.

My inexperience sucks, I know 

Believe or not, I have never done this before but the only way I know how to do it is via your admin panel (phpAdmin). I am pretty sure there is a way to do it command-line, possibly bypassing the admin panel but since I am not familiar, I will let others chime in.

Sorry I couldn't be of further assistance.

Download (please search google for these two. too lazy to search)

Mysql Query Browser (use this for reinstalling your database, sql statement executions, and deleting databse)
Mysql Administrator     (for backup and other administrative tasks on mysql, you dont need access to the admin of smf)

If your host allows for remote log in great

put in your database name
database password
and usename


Use the Mysql Administrator to backup


If you need help

I can fix it for you if you are willing to trust.

Hi Cactus, I just sent a mail to your box.

Check your mail and see if we can chat online

Yewa-ti-de and Cactus, once again thanks for your help. Its great to know that one can rely on fellow nairalanders in a time of need.

Cactus, I followed your step-by-step guide and the problem was solved. Thanks a million.

Just giving a helping hand to the needy. Glad it is fixed. Good luck

Can ask questions if you wish to.

Make sure you change your password

Done that already