Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

WordPress

Posted by Bonnie B
Bonnie B
3,494 Points

Site blows up when set WP permalinks -- why? (XAMPP)

When I set permalinks as directed in How to Build a WordPress Theme, the site blows up and I get the following:

/* start of error here */

Server error!

The server encountered an internal error and was unable to complete your request. Either the server is overloaded or there was an error in a CGI script.

If you think this is a server error, please contact the webmaster.

Error 500

localhost
Apache/2.4.4 (Win32) OpenSSL/0.9.8y PHP/5.4.16

/* end of error here */

I've checked and mod_rewrite is on. I checked and AllowOverride is set to All.

The only way back in is to remove the value in the wp_options table for permalink_structure, delete .htaccess, and restart the server (but permalinks aren't set as I want them, obviously).

My boyfriend's also a Treehouse member, and he ran into the same thing (and couldn't get it fixed).

HELP!

Thanks. :)

5 Answers

Bonnie B
Bonnie B
3,494 Points

Tried all sorts of things, but the last thing I tried (which finally got it to work) was changing the AllowOverride to All in httpd-xampp.conf (everywhere online was mentioning to make the change throughout httpd.conf, but they weren't mentioning httpd-xampp.conf).

Hope that helps someone else!

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

Great job solving your own issue. Rock on with your bad self :guitar:

Zac Gordon
STAFF
Zac Gordon
Treehouse Guest Teacher
Zac Gordon
Zac Gordon
Treehouse Guest Teacher

Hi Bonnie,

I don't know enough about hosting on windows but I can tell you that it's like related to .htaccess, which is what lets permalinks.

After you look around a bit please let us know what you find!

Bonnie B
Bonnie B
3,494 Points
Bonnie B
Bonnie B
3,494 Points

I've already researched and tried all different things (with .htaccess and configuration files). Was hoping someone at Treehouse could help. (And figured I can't be the only member having this problem -- make that "we can't be the only members having this problem" since it's already 2 of us encountering the frustration.) Isn't there anyone on staff or that staff has access to who uses XAMPP for WordPress (on Windows 7 if that's the difference)?

I use WP on my hosting server all the time without a problem -- would really like to have this local solution work.

Thanks for any assistance that can be provided.

Jason Hegarty
Jason Hegarty
2,487 Points
Jason Hegarty
Jason Hegarty
2,487 Points

HI I am having exactly the same problem with the same set up XAMPP and Windows 7. I tried the httpd-xampp.conf changes as well but no joy. Would really appreciate some help on this guys.