http error 500 internal server error

[ROBK30]

Hello,
Some of my customers are complaining to me that they receive a http 500 error when they are in the checkout. I can not replicate the error when I try the site.A customer today stated that it generally seemed to happen when they enter a coupon code in the checkout process, my partner used their sign in and order with same coupon code went straight through.

My poor understanding of the http 500 error was that it was a server general error usually to do with server software but I stand to be corrected. I put this to my host and this was their reply.

Thank you for contacting Easyspace support. The error 500 page shown up when the server-side scripts produce an error while processing. These scripts are in (cgi-bin) and uploaded by cutomers. Since the script is written by customers themselves or a third-party, we cannot know which part of the scripts produces such error.

We suggest that you report the error to your website builder or the scripts writer, to check for what causing such error, since we have a strict policy not to debug customers' scripts. We sincerely apologize for

Are they just fobbing me off or do they have a valid point?

Before today my website stats were showing 43 hits of http 500 internal server error, no doult that figure will go up when today's stats are showing

[MDS]

My poor understanding of the http 500 error was that it was a server general error usually to do with server software but I stand to be corrected. I put this to my host and this was their reply.

Yep, another wonderfull catch all type of error report

It is a server, not client error

Have you access to the server logs?

May be worth running an advanced network check

Mick

[ROBK30]

http 500 error

No I don't have access to the log's and my host's seem quite unwilling to even investigate let alone help me out! If I was armed with a bit more information, I could go back and argue my case.

[MDS]

Have you done anything so far?

Try the advanced network check

Maybe a site refresh would do the job

Mick

[ROBK30]

Site refresh

Hello MDS and thanks for the info.

I've completed a network test and all was fine. I refreshed the site and received a warning that some of the pic's may not be displayed with all browsers (my partner had added some pic's with space between names). I renamed pic's and reselected them, I purged e mails, content and orders. Then I've refreshed site again.
I suppose I will just have to wait now and see if any more customers complain or watch the stats to see if any http 500's appear.

[pinbrook]

Just to split a few hairs. This is a server error caused by the client.

I doubt very much that you will get Easyspace to investigate this. When I am messing with scripts I often get a 500 internal error - this is always caused by the script and misconfiguration.

[MDS]

Just to split a few hairs. This is a server error caused by the client.

I will bow to your greater knowledge, but as far as I was aware it was a server error, not client side.

You live & learn

Mick

[pinbrook]

as far as I was aware it was a server error
Mick

In a way you are correct, but if the refresh has rectified the problem, the server error was caused by the client and thus the client has been able to solve the problem. Thus the host wouldn't have been able to help.

[ROBK30]

HTTP 500 error

Hello all,
Sorry for any confusion, I'm not sure if the problem has gone away, I can not seem to be able to reciprocate the error my customers are getting. Their reporting of the problem is generally vague and varied but then its not their responsibility to take details on my sites errors The ones that have reported it state that it generally happens after entering a coupon code. We have tried all the coupon codes and they all work for us, we also create them in upper and lower case letters in case of any error(in future we are creating all numeric ones).
I simply carried out the suggestions by MDS and hope these may cure my problems. I was hoping that other user's had had similar problems and may of been able to point me in the right direction as its caused frustration to some of my customers. As I'm not too knowledgeable about HTTP 500 errors, I was not sure if my host was just palming me off as they have in the past.

[pinbrook]

No need to apologise....this is what the forum is here for.

If you would like some of us to test for you, we will need a coupon code.

[ROBK30]

Coupon code

Thank you Jo,
I've created an coupon code and registration id for you and I will PM them to you.
Cheers.