Title: Error When Installing
Last modified: August 31, 2016

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# Error When Installing

 *  Resolved [miskywarn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lagerclub/)
 * (@lagerclub)
 * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-installing-19/)
 * Upon numerous attempts to install the WP First Letter Avatar plugin, I received
   a “Fatal Error”. On each install attempt, this error would render my Admin panel(
   Dashboard) unusable, meaning I could login but received only a blank page with
   an error for each option (Media, Links, Pages, Settings, etc.)in the Dashboard.
   The only way to regain access to options was to remove the _WP First Letter Avatar_
   plugin folder by FTP.
 * Any ideas?
 * **Error** – “Fatal error: Call to undefined function mb_strtolower() in /home/
   skywarn1/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-first-letter-avatar/wp-first-letter-
   avatar.php on line 391”
 * **Site** – [http://www.skywarnnews.com](http://www.skywarnnews.com)
 * **Version** – WordPress 4.4.2
 * **Theme (custom)** – News Online
 * **Installed Plugins:**
 * Download Manager
    The Events Calendar UpdraftPlus – Backup/Restore Weather Underground
   Wordfence Security WordPress Importer WP Fastest Cache WP Tab Widget
 * Thanks.
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-first-letter-avatar/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-first-letter-avatar/)

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Dev49.net](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dev49net/)
 * (@dev49net)
 * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-installing-19/#post-7136216)
 * Hi there,
 * You will find your answer here – [https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-call-to-undefined-function-mb_strtolower?replies=1](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-call-to-undefined-function-mb_strtolower?replies=1)
 * Basically you can just write to your hosting provider to enable “mbstring” extension.
   I’m sure they will do that immediately.
 * I am sorry for that, I was sure mbstring was a default extension, turns out it
   isn’t. Almost everyone has it enabled, though, which is a good thing, as this
   is a great PHP extension.
 * Kind regards,
    Daniel Wroblewski
 *  Thread Starter [miskywarn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lagerclub/)
 * (@lagerclub)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-installing-19/#post-7136275)
 * Thanks for the reply. I enabled the “mbstring” extension and am now getting nothing
   but a blank page when in my Dashboard after attempting to install the Plugin 
   mentioned in my first post.
 *  Plugin Author [Dev49.net](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dev49net/)
 * (@dev49net)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-installing-19/#post-7136277)
 * I am sorry to hear that. If you get blank page, then I’m pretty sure there is
   some other error – what does your error log say? PHP error logs are usually on
   your FTP. If not, you should be able to find that somewhere in your hosting dashboard.
 *  Thread Starter [miskywarn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lagerclub/)
 * (@lagerclub)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-installing-19/#post-7136279)
 * The only errors showing are the same as before.
 * “Fatal error: Call to undefined function mb_strtolower() in /home/skywarn1/public_html/
   wp-content/plugins/wp-first-letter-avatar/wp-first-letter-avatar.php on line 
   391”
 * I guess I’ll just have to do without avatars. Being used to Community Forum software
   for the past 15+ years where all members have the option to upload avatars by
   default, this WP Gravatar only option has to be the dumbest thing I have ever
   encountered. Thanks for your time.
 *  Plugin Author [Dev49.net](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dev49net/)
 * (@dev49net)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-installing-19/#post-7136280)
 * I’m sure there must be some incompatibility that makes it impossible to work 
   in your environment, I’m sorry 🙁
    Well, WordPress at its core is very basic 
   in terms of its features, so having no avatar functionality is not that bad in
   general. There are multiple plugins that have very extensive avatar features,
   I’m sure you will find one satisfying your needs.
 * Dan
 *  Thread Starter [miskywarn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lagerclub/)
 * (@lagerclub)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-installing-19/#post-7136281)
 * Issue solved. I decided to download, unpack and install the files manually. Seems
   to function properly, so far. Thanks again.
 *  Plugin Author [Dev49.net](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dev49net/)
 * (@dev49net)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-installing-19/#post-7136282)
 * Well, that’s unusual 🙂 Great to know, thanks!

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

The topic ‘Error When Installing’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/wp-first-letter-avatar/assets/icon-128x128.png?rev=1093045)
 * [WP First Letter Avatar](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-first-letter-avatar/)
 * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-first-letter-avatar/#faq)
 * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wp-first-letter-avatar/)
 * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wp-first-letter-avatar/active/)
 * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wp-first-letter-avatar/unresolved/)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wp-first-letter-avatar/reviews/)

 * 7 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Dev49.net](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dev49net/)
 * Last activity: [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-installing-19/#post-7136282)
 * Status: resolved