Title: Internal 500 Server Error Last modified: August 30, 2016 --- # Internal 500 Server Error * Resolved [david](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dskirk/) * (@dskirk) * [10 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-500-server-error-3/) * I’ve used BulletproofSecurity for several years on a number of sites, so I was surprised when I installed it my first Bluehost site and it crashed the site with an internal 500 server error. Removing the .htaccess file was no help. The only solution I could do was restore a prior version of the site. I also worked with Bluehost tech support, but no solution other than to not use the plugin. * Here is what happened. I installed, created the secure root .htaccess, activated it and all was well. Then, I clicked the button to activate the wp-admin .htaccess folder and the site instantly crashed. After a restore, I walked slowly through the steps again and the site crashed again. There was no .htaccess file found in the wp-admin folder. Any ideas on what caused this will be appreciated as I’m now not using the plugin. Thanks for any suggestions. * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/bulletproof-security/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/bulletproof-security/) Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total) * Plugin Author [AITpro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aitpro/) * (@aitpro) * [10 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-500-server-error-3/#post-6242310) * Actually my guess is that the problem is going to be with the root htaccess file. In PHP code you are always seeing the past after the initial first millisecond of php code processing is done. So it appeared that activating wp-admin BulletProof Mode caused the crash, but it was actually the root htaccess file. When you activated wp-admin BulletProof Mode you were seeing the present for a millisecond and not the past. * This statement you made confirms my guess. * > There was no .htaccess file found in the wp-admin folder. * What type of hosting is this? Linux, Windows, something else? Did you add any additional custom htaccess code to BPS Custom Code? Are you using a caching plugin? If so, which one? * Thread Starter [david](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dskirk/) * (@dskirk) * [10 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-500-server-error-3/#post-6242341) * The server is Linux. Normally, I activate the default secure htaccess before adding custom code. This time I activated Zencache and copied the gzip code and pasted into custom field first, so that the first activation of root htaccess had the gzip code. Was that my problem? Not installing the default secure htaccess first? Puzzling to me, as it’s always been rock solid for me in the past. My main fear is having the problem repeat. If it happened again, any suggestions on how to fix without doing a restore? Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it. david * Plugin Author [AITpro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aitpro/) * (@aitpro) * [10 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-500-server-error-3/#post-6242357) * For htaccess files you only need to do the troubleshooting steps below if there is a problem and would not have to do a restore. A 500 error when using htaccess files usually means either the server does not allow some of the htaccess code or there is a mistake with some of the htaccess code. ie one typo or invalid text/code in an htaccess code/files will cause a 500 error. * [https://wordpress.org/support/topic/setup-steps-troubleshooting-steps-uninstall-steps-requirements-compatibility?replies=1](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/setup-steps-troubleshooting-steps-uninstall-steps-requirements-compatibility?replies=1) * > htaccess File Troubleshooting Steps: Unable to Login to Your Website: > 1. Use > FTP or your Web Host Control Panel File Manager and delete the .htaccess file > in your website root folder and the .htaccess file in your wp-admin folder. > See Custom Code Note 2. Log into your website, click the BPS AutoMagic Buttons > and Activate all BulletProof Modes. Or if you are removing BPS do steps 3 and > 4 under BPS removal steps. * Thread Starter [david](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dskirk/) * (@dskirk) * [10 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-500-server-error-3/#post-6242371) * Thanks. I had deleted the root htaccess and replaced it with a vanilla WordPress htaccess and had same problem – but I had not attempted to login. I had contacted Bluehost tech support and was told that a PHP index to the theme (?) had been corrupted (way over my head…). I’ll mark this closed as it was mostly for my education. If it happens again and the steps to correct fail, I’ll open a fresh support ticket. Thanks for your time and patience in explaining this. david * Plugin Author [AITpro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aitpro/) * (@aitpro) * [10 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-500-server-error-3/#post-6242376) * Just additional FYI info about WordPress theme template files for your reference. * [https://codex.wordpress.org/Stepping_Into_Templates](https://codex.wordpress.org/Stepping_Into_Templates) The basic standard theme template files that are most commonly edited/changed are: index.php, header.php, footer.php, single.php, page.php, functions.php, comments.php, archive.php. There are other theme template files, but these are the ones that are most commonly edited/changed by folks. * Thread Starter [david](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dskirk/) * (@dskirk) * [10 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-500-server-error-3/#post-6242378) * Thank you very much. Your time in responding in this thread has been much appreciated. Support here has always been superb. Regards, david Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total) The topic ‘Internal 500 Server Error’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/bulletproof-security/assets/icon-128x128.png?rev=1731938) * [BulletProof Security](https://wordpress.org/plugins/bulletproof-security/) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bulletproof-security/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bulletproof-security/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bulletproof-security/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/bulletproof-security/reviews/) * 6 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [david](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dskirk/) * Last activity: [10 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/internal-500-server-error-3/#post-6242378) * Status: resolved