can't get to my cpanel anymore

forbidden error

[chasing something]

i have several sites, all cpanels work except one. it used to work fine, but now i get first a security pop up (going to a secure site), then straight to 'forbidden' error. i don't get a login pop up even.

my host for this particular site doesn't know what is going on.

anyone else have an idea?

[kaled]

I had something like this happen ages ago. I think it was a problem with proxy-server settings.

Make sure you are connecting directly (for https: presumably).

Also try connecting through a dialup. If that works ok it is probably an ISP issue.

Kaled.

[vkaryl]

Can you access your site through a regular ftp program? If so, double check the permissions on your root folder (public_html, www, whatever it's called on your server). If you accidentally set the permissions wrong, you'll get the "forbidden" message. Your host SHOULD be able to see if that's the case though....

[chasing something]

the strange part is, i've been able to get there for years.
this first happened about 2 weeks ago, and i had my host/friend go there and see if it worked for him.

he got there no problem and requested a password request for me, which i reset and was then able to go login--but only non SSL.

2 weeks later, it is happening again.

none of my settings have been changed in that time. i can access my ftp btw.

[vkaryl]

Well, that's pretty weird. So if you can access by ftp, it almost HAS to be something strange on cpanel. You didn't change anything....

You didn't by some chance use the Index Manager or the Password Protect Directories Manager? I ask because I did this same thing to myself the first time I moved to cpanel servers.... I mean, it SOUNDED good in theory....

[chasing something]

lol....hate to show how little i know about it, but i don't even know what those settings ARE, nevermind change them. lol. since i don't know more, i'm careful NOT to change anything.
i do know my computer tho, i haven't changed a thing. same ISP, no setting changes, same browser, etc. good firewall, virus, etc protection.

starting to look like i have to work this out with my host, who doesn't know either:( bugger...lol.

[kaled]

You need to try the following to get some idea of where the problem lies.

1) Log in from another (preferably distant) computer.
If successful, cpanel & server are ok.
Possibly your IP is being blocked -unlikely.

2) Log in with a dialup
If successful your usual isp may be broken (or main IP is blocked).

3) Check you proxy settings (for https)

4) Log in with a different browser.

5) Log in with all firewalls (inc XP) disabled.

6) If you have a dual-booting capability, log in from the same machine but a different OS.

When diagnosing tricky problems of this sort you need two positions : one that works and one that doesn't. Gradually, you reduce the differences until there is only one (that you can see).

If it is absolutely impossible to login from your computer, the possibity that your IP is being blocked somehow must be considered, but until you run these tests and possibly various combinations, it is impossible to diagnose the problem.

Kaled.

[chasing something]

ok, i'll do that.
thanks for the suggestions everyone:)

[vkaryl]

chasing something: one other thing - did you allow windows to upgrade XP to SP2 automatically?

If so, that could be part of the problem. If this cpanel you can't access is on a completely different server/host from the ones you CAN access, that might be it....

[chasing something]

they are on different servers. i'm only using win98 tho.
my host mentioned something about they just changed it so siteinquestion.com/cpanel automatically redirects to a secure server...i wonder if that has anything to do with it?
it's all just guessing for now...i'll have to go use someone elses computer and see what happens.