UBB.threads PHP Forum Software Community Forums UBB.threads 7 Version 7 Support Problem with captchas after server rebuild

I recently moved the BBS from a dead machine to a new server via my backup. Logins, posting, uploads, etc all work fine.

however captchas for registrations and non-registered user posts are broken.

The image displays fine, but I get "Image Verification incorrect. " even though I know I'm typing it correctly.

I've searched for that error message. I've looked through the captcha threads, but they all seem to be about the image not displaying properly.

what version of ubbthreads?

is there a link to your site?

7.5.4.1

http://bbs.125gp.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

Did you make sure that the paths all got updated in your config file?

I don't think any paths changed. Login and sessions work, posting works, uploading avatars works.

I'd double check your cache directory and make sure it's fully writable. Maybe delete everything in there except for the index.html file. That directory is used during the captcha process.

cache directory is mode 777. Cleaned it out, no change.

I changed this line:
$html->not_right($ubbt_lang['NO_IMAGE_VERIFY']);

to this:
$html->not_right($_SESSION['cp_code']);

It prints nothing, i.e. _SESSION is losing the cp_code.

that's in addpost.inc.php

Ok, double check your sessions directory. Clear that one out as well except fro the index.php file, and then verify that new sessions are being created.

clearing session directory out didn't make a difference. A new file was created with the correct key in it.

$html->not_right($captcha);

see if there is anything in there?

Well here is my thinking.
There are only a couple of files that call the captcha function.
Under images is the background images and ttf files.
Usually if there are any extra files other than the jpg or ttf files it causes a problem with displaying the image.
Does not appear to be the case here.

Then you have a captcha.inc.php file in the libs and script folder.
They could be corrupted of do not have the correct permissions.

Then of course is you have two options to use either gd or IM.
So one of them may be the culprit so you could change that in the registration settings.
If this is the case then I would assume you would have issues in a gallery forum also.

Other than that instead of playing post tag. Open a support ticket.

This prints out the text I entered.

It prints out the captcha just fine.

Feel free to go here and try it. No login required.

http://bbs.125gp.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=newpost&Board=7

Upgraded to 7.5.5, no change. Opening ticket.

One question, does your new server have a graphics library? Mainly GD2 (which at the moment is the default library base). Capcha also uses that as well. Also in Registration basic options ensure that GD2 is turned on (by default you have two choices, disabled and use gd2)... I know you may have already checked this but as nothing else has worked I would recommend a second look into this to see if it helps at least.

Dunny

Actually, I believe that there is no "default", but it should error out if none is selected.. BUT since you moved it would likely be trying to use what you where using before, so you may need to make sure GD or ImageMagick is installed on the new server and if using IM the path is set properly.

I don't think I'm having a problem with the image library GD2. The image is displaying correctly.

The problem appears to be with the routines that are passing the BBS generated captcha key to compare with what is entered by the user.

The BBS generated key is stored in the session file in the sessions directory. $captcha contains the properly entered captcha by the user. The code is failing to decide that they are equal for some reason.

UBB support found and worked around the problem. There were sessions being written to two different directories. Still trying to find out why, but I'm pretty sure it will end up being user error when I restored the backup.

the code uses a hard wired $config value for the session path that is fixed @ install time..

it isn't changeable after that, unless you edit config.inc.php

so the captcha code was assuming all was honkey dorey and writing to the old path (or at least trying to)..

so i wouldn't call it an operator error..

i'd call it exposing a 'feature' to keep in the back of your mind if you ever need to move

ideally, imho.. captcha.inc.php and ubbthreads.inc.php should be using a forum relative sessions directory, so moving wouldn't be an issue..

admin/fileperms.php is assuming it's relative too, soooo just sayin..

That's what I was thinking was the problem as well SD. However it wasn't that. The session path was set properly. It's just the primary one was totally ignoring it and storing in the default php directory while the captcha sessions were being written to the one specified in the config file.

No rhyme or reason why it was doing that, so had to change everything to use the default php one.

hrm... :scratch_head:

RIGHT ON!!! So our captcha was broken, I fixed it then noticed the old and new forum both were randomly showing 3 maybe 4 characters and getting it to display 6 was near impossible!

I found a file called .listing in both backgrounds and fonts folders, deleting them fixed the limited number of char!

Thanks Ruben!