Support

 Hello,

Wondering how to access the Joomla backend. My hidden URL only returns me to the main domain page. I've tried to rename the "/public_html/plugins/system/admintools/admintools/main.php" file to "mainbak.php" but I am getting the same result.

Any pointers appreciated.

You did exactly the right thing. The main.php is cached somewhere, either in your browser or in a site level cache provided by your host. Clearing the browser cache is usually easy. The host level cache usually requires assistance from your host. Or you can just try again in the morning. :-)

So far no luck getting access to the back end. The host hasn't been able to help with anything, just directed me to clear my DNS cache with CMD.

The hidden URL returns me to the root web, as does the direct /administrator/index.php page. My IP is not listed in either the admintools_ipautoban or admintools_log tables. I've renamed the main.php file, just can't get access to the administrator login form anymore.

Please make sure that your main.php is renamed. That disables the Web Application Firewall completely. Next, please rename your .htaccess file and replace it with the default file that ships with Joomla!. I just saw a ticket this morning where the login problem was the .htaccess file.

Thanks Dale. I've re-downloaded the full 3.4.3 Joomla package, unzipped it, and see there's a file named "htaccess.txt". I renamed the "public_html/.htaccess" file, renamed the "public_html/htaccess.txt" file, uploaded the fresh "htaccess.txt" file, and renamed it ".htaccess". I am still unable to get to the login form with either the administrator URL or the hidden parameter URL.

Then I tried again with the "htaccess.txt" file which was already on the server, but got the same result.

Is there a step I have missed?

The combination of renaming main.php and using the htaccess.txt file as your .htaccess file completely disables Admin Tools. There isn't anything left of it that can affect your site. It has to be something else. What else do you have installed that could redirect the site from one page to another? It could be a SEF extension or a security extension, those would be the most likely anyway.

Oddly, I was able to log into the back end by first logging into the front end with the SuperUser account. Once I was logged into the front end then navigating to the hidden URL returned me to the back end login page. This is with the Admin Tool's main.php renamed. Not sure if corrupting the main.php file name should have caused the hidden URL to return a 404 page or not.

Now that I have access to the control panel, is there anything I need to look at in order to allow regular access to the back end?

Please disable the plugin "System - Admin Tools". Does that solve your login issue?

Thanks for your assistance, Dale. It was another plugin (AdminExile) which was blocking access to the administrator form. I disabled that plugin, set the Admin Tools aright by renaming back the main.php, and then used the "Configure WAF"s own secret URL parameter, and now it's running fine.

I'm glad you figured it out! We you also need to undo the changes in your .htaccess file. I would recommend keeping the Joomla! default file as htaccess.txt, it comes in handy when you need a "vanilla" .htaccess file for testing something.

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