1.8 'The rewrite test failed' error. - Resolved

During the set-up of version 1.8.4, in the requirements check, I receive the error:

The rewrite test failed and the most likely cause is that AllowOverride is not set to All for Elgg's directory. This prevents Apache from processing the .htaccess file which contains the rewrite rules.

A less likely cause is Apache is configured with an alias for your Elgg directory and you need to set the RewriteBase in your .htaccess. There are further instructions in the .htaccess file in your Elgg directory.

The same page also says that "Your server's PHP satisfies all of Elgg's requirements.".

In my Apache's httpd.conf, I have "AllowOverride All". Moreover, when I run the http://localhost:8080/ModRewriteTest/testing.php I get "mod_rewrite works". So, I conclude (rightly or wrongly) that I must have no problems with the rewrite.

As for RewriteBase, I should have no problems because I have elgg installed at the root of Apache (hence no subdomain). Yet, after the failure, I also changed it to "RewriteBase /" in .htaccess but it did not improve the situation.

I have:

Apache 2.2.10 on Windows Vista

PHP 5.2.17 (with safe_mode = Off) This is the VC6 x86 Thread Safe version.

MySQL 5.5.21

Elgg 1.8.4

I have tried to skip this requirement step by manipulating the URL to database check. This seems to have worked for some people as reported in the previous tech support notes. For me after "create admin account" step, I have received unrecoverable fatal error. Hence I decided that I have to be sure that the requirements step to work before I can investigate other causes.

I have looked around. Checked the config files over and over. Tried out the rewriteTest PHP program but to no avail. I must have done something wrong but just can not find it. I wonder if the real problem is something else than the reported one?

I appreciate any help on this...

Best Regards.