Flash video plugin fatal error on Wordpress

[shammah98]

I'm running WP 2.9 and trying to activate a plugin; simple flash player, however I keep getting a "fatal error" message each time I try to activate, no files, numbers, it just says unable to activate because of a fatal error. If I then try to delete the plugin, it is incomplete cos it cannot delete the .php file, and i have t manually go into the server to delete it.
Is there a way to find out what exactly is causing the fatal error, as it's hard to trouble shoot otherwise?
I've tried inactivating all other plugins to rule out a conflict, but same error. i even tried the deafault WP theme, same error. the plugin author says he's able to run it fine with WP2.9, and says maybe its something with bluehost?
I also tried CHMOD the perms to 766
thanks for the help in advance

[redsox9]

Does the fatal error response give you any information regarding the cause of the error (file name, line number, etc.)?

[shammah98]

typically no, but i tried multiple consecutive activations (failed), and finally got this message

Plugin could not be activated because it triggered a fatal error.

Warning: require_once(functions.php) [function.require-once]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/mybigblu/public_html/wp-content/plugins/simple-flash-video/simple-flash-video.php on line 50

thanks for ur help
E

[farcaster]

According to the Wordpress site here -> http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/simple-flash-video/

some people are reporting this as being broken in version 2.9.

You may have to visit the vendors site to see about getting this fixed, or find an alternative plugin.

[shammah98]

According to the Wordpress site here -> http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/simple-flash-video/

some people are reporting this as being broken in version 2.9.

You may have to visit the vendors site to see about getting this fixed, or find an alternative plugin.

Yeah, I can't remember if i tried this before i upgraded to WP 2.9, but i know definitely neither the current stable release, nor the recent beta has worked for me. the thing is, i believe many others have it working on wp 2.9 installs (including the plugin author, so he tells me). i've unstalled all other plugins and even tried the default themes. but still no joy, thats why i was starting to suspect something in the server setup. i dont know. but thanks though.
i found another video player, but unfortunately, there is no other plugin that has this ones functionality; ie thumbnails with shadowbox effect

[farcaster]

I haven't looked at the plugin closely, or the requirements.

One thought tells me to check those requirements and see if there is something that php needs to make it operate correctly. That would/should be the only difference between two different servers. The plugin author may be able to lead you in the right direction here.

Bluehost has a set of defaults that everyone gets when they sign up. However, via the cPanel, you can install a personalized version and set additional parameters there. It could be as simple as allocation additional php memory for Wordpress.