session_start() fails when moving site

[bevco]

I am having the same problem when moving my site to GoDaddy. My error message is
PHP Warning: session_start(): Failed to read session data: user (path: /opt/alt/php72/var/lib/php/session) in /home/yugv8y3yjfjb/public_html/home/libraries/joomla/session/handler/native.php on line 260
I hope someone has an answer to this!

I have carefully checked my config file and database user and pwd are correct.

[AWizard]

Hi Bevco, Apparently this can happen for a number of reasons including:
1. Headers already sent - which can happen if there is space or even an invisible character before the opening <?php of any php file called to this point. That can occur inadvertently when you transfer the files with FTP.
2. Not having the correct permissions on your PHP session directory. In your case /opt/alt/php72/var/lib/php/session/
There must also be other reasons because my test site is still not working but I have yet determind what they are. To verify that the above two reasons did not apply in my case I added the following code after line 261 in native.php:
echo session_save_path().":\r\n";
file_put_contents(session_save_path().'/test','Test');
$header = (headers_sent($file, $line)?"Header sent in file ".$file." on ".$line:"Header not sent");
This reports the path being used for session data and attepts to write a file to that location to confirm that permissions were OK. It then reports whether or not headers have been sent.
If you are prepared to do that then I'll see if I can resolve your issue. Otherwise, check the permissions first, that is the easiest step.

[bevco]

How do I get to the /opt/alt/php72/var/lib/php/session/ ?

[AWizard]

You need to sign in to your goDaddy account. Select your domain and then go to cPanel. From there you will see File Manager.

[bevco]

OK I see the files but not an opt folder.

[AWizard]

I think you need to go to goDaddy support for more info on that.

[bevco]

Is this a folder in my website directory or something in GoDaddy?

Never mind - I think I found it!

[bevco]

I found the file /opt/alt/php72/var/lib/php/session/ and added the code but don't know where to find the report.

[AWizard]

Hi Bev,
I am not sure what file you are looking for at /opt/alt/php72/var/lib/php/session/but to clarify from me:
You need to add the code to the native.php file after line 261. The path you are quoting is where the session data is stored and that is where a file called text containing the data "Text" whould be found if all access priviliges are correct.
Your native.php file is at:
/home/yugv8y3yjfjb/public_html/home/libraries/joomla/session/handler/native.php
The output will be embedded in the same error message that you were getting before and the test file should appear in whatever path was reported in that message.
Please post the full error message after you try the above.