BuddyPress.org

“i set the permalink to custom “/” ”

You filled n the wrong values. Basically what you put there will never work. On any theme.

https://codex.wordpress.org/Permalinks

Did you look in the database for the old url?

Please start a new thread so more people can see it.
Please link to your site.
Please post the things you *have* tried. Then we can help. 🙂

It works on new installs when I try it, so it’s something specific to your server.

Use multisite instead.

Don’t add another wp install in a subdirectory. Enable the network on the main site. you can hav sub dir sites with it and they share a userbase.

https://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network

“ok, it works on another sub network.”

Do you mean sub site? Because if you’re running multiple networks, that may be more the issue

StudioPress has a paid plugin to make their Genesis child theme buddypress compatible. you can do the work manually as mercime has suggested, or you can get the plugin. ask them over there. 😉

Turn off all your plugins, then enable them one by one to see which one is causing the error.

Or, go back to using just bbpress and install a private messaging plugin if that’s all the extra you need?

https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/private-messages-for-wordpress/
that’s just one i found.

What theme are you using? What is the link to your site?

The spammers google for your registration page. If they can’t find it there….

And I’m suggesting it as one to help – not the be-all end-all. 😉 Do that in conjunction with other things and it does help. I could also argue […]

Did someone turn off registration? Go check and make sure it;s turning on under Settings.

If you only have a single site install of WordPress, the extra blogs should be off already. If you turned on multisite (created a network) you can either turn that off or disable blog creation under network settings.

Change your registration slug and everywhere you’ve linked to the signup page make sure it has a nofollow on it.

Have you tried going to the BudyPress settings in the admin area and disabling the extended profiles?

Colors would be done via the style.css in the theme.

https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/search.php?q=theme+switcher&sort=

dozens here.

they only need to copy/paste that info if for some reason the key in that URL does not show in their address bar.

For example, this is the email that is sent:

“Thanks for registering! To complete the activation of your account please click the following link:

http://example.com/activate?key=5570d3e7b263884f2b63ed6d096571cb”

See […]

“But where is the activation code that its asking me to enter…”

In the email with the link you just clicked. it’s part of the link itself.

“Clicking the link doesn’t add the activation code in the input field does […]

Yes, you DID receive the activation key. it was in the link that you just clicked on. CLicking the link verifies your new account.