The method
Use this prompt when your website is experiencing downtime. Paste the prompt into ChatGPT/Gemini/Claude and provide as much detail as possible about the downtime, recent changes, and hosting environment for a tailored solution.
The prompts
Prompt 1
My website, [website name], is currently down. The last successful access was approximately [time] on [date]. I'm using [hosting provider] on a [shared/VPS/dedicated] server. I recently [installed a plugin/updated the theme/made configuration changes] on [date]. The error message displayed is [error message, if any]. Can you provide a step-by-step guide to diagnose the problem, including checks for server status, DNS configuration, resource utilization (CPU, memory), and common web server errors (500, 502, 503)? Also, suggest potential solutions for each possible cause and include relevant commands for [Linux/Windows] server environments. What are the first three steps I should take immediately to assess the situation?
Prompt 2
Assume you are a senior web hosting expert. My client's website [website name] is down. They are reporting a [specific error message] or [no error message, just a blank page]. They have a [shared hosting/VPS/dedicated server] with [hosting provider]. Their tech stack is [WordPress/PHP/Node.js/other]. Recently, they [updated a plugin/changed DNS settings/experienced a surge in traffic]. Generate a detailed troubleshooting checklist that includes checking server logs, database connections, resource usage, and DNS propagation. For each item on the checklist, provide specific commands or tools I can use to investigate. Furthermore, suggest potential temporary fixes (e.g., restarting the server, disabling plugins) to bring the site back online quickly while I diagnose the root cause. Prioritize actions based on the most likely causes given the information provided. Finally provide a summary of likely causes based on the provided information.