Question PHP Fatal error: Call to undefined function: htmlspecialchars_decode() in

Hi There, its been a really long day. I'm totally new to forum building and fairly new to joomla , so after a day battling with the install and configuration of my first ever forum, I felt quite happy until I hit this error:

PHP Fatal error: Call to undefined function: htmlspecialchars_decode() in <PATH>/components/com_kunena/lib/kunena.link.class.php on line 124

I soon discovered from this forum that the problem was that my server was running an old version of php ( 4.4.9 )

I carried out the suggested fix found here:
www.kunena.com/forum?func=view&catid=17&id=4078

Unfortunately It wasn't clear where to insert the script on line 1275. I eventually added it to the end of the line and my problem seemed to be sorted.

I was once again happy until I tried to update my Avatar and received another
"Call to undefined function: htmlspecialchars_decode()" error with a different page, I carried out the same fix to that php line and page.
However now I get another similar error when trying to click on a forum topic:

Call to undefined function: htmlspecialchars_decode() in /home/sites/www.jcrecordings.com/public_html/components/com_kunena/template/default/view.php on line 108

I have looked at this code and tried the fix in numerous different places but i just can't get it too work.

Where in the script do I insert the fix? am I going to constantly be plagued with htmlspecialchars_decode errors whilst using this server. I'm a bit gutted after all the work, I hope you can help

cheers

John

PS despite my noob whining, I do think this is the best joomla module I have ever seem, I couldn't even contemplate a forum using Dreamweaver

I would stop trying to patch files and ask my host to upgrade my PHP version.

Yes, I was disappointed to find my host using dated software, I have submitted a trouble ticket

Ok my hosting company have shown me how to activate php 5, unfortunately i have a new error now with my search:
Fatal error: Call to undefined function mb_substr() in /home/sites/www.jcrecordings.com/public_html/components/com_kunena/lib/kunena.search.class.php on line 264

I have seen a quick fix on the forum, but I don't understand where to make the change

Are you reading the error message? It says what file is causing the error at the end.
kunena.link.class.php I'm closing your other post.

Yes i was reading the error message and yes I did see that the error was resulting in kunena.link.class.php , I looked here first, The instructions in the other forum reference say to change mb_substr() call to substr(), but I did not see mb_substr() anywhere in the file, and line 264 didn't give me any clues.

I have now found what I need to do, which may seem obvious to you with your PHP script knowledge, but for us who are just learning it is not so obvious that there should be contents between the brackets of the function and that the function need not be on the error line, so for newbies like me i will explain more clearly:

on line 512 you will see:
mb_substr(html_entity_decode_utf8($resmessage), 0, 300));
this needs to be changed to :
substr(html_entity_decode_utf8($resmessage), 0, 300));

Grumblemarc, I will say it again, this is brilliant software, which by its nature is not straightforward, but your contributions to us simple folk make all the difference,
cheers

John