If you are getting 'white pages', paste the following code at the very top of your php page..
<?php
error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors','on');
?>
this should help you debug.
i just checked the getting started guide for ecart and it seems to work ok.
here is a link...
ecart_gsg.php
PS Webassist, the print link for ecart_ssl_ht.php doesn't work.