I need advice on changing web hosts.

[Sumdumgi]

I have a web page with my own domain name. It was originally hosted by flashnet but they sold to prodigy and they sold to sbc.

When prodigy bought flashnet I inquired with prodigy if I could just have them host my web page but not be my isp so i could get a lower rate. Prodigy told me no and that if I cancelled my isp service which at the time was $15/mth or so, that my web page would go down also. Now that SBC owns them my rate is 30.00 a month.

What should or can I do to get my cost down. I dont even use Prodigy or sbc as isp, email or anything. I need accurate step by step help because I rate high in popular search engines and I dont want to mess any of that up or take down my web site.
Thanks

[Statica]

1) First, who is your domain registrar? Enquire with them if you can do DNS changes. Its usually very easy to do it.
2) If you can do DNS information changes without any problems look for a good host that suits your budget & requirements
3) Backup your webpages either from the server, or if you have another copy of it well and good.
4) Upload the pages to the new host that you have contracted
5) Login to your registrar's pages and change the DNS information (as will be given by your new hosting provider)
6) Delete your pages from sbc

Most people should see a downtime from about 4 hrs to abt 24 hrs.

If your domain registrar is with progidy or sbc then you probably have a problem. What you should then try to do is go to another registrar (I'd recommend godaddy.com) and try to transfer the domain to godaddy. This step is dicey and largely depends on prodigy or sbc allowing the transfer .. but I've yet to see any registrar disallow it.

[mairving]

There really shouldn't be any downtime if done properly. Get your new host first, then upload all of your files to your site. Then change your domain with your registar, once the site resolves to the new site, then you can cancel your other account. It won't affect your search engine status, since for the most part search engines don't care what your IP address is or where you are hosted, only your domain name.

[Sumdumgi]

I dont remember who the registar is. I cant recall the name. I remember paying a company a yearly fee for registration but it wasnt prodigy or sbc. I think I even paid up for 3 years. I really dont know a thing about web etc... Should I contract with someone to do this or can you all help me get it done? Remember I am a novice at web stuff. If you want to help be prepared to spend some time with me. Who should I use as a host and what is approx cost?
Thanks for the replys.

[tx2Step]

It sounds like you need some expert help. Been handling such things for my clients for 14 years. My site is at www.wowgraphics.com, there is quite a bit of information there. But you'll need to find out who your domain name is registered with, that's pretty easy to do with a search of public records.

The transfer process is generally tricky as domain name registrars are never happy if you want to transfer. But you may not even have to do that. If you are the admin or listed as some other entity on the registration, it's easy enough to change the site's direction to new hosting.

Nonetheless your site won't lose any uptime if done properly. And though I don't want to make this an advertisment, I have hosting for $15 monthly, no setup fees. My services are nominal and my customer care is the best you'll find. Sorry if this is a commercial, but I have helped lots of my clients out of sticky messes over the years and I do so a lot less expensively than some others out there.

You can email me directly and I'll help with advice, no charge. My email is at tx2step2000@yahoo.com

[Sumdumgi]

I cannot display www.wowgraphics.com. Try a new link.

[tx2Step]

sorry try www.wowgraphicsdesign.com or www.outdoorwebdesign.com

the tips pages run off of about wow page I think

and list your site for me so I can check where it's at and what's up with domain name registrar if you want -

[Sumdumgi]

Here is my web page. http://www.mobilecoachspecialties.com

[tx2Step]

Okay so here's what I know to this point. You site is hosted on prodigy (now SBC Prodigy) on NS.Flash.Net 207.115.62.38 primary server. Admin is Mobile Caoch listed in Del City Texas. Tech is Flash Net Communications. Domain name expires Apr 7, 2003 and it's through Verisign ($35 annual)

You can update your information and manage the site by way of this link I believe:

http://myhome.prodigy.net/help/index.html

You probably have a user name and password. Prodigy shows they're sending out new CD's to everyone and I don't know whether this is relevant to you or not but it's likely they sent you a new user name and pw when they took over from flash net.

With Verisign and Network Solutions (same company now), have had trouble with them transferring domain names but it can be done. Through my bulk account membership I can renew the domain name for $15 and while you can get it cheaper at go daddy I don't know anything about them whereas I do about bulk register, whoc are excellent to work with.

That's what you would do once you had your new hosting though, log in to Verisign and update the DNS numbers (primary and secondary DNS) for the site to the new ones you get with the new host.

It's pretty simple to do and only takes a few days for the change to occur. But you just don't cancel your old hosting until the new one is totally loaded and the site is resolving to the new numbers.

[Sumdumgi]

Man Tex.
You found out alot. Some of my account info is wrong and I need to change it. Like Del City, TX. It should be OK. Anyway, I will email you later to discuss having you take this over.
Thanks

[tx2Step]

If you need help with the steps to change the info or whatever I'll be glad to help you. I don't know what the set up is exactly with sbc prodigy but it won't be much different than anyone else's and verisign change of info is easy if your email address is correct within their information of record. Now if the email address is wrong we could be in for a fight, verisign has put me through this before so I have experience with them on this with several clients. They make it hard but it isn't impossible.

The public information available on people and web sites is often scary to me. Almost anyone can find out almost anything about anyone else fairly easy. But with a free society that is the way it is I suppose. I only wanted what info I needed to help you if I could, and it was easy enough to locate.

Just drop me an email whenever you need or post here, I check the boards regularly to get and give help when I can.

Tx2step

[Sumdumgi]

Been busy and going out of town for 5 days. Will get back to ya later.

[Sumdumgi]

Hey Tex
I forgot about this deal til I got an email from verisign wanting me to renew. Should I do it now or let you do it now.
Thanks

[glc]

Sounds like Tx is going to take good care of you, but I just got the Verisign renewal notice and jumped ship to Godaddy. The transfer was painless and handled in 2 days for $7.75, and I got a free year's extension.