Moving your website between hosts
Copyright © 2006 TopHostsReview.com

If you have decided to switch web hosts, you will need to transfer your website from one host to another. This can be done without much difficulty if you follow some simples steps.

You will need to make a copy of your entire website. Use an FTP utility to download all your website files to your computer. It is best not to assume you already have all of the files on your computer. For example, you may have added scripts from the internet that are not on your computer. When using Dreamweaver, use the GET command to copy your files. When using Frontpage, use the import feature to copy your website.

If you have not already done so, choose your new hosing company. Search for a company that offers you all the features and services you needs. Read reviews on the hosting company and ask for people’s knowledge and opinions on that company (webhostingtalk.com is a good place to do this). Find a company with a reputation of providing good, quality service.

After you find your new host, you can transfer your domain name. Contact your old domain name registrar. This is where you bought your domain name. Change your Domain Name Server (DNS) to that of your new web host. You website will experience some down time while your DNS records are changed and propagated through the Internet. This process usually takes between 24-72 hours.

You will be able to check the status of your updates by performing a WHOIS on your domain name. Once your details change from that of your old host to those of your new host, the transfer is complete. It is best to maintain the services on your domain name, including email forwarding and web hosting until this process is complete.

It is now time to upload your website files to your new web host. If you are using Dreamweaver, define your website first. Then, use the PUT command to transfer your files. When using Frontpage, create a new website from the files you imported from your old web host and publish them on the new host. Using Dreamweaver or Frontpage editors, makes it relatively easy to transfer your html files. You can keep most or even all of your website just as it was before changing hosts.

There is another way to transfer your website but it is a bit more involved. You can copy the source code from the pages on your website. Do this by viewing the source. The information will be displayed on Notepad. Click file save as and save the information as an html file. The page will be ready to load to a new location. Remember that images will have to be saved separately.

In some cases your website will not look exactly the way it did before transferring to a new web host. This happens if some html files or code did not completely transfer. You can edit your website to make any necessary changes to restore it to the original version.

After you have transferred your domain name and website files, check to make sure all services on your website are working. Once you have tested your website to know it is working properly, then you can cancel your old hosting service. Your website has found it’s new home!

More Reviews
Easy CGI | InMotion Hosting | Jumpline | Hostsave | Simplehost | Aplus Hosting | Hostway | Yahoo Hosting | WebsiteSource | Netfirms | Dot5Hosting | Apollo Hosting | Homestead | Lypha | HostingPlex | Energized hosting | Omnetix | Hosting Zoom | Host Color | Hostony | FineWebHost | Hostcats | Imhosted | Hostexpress | PagesGarden | |Advanced Network Hosts |Vistapages |Site5 |ThinkHost |TBhost | Iniquinet.com | Interland | Intermedia | Olm.net | Routhost | Ready Hosting | Sedna Hosting | Winsave | NetworkEleven | ZZ Hosting | 2MHost