Can someone talk to me about web hosting?!

[anchovies]

We had a website set up by a design company a couple of years ago who sold us hosting to go with it. I have just recieved our next invoice and they are charging us £20 a month (we have a 6 page very basic website and 4 email addresses). Have gathered we are being ripped off so have purchased hosting from 1&1 but now need to transfer the website and domain (is this right?) Could anyone tell me how on earth I do this? Have been trawling their help pages for most of this morning but haven't got anywhere!

Have you got a .co.uk domain name or is it something different?

Yes it's a .co.uk

in which case that's a bit easier..

..there's a FAQ at 1and1 once you've logged in that explains the transfer process quite simply.. ..basicallly you have to :

Log into 1and1
Click on the domains bit
Click on add domain
follow the wizard - basically you type in your domain name (don't add www)
It will detect that the domain is already registered..
Confirm that you are the owner and complete the rest of the wizard.. ...it's just form filling.

Once that's all complete you need to contact the current hosting people (if they also manage your domain name) and ask them to change the IPSTAG to SCHLUND (which is 1and1s IPSTAG). This allows 1and1 to take control of the domain and allow you to do what you like with it.

Either before or while that is happening you need to get a copy of your website including any images etc and upload it to your 1and1 webspace.. ...it's all wizard driven but I can lend a hand if you get stuck..

..once the domain has transferred (usually around 24-48 hours after the IPSTAG has been changed) you can point www.yourdomainname.co.uk at your webspace and your website will spring to life.

You'll also have to create mailboxes that match the ones you've got set up now.. ..I can walk you through that if you like when you're nearly there... ...I'm around most of most days...

Thanks so much! Can't believe you have taken the time to help me so much! Am going to have a go now, will let you know how I get on!

no probs.. ...I've transferred a ton of domains to 1and1 without any probs... ...always willing to help non-geeks with geeky stuff..

ha ha stuck already! Do I want the detected name servers or 1and1 name servers? Am confused because previous hosting was also with 1and1 but managed by the web design place.

so did you already have the 1and1 account or was it all done by the design people? I'd stick the 'use 1and1 nameservers' option, then you know that everything is manageable by you.

Everything should be a lot quicker if everything is already with 1and1.. ...might be even quicker to get them on the phone and do it that way.. ..you should just need to know your 1and1 account number and your domain name...

Good idea will ring them and amaze them with my complete ineptitude! What do you do as a job geekboy (ie can I pay you to sort this out for me?!)

Head of Digital for a London marketing/communications company...

(For geekboy or anyone else that can help me)
Hi geekboy. Sorry to use this thread to find you, I thought it would be easier this way.

Just wondering about web hosting... There are so many, I'm starting to have a headache. My DH and I were thinking on using 1and1 but I just read soooo many bad reviews, sigh, I don't know (Are all those bad reviews from 1and1 competitors?-I wonder).
Basically I need one to start an e-shop (1and1 has that option) w shopping cart etc ect. Also, I need templates to start, hope to learn more and one day use frontpage.
So, any advice?

Thanks.

I only use the 1and1 root servers which means I control what goes on there so there's only me to complain to if I mess it up.

Not quite sure what the shop is like with 1and1 but there are a ton of free shopping cart applications around that don't cost anything (ZenCart is quite a lovely piece of work).

If it's going to be for a shop then it may even be worth looking at the ZenCart website and seeing if there are hosting companies that supply ZenCart listed.

Might be worth shouting near LittleLapin (who seems to have added some halloween theme to the rabbity name) as the small rabbit seems to be involved in the website building business (and more importantly doesn't ever talk rubbish!!)

Sorry I'm not actually helping.... ...best advice would probably be to stick with 1and1 for the time being, investigate their shop and call on someone like LittleLapin to give you a hand with making it look pretty... ...I'm strictly a geek with a strong developer background so making things look pretty rather than functional isn't one of my strong points (although I do know a lot about accessibility and usability...)

Cheers,

GB