Moving website to a new host???? (operating system, email, server, how to)

[neecewh]

Could anyone tell me what is involved with moving my website to a new host? I am currently using Just Host and I am finding I am down more than I am up. I want to switch but I am not all that techy. I have managed to get a wordpress site up but my web technology experience ends there. Would a novice be able to do this? If so, any host recommendations? Thanks for any help or advise you can give.

[JasonF]

You should have a tool like phpMyAdmin available (provided by your host) that will let your archive the Wordpress database contents, which you can then move over to your new host.

Other than that:

1. Copy all the files over to your machine
2. Make sure the domain can be transferred (it should be pretty easy to find in your host's control panel) if you're also transferring that to the new host.

Should take a couple days for everything to be working with your new host.

[Skunk Workz]

Generally this is pretty straight forward.

Most hosts will move your hosting account for you when you sign up with them. It's especially easy if you are moving between hosts that use cPanel (Just Host does), since they can just run a backup, and restore it on the new server. Everything moves and is in exactly the same place that in was before.

If they cant / wont move it for you, then you just download any file, do a DB backup, and then upload / restore on the new server. Then you just have to recreate any email or FTP accounts that you created on the old server.

If all you have is a WordPress installation then you can run WordPress's built in backup routine. During that process you'll get to download a file that contains the backup. Then you can install WP on the new host, and restore the backup from within WP.

The only other thing is to point the domain at the new host. Most hosting companies have pretty good instructions on how to change the name servers to point to their servers.

As for companies, I've never used them, but Host Gator seems to be pretty decent for inexpensive hosting, and I'm sure others will chime in with some suggestions.

[neecewh]

Thank you both! That doesn't seem too daunting. I might even be able to do that.

I wrote to Just Host about the problems I have been having and they said the problem was not them, but it was me (suffering from extremely slow responses ... and they listed a bunch of things that can cause this). Although, my site may be running sluggish I am not sure that was entirely the problem since after hearing back from them my site was back up and running before doing anything on my end.

I guess I will try to implement some of the things they said and see if still happens. If so I will proceed to making a switch. Again, thanks you both!

[thecoalman]

I don't think anyone mentioned it but you'll have to go to your domain registrar and change what the namservers are. Your new host will have the information on what you have to change them too.

Keep your old host active and when you're getting down to where you have about a week left and you have everything on the new server up to date and ready to go change the nameservers. Disable anything on the old host that you might have that is interactive like user comments. You might want to put up a message like "we'll be right back". Anyone eing correctly directed to the new server wont get that message of course.

Once you do that it may take 1 to 3 days before for the change to propagate and everyone is correctly being directed to the new server.

[Tek_Freek]

If you do look and want a rock solid hosting company, this one is. It's not the cheapest you can use, but it is really good.

It hosts Wordpress

Web Hosting, VPS Hosting, Dedicated Hosting | InMotion Hosting

[neecewh]

Thank you coalman and Tek_Freek! I am going to make the switch. They (Just Host) are driving me crazy and I have had my limit. Tek_Freek, thanks for the host recommendation! I don't mind spending a little more for a decent host.

[ToucheGA]

Originally Posted by web hosting reviews

I suggest you call your new hosting and they will guide you thru the process if they said no then you know not to go with them, my suggestion to you is HostGator

Thanks for the sales pitch. What job do you hold at HostGator?

[Tek_Freek]

Reported as spam

[linicx]

The good website hosts do the heavy lifting for you and walk you through it step by stop. And your new host should have simple templates and tools for you to use. I've used the same website host for a number of years. My site has never been down, They are very accommodating and very easy to work with. I moved once to another host and sorely regretted it I was not over at the new host very long before I came back to the fold.

Poke around here and see what they offer you. And yes, they do support most operating systems.
And it is really is okay to be a n00b! Free WebSite .
Bruce is really very good with new customers and webmasters.

PS: All websites require a Host. There is no such thing as a free web host unless it is a Blog or a Genealogy site.



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