Old hosting co. went belly-up -- how long to set up here?

mahubbard · #1 05-06-2006, 06:37 PM

I'm looking for a new web hosting company because my old one went belly-up without any warning. Definitely I want something reliable this time! I have a few questions:

1. About how long does it take to set up a site here (not counting the DNS propagation, which you have no control over, and the time it would take me to actually upload the site).

2. I prefer using Outlook Express rather than webmail for email, but my ISP (msn.com) is weird and apparently doesn't have an SMTP server or something. Will I be able to use OE with an email account associated with my website, or will I have to use a webmail interface?

3. Any "specials" for webhost refugees who have suddenly found themselves without a host?

Thanks!

mahubbard

orowards · #2 05-06-2006, 06:40 PM

Sorry but is this Cathy by any chance?

mahubbard · #3 05-06-2006, 06:42 PM

No, this isn't Cathy -- I take it her old webhost went belly-up as well?

mahubbard

orowards · #4 05-06-2006, 06:43 PM

One thing I can reply on with a little bit of confidence, being I've only been here for a day, is that it is normal to not be able to use Outlook with msn., or yahoo, too, for that matter. Used to be able to do that but they stopped the forwarding to POP awhile ago. I haven't set up an email here yet but I've found that with any regular server (like your ISPN) you can easily configure to use with Outlook - I'm assuming this will be the same.

orowards · #5 05-06-2006, 06:46 PM

Nope, she's just the only "mahubbard" I've ever known!
Used to be my sis-in-law. Oh well, welcome to HG anyway. Sorry I don't the answers to your questions about transferring here but the support on these boards has been pretty good, I think anyway.

mahubbard · #6 05-06-2006, 06:50 PM

With my last webhost, I was able to configure OE to receive my domain email, but had to use the webmail interface to send email out through my domain email, because msn is my ISP and msn doesn't have an SMTP server for POP mail anymore.

So....I would like whichever new webhost I pick to have an SMTP server, so that I can send & receive email from the same place. It was a pain to read an email in OE, then have to go to a web interface to reply to it (copying & pasting relevant portions, etc.)

Hopefully the sales and/or tech staff will know the answer to that question.

mahubbard

esl · #7 05-06-2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahubbard

I'm looking for a new web hosting company because my old one went belly-up without any warning. Definitely I want something reliable this time! I have a few questions:

1. About how long does it take to set up a site here (not counting the DNS propagation, which you have no control over, and the time it would take me to actually upload the site).

2. I prefer using Outlook Express rather than webmail for email, but my ISP (msn.com) is weird and apparently doesn't have an SMTP server or something. Will I be able to use OE with an email account associated with my website, or will I have to use a webmail interface?

3. Any "specials" for webhost refugees who have suddenly found themselves without a host?

Thanks!

mahubbard

1: It only took about 30 minutes when I signed up- that was a long time ago though. It may be longer for you due to fraud screening. The time it takes to upload your website depends on the size of it.

2: You can use Outlook Express if you wish to do so.

3: I do not think so.

b33r · #8 05-06-2006, 07:30 PM

I signed up a few weeks ago. Was activated and ready to go in 10 minutes.

OE is fine. I personally use Thunderbird and that works OK too.

"specials": it depends what package you want.
Do a Google on "hostgator coupons". You can get your first month for 1 cent with a coupon. (Baby - Shared package only)

There's also a reseller offer but I don't know what it is.

Hope that helps

mahubbard · #9 05-06-2006, 09:10 PM

Anyone happen to know if OE works fine for outgoing mail if your ISP doesn't have an SMTP server? That is, can you set up OE so it connects to an SMTP server at HostGator & everything works ok?

mahubbard