Can I switch web hosting companies and keep my domain name?

Question:

I am currently experiencing NO service or feedback from a very disreputable web hosting service (dont want to name names, but it is spelled something like h o st w ay ).

I have my domain name registered thru another company ( “Netwurk Solushuns”). Can I cancel my acct with the Hosting service and switch hosts and still be able to keep my domain name?

The web Hosting co. has been down for months but they still deduct funds from my account. When you put in my url, you’ll get a 404 error code on a white page.

Anyone else had horrible service from their ‘Host way’ hosting company?

Answer:

A 404 error means it can’t find a file.  Your index page is missing or misspelled.  That’s why your site won’t load.

I never heard of HostWay, but I did look them up.  Terribly high prices for so little.  Ouch!

BTW, you are paying too much for your domain name at Network Solutions.  A .com name is $12.99 and privacy is another $9.99.  That’s $22.98.  Who are they kidding?!  You can get a .com name and free privacy from NameCheap for only $9.10 with the coupon code on that link.

To answer your question, you can quit your current host and not lose your domain name.  You don’t say what kind of site you have.  Is it something you built with their page builder, a program on your computer or are you running a WordPress blog?  If you want to keep your files, you’ll have to get them off the current server.  If you just want to abandon it all and start over, then just contact billing and tell them you want to cancel your account.

Buy a new hosting plan and select the option that says you already have a domain name.  Some hosts call it a transfer.  Just remember, you’re only transferring your hosting, NOT your domain name.  After you get new hosting then login to your Network Solutions account and change the Nameservers to those of the new hosting company.  The servers typically start with ns1.thehostname.com and ns2.thehostname.com

I suggest getting hosting from WebHostingHub.  They are very reliable and believe me, you’ll get a response from support when you submit a ticket.  I’ve dealt with them before and they are very friendly and know what they’re doing.  They use cPanel control panel.

Another option is iPage.  The iPage control panel is vDeck.  It’s user-friendly and they’ve got a pretty good drag and drop site builder if you’d like to try it out.  If you decide to not use it after installing it, be sure to remove it so it deletes the database and removes the files from your account.  That way it won’t interfere with anything else that you later decide to install.  I prefer using WordPress for my sites.  You’ll find WordPress in the SimpleScripts script installer.