Hi there!

After browsing some of the posts on this forum, I've discovered I did just about everything wrong regarding my web site. While I hope I'll learn better next time, I'm still stuck in a mess now.

I'd appreciate any words of advice that anyone can offer(and I'll even take my blows while you all tell me how stupid I've been).

It's a long story that starts out ... I trusted a fellow who knew a fellow who knew another fellow... POOF!... website built, functioning, ...good deal... all handled for me.

The site crashed, I can't get any response from the host or the fellow who built the site; I don't even know where my domain name was registered or anything (Yeah, I already paid registry fees for the next five years in advance).

I need a web site. I don't know how to use my old domain name or how to go about getting the new site up (I can't afford to spend another big sum and my site is mainly to get my information out there, most of my business is conducted in person).

Anyone want to offer any comforting words or even some helpful hints? Please?

Thanks to all who answer!

Hi Rusty... First of all don't feel stupid - really!

Sounds like you may have been "had" and are inexperienced - that does not equal stupid

OK - you said you have paid for the domain name for 5 years - there should be some record of the payment on your CC --- at least a beginning of where to start.

As to you not hearing from your host - I assume you do know where it is/was hosted being as you stated

get any response from the host

.
They have to allow you to move your site/domain to another hosting service.

WoW! I won't kid you this sounds like it could get messy.

I am thinking and typing as the same time, so don't mind me lol

A few things I want to point out:

1. you are sure the site crashed? Is it possible your web guy took it down or gave it away to someone else?
( please send me a PM of the site and I will try some different ways I know of to check on this for you )

2. If you can't retrieve your site - you need to be sure it is not online anywhere - other wise if you make a new one you will be in trouble for duplicate content.

3. As for having someone else redo you a site - from what you said your needs are, it should not be a pile of $$.

I would suggest you take this one step at a time. Let's first see what really happened to your site and if you can get it back.

I will help the best I can

whoa!...

been thru this with clients.

do a whois and them find your name servers listing, that will lead you to your hosting company information.

put your URL in your profile and I will track it down

Thanks mj1256... if you'll let me know when you've got the URL, I'll take it out, again...

I've heard of whois but haven't a clue what it is or what to do with it... I'll see what I can find out about it and try to do as you suggest.

I sincerely appreciate the advice! Thanks!

its registerd under ' BenTTree Canoe'
Administrative Contact:
Case, Dale & Lynne at dale.case@sympatico.ca
Technical Contact:
Grant, James
Lightbox Technologies Inc domain@lightbox.org

...yep, that sounds right... I talked to lightbox and they said they could maybe rescue me, but I never had further communication with them. It seems certain that they are actively involved, so I'll contact them, again. I did a whois, too and saw a page from the old web site on the whois search results page... seems odd to see it when the site is tatally unavailable (and I was told the contents were un-recoverable.

I feel like there's hope for my site, yet! Thanks!

your site is saying "coming soon" - but it not crashed in the true terms of crash. It is alive

Go here to see the google cache:

[link]

Which means someone IS hosting your site. As animated said lightbox is the hosting company. The domain is in your name, which gives you legal rights to have the information to access it.

Contact lightbox with a nice but matter of fact attitude. That you want passwords and such to your site account.

It is not a matter of "maybe they can rescue your site". You may have to fax them ID or something to prove you are who you say you are, but do not lose hope - this is your site

Please keep us posted as to how this goes, and if we can be of any more help - feel free to ask.
Beth

Your site was down since Aug 23, 2006. Where was you since then?

BTW, you may use this contact info to prove yourself the owner of the domain.

The WayBackMachine can show older copies of the site.

I've used that to recover old content that had been lost.

and your domain is registered with godaddy

info is here
[link]

Wow! Thanks everyone! You folks are SUPER!

I've learned more than enough to get me started on an up-and-running web site.

Where have I been? Honestly? I was so distraught over the crash and inundation of junk e-mails and spams, that I had myself a good old-fashioned nervous breakdown over it and couldn't cope with even starting to what happened and why and how to fix it and how to prevent it. I'm stronger, now, and thanks to you all, am able to tackle this problem!

It may take a day or two, but I will definitely keep you all posted!

Many, many thanks!

When the chips are down and you feel so low - there are a few things which lift up your spirit. One of them is the kind help offered by total strangers - like here. Good Work