Expired Domain Name

<<jake>> · Joined: Feb 18, 2003 Posts: 28

I goofed and let my domain name renewal lapse. Is there any way to access my site with a different url?
My server, WorldWebHosters.com is not responding (typical).

Someone else has already claimed my name so links to my site are no longer valid...

I still have ftp access.

Jake

jeber · Joined: Dec 19, 2002 Posts: 4199 Location: The Village

If you mean like a redirect page, no, because that would have to be on their site redirecting people to yours. Once they change the permissions of their directories, your FTP access won't work.
Can you register the same name but with a .net or .org domain?

goretsky · Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:29 am Post subject:

Hello,

Have you tried calling their customer service department?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5006

This depends on where your website is stored. You'll have to contact the folks who own the server that your website is stored on.

In my case, I store my website on the pages offered by my ISP. When I purchase a domain, I'll have the domain name referred to my site on the ISP. Dunno if this is your case, but it's a place to start.

Debora · Joined: Mar 28, 2004 Posts: 1770 Location: Iowa

If you still have ftp access, I'd suggest ftp'ing to the site, download everything and move it to another server. I'm assuming here, that the reason you want access is that you need to get the files there. If not, then try checking with your personal ISP and I'd bet that they offer you free webspace for being a customer. It may be a nice short term solution. If not pm me for more options if you'd like.

<<jake>> · Joined: Feb 18, 2003 Posts: 28

I had my pages up at Crosswinds, a free web server with ads years back and back then I didn't have a domain name. The url to my site looked like this: http://www.crosswinds.net/~snake51... not very desciptive but it took you there.
My thinking is that maybe there is a similar type url hiding behind my former domain name (jakessite.com).
If you google jakessite.com the results will describe my site as usual (auto racing) but the link will go to the new "squatter's" page.
My domain name for the most recent site was "rented" from registerfly.com, a separate entity from from my web server, Worldwebhosters. I paid registerfly $9.00 annually and had to re-up manually after email notifications... they send so many spams/promotions throughout the year that I must have off-handedly deleted it... that's all I can figure.
I have emailed Worldwebhosters numerous times with no joy. I am able to get to my site configuration pages but the interface is lame and some links do not work. I plan to dump them soon and try another server. I have the entire site on my HD so that is not a problem.
The .net idea might be a good one but meanwhile, I simply would like to find a working link to my existing site... it's still there and there must be some kind of url that would bring it up in a browser.

I would try calling Worldwebhosters customer service department, but no number are listed. These people worry me, they have my credit card# for automatic renewals ($25.00 a year).
This is their contact page: http://www.worldwebhosters.com/contact.html

I can still access all my files via an ftp app, so I figure the site is still there but my name has been taken!

Thanks for the input everbody,

Jake

jeber · Joined: Dec 19, 2002 Posts: 4199 Location: The Village

If it was a registered TLD name, like .com, the URL is owned by whoever owns the domain. There isn't an "alternative" URL that will open your original site in any browser. Your FTP access is your best bet to salvage your files.

Think of the URL as a house. You go on vacation, forget to send your landlord the rent and while you're gone, your evil landlord rents your house to someone else. When you come back, the new tenants have every right to live there. If you attempt to enter the house, you are the trespasser. If you can sneak in while everyone's away and retrieve your belongings, cool.

<<jake>> · Joined: Feb 18, 2003 Posts: 28

As far as salvaging files, that's not a problem. I have the entire web site structure on my hard drive. Guess Iv'e lost the name jakessite.com forever.

I'm not sure you need a domain name to have a site however... I didn't have one before, just had an ugly url. Don't see why I couldn't do that again for now with my current web host.

Someone took my domain name, not my web space. That web space must have or can be assigned a new address. Problem with that is my host will not reply even though I pay them!

I have all kinds of info from my webhost from when I signed up...

- Primary and secondary DNS server IP addresses
- The FTP Host Address
-

Wait a minute... I found it in some of my old documentation...

This is it: http://216.127.92.110/~admin132/

formerly http://www.jakessite.com/ (now the imposter)

That's what I was looking for, it will do for now

Thanks all!

Debora · Joined: Mar 28, 2004 Posts: 1770 Location: Iowa

Hey Jake!

Guess what I found out..... (I'm a webdesigner by trade).....

Your domain is only expired and has gone to a company that holds them until you want to buy it again. All you need to do is send an email to this address: info RemoveThis @whois-help.info and in the subject line include this info: Inquiring about the domain 'jakessite.com', with status: Expired.

Ask them what you need to do to purchase this name from them. They should be in contact with you rather quickly. Just explain to them what happened and maybe they'll go easy on you.

As for the current site at http://216.127.92.110/~admin132/ Just point the domain name there, or use it as it is, OR buy another domain name, and I can tell you an easier way than you've done so far, with features that do NOT require that you change the DNS. That way you can keep your current host, and change domains at will or point more than one domain to that url.

<<jake>> · Joined: Feb 18, 2003 Posts: 28

Yea, I could use redirects...

I tried that whois email thing. They have not responded but I sure won't pay a ransom for the name.
Emphasis has shifted on my site anyway as my new business (a dental lab) has taken priority so I'll probably get a new domain name reflecting that.

thanks for the input

P.S. Just noticed that all I had to do is take a look at the properties for my image here... DOH!
I must have posted that before I got my domain name.

nlinecomputers · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 12:32 pm Post subject:

According to whois no one has hijacked your name. The site is just a place holder used by your registrar registerfly.com.

Pay your domain fees and you'll get the name back. You might be charged full price and not any renewal discounts that they may offer because you let it lapse.

<<jake>> · Joined: Feb 18, 2003 Posts: 28

Nathan, you were right... thanks a ton! And there wasn't even an additional fee.

Guess sometimes the solution to a problem can be simpler than I think.

Thanks again for the trouble you went to.

Jake

Debora · Joined: Mar 28, 2004 Posts: 1770 Location: Iowa

sorry Jake, I intended to include that info as well in my post but lost my connection again when I got it all ready to repost.... thanks Nathan for picking up my slack!!! haha

nlinecomputers · Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject:

No problem. Glad you got your site name back. You might ought to investagate automatic renewals? I use godaddy and they bill you every year to your credit card. As long as the card on file is valid the domain is automaticly renewed.

<<jake>> · Joined: Feb 18, 2003 Posts: 28

'spose I should do that Nathan...
That's the way it's set up with my web host and it is easier 'though people having that info does make me a bit nervous.

Thanks Debora for your good intentions Smile

Jake

FormalDaHyde · Joined: Jan 02, 2005 Posts: 1511

Good maintenance goes a looong way even with creating websites!
In all technicality, you should always create your site locally and then upload the whole kaboodle together!
Then, syncronize the local folder and the domain often, so that incremental changes are also reflected locally.
This way you will ALWAYS have a backup of the site data/pages/etc.
Yeah, sure!
You are smarter now and you won't let the domain name expire again but there are many other valid reasons for keeping a local copy of the whole site.
I would even go as far as suggesting that you burn a copy on CDRs for permanency purposes, every so often!

<<jake>> · Joined: Feb 18, 2003 Posts: 28

Update...

The fix lasted about a day and then back to the ugly url access only.

Now it has gotten worse, no access at all and no ftp either.

Did some research and mostly bad news concerning WorldWebHosters as witnessed if you look here at these pages:
http://alexbrie.net/myblog/Blog/454/on-worldwebhosters-again
http://www.uwplatt.edu/~stevenda/wwh.html
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff60976.htm

There are many more similar results out there.

It appears I am being billed too frequently...
These people have my visa #(my bad), I'm nervous.
I have emailed them to cancel my account and have secured a snail mail address (if current) to do likewise in hard copy.

WorldWebHosters
2140 E. Southlake Blvd. L-437
Southlake TX 76092
United States Email: sales.RemoveThis@worldwebhosters.com Tel: 8178746685

I do have my entire site mirrored on my HD and backed up to another. Fortunately my domain name is registered with a separate entity so I need only to find another host.

Now I see my avitar is gone... maybe the place burned down...

FormalDaHyde · Joined: Jan 02, 2005 Posts: 1511

1.. PhotoBucket.com for image storage
2.. 1and1.com for domain name registration/transfer and webhosting; for reasonable prices.

But don't let me influence your critical decisions, such as this!
Do your own research! :thumbup:

goretsky · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:03 am Post subject:

Hello,

I have heard good things about Rackspace for web site hosting.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky