First Time Buyer

[Newb1e]

Hi all,

 

I don't really know where to start but here goes

 

I'm looking to get my very first website, and the webhosting market is a scary place for a first timer like me, but I really really like the look of TCH, it looks like you guys offer excellent support, not very often do I see a hosting company with a message board with their Instant Messenger names attached, long story short lol, I would love my first website to be hosted by TCH

 

I'm from England, and quite worried about having a US based host, as it means phone support is out of the question

 

But I would like to ask; since this would be my first site, I have no idea how to set up a MySQL database (which I apparently need for forums/message boards), or even FTP accounts or even anything, I understand it's very easy to do with your cPanel system, but even if I needed help with something as trivial as that? Would someone still be able to help me explain to me the procedure?

 

ok sorry for rambling, like I say I am very nervous about things that could go wrong or things I might not understand, but TCH comes highly recommended and I would love to have my first website hosted by you, please help put my mind at ease

 

and sorry for the long post

[borfast]

Newb1e, using cPanel is indeed very easy

 

But yes, sometimes it's still not easy as it should be, especially for a first-timer. But that's where these family forums and the Help Desk come into play.

 

If you browse the forums for a bit, I'm sure you'll see that everyone is very satisfied, here. You can solve most of your problems through the family forums. Family members help each other out and believe me, you'll make some friends, here!

Whether you're having a problem installing a script, want to know how to do something in cPanel, need help with some HTML coding for your site or simply want to share that joke you heard in the bar last night, you'll see our family forums are a great place for any of those things

<bragging>Besides, we have a great team of moderators who help keep things in place</bragging>

 

In the event of having some problem with your account that you can't solve, you can submit a help desk ticket and usually in a few minutes it will be taken care of

 

On top of all this, TCH gives you a 30-day money back guarantee. If you're not satisfied with the service, just ask for a refund. No questions asked.

 

So my advice is: give it a try. You have nothing to lose. At worst you'll waste some time. But just between you and me (and the thousands who read the forums ), you won't regret it

 

Looking forward to welcome you to the family!

Edited October 18, 2004 by TCH-Raul

[TCH-Andy]

Hi Newb1e,

 

Well, Raul said it all really

 

There are some of us who are also from England, and the help desk is available 24/7. For those none server issues, then this forum is also a great place - and I've never yet found a time when I'm the only person here

[woesap]

Hi newbie,

 

I am from overseas also. (The Netherlands).

So far I love it here.

Still busy putting up my site but I know I can get all the help etc in these forums.

I also had two minor problems with the mail but with a help ticket it was solved quickly enough.

I had no experience with c panel but indeed it does quite a lot for you.

In short, just like the others said.. Jump in and take the plonge.

 

For the price they charge it's really the best host i've seen so far.. And no, no shares in this company!

 

Good luck and feel free to ask anything. Here or through PM. I am relative in your time zone

[Newb1e]

Wow, thanks very much for the positive replies guys

 

I'm a little embaressed to ask this, but how should I set up a Domain name? Do I do it before I place an order for the Starter Plan package or after? Or is there anyway to do them at the same time, and have the prices included at the same time?

 

Sorry if I over-complicated that, I'm just asking because it would be easier for me if I could purchase both a domain and a website in a 'shopping cart' type approach

[TCH-Thomas]

Hosting and domains are 2 separate things, so 2 bills unfortunately.

Regualar hosting accounts is here

Reseller hosting accounts here

 

The Domain registration (at TCH) link seems to be broken right now, but for domain registration, you can use any Domain registrar. Then you tell that registrar to point your domain name to ns1.totalchoicehosting.com and ns2.totalchoicehosting.com

 

It is best to register domain first.

[TCH-Bruce]

TCH Domain registration link.

 

Having the domain first makes things a bit easier since when you purchase hosting it asks for the domain name you are going to host. You could enter the domain name that you want to use but if it's taken you will have to issue a support ticket to have it changed to the actual domain name you purchase.

[TCH-Thomas]

Bruce, are you magic?

Securepaynet cant be found when I try.

[Newb1e]

Thanks for the great explanation Bruce and Jikrantz

 

How long would it take for tch to get a domain name online for me after I order one? And would I get a confirmation email so I would know when to order a website package?

[TCH-Thomas]

When you register the domain you will be told right away if the domain is available and if registration is successfull. Then if it is, you can go on with the hosting registration.

The time it takes for TCH to set you up with an hosting account is normally a few hours. Usually faster. I dont remember the exact time it can take now.

 

Then when is done, propagation of your domain takes place, which can take up to 72 hours. That is nothing TCH can do anything about.

Propagation is when all nameservers around the world are updated with your domain name so they know where to send your visitors.

Edited October 18, 2004 by Jikrantz

[TCH-Thomas]

Addition: Forgot to say:

Do not use your eventual domain name for email correspondance (welcome emails in particular) for this. Instead use hotmail, yahoo etc. But whatever you decide to use, if no email comes within resonable time, have a extra look in junk folders etc if the email ended up there. They usually do that.

[TCH-Bruce]

Bruce, are you magic?

Securepaynet cant be found when I try. <_>

Thomas, just tried the link again and it works for me. Were you saying you could not access it?

[TCH-Thomas]

From both the link you provided in this thread and from the main page of TCH.

Edited October 18, 2004 by Jikrantz

[TCH-Bruce]

Hmm, routing issue maybe?

[TCH-Rob]

Newb1e,

 

Welcome to the forums and welcome home.

[TCH-Don]

Welcome to the forum Newb1e!

 

if you need anything just ask

[sheryltoo]

I hope it's alright to add a few more questions to this message since the original questions are questions I too had.

I have no idea what Cpanel or SQL mean.

I've used free servers in the past but they don't give you enough storage space or bandwidth so I'm looking into purchasing a Domain name and buying web space.

 

I've used HTML at my free web site. Is this what I'd use here too to set up my site?

Does it matter what operating system you use? I'm using Windows XP.

Can I upload jpgs to my site?

Is there a limit as to how big a file can be that I download to my site?

I have Front Page, although I've never used it and have no idea how to use it but if I ever figure it out, can I use this to create my web site?

 

I think that's all the questions I have at the moment.

Like the Newbie said, it's nice having a place where you can get some help. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to setting up a web site. I really don't know many of the proper terms to use when asking questions so I hope my questions made sense.

Thanks.

Sheryl

[TCH-Rob]

I've used HTML at my free web site. Is this what I'd use here too to set up my site?

You would use your own editor like Front Page

 

Does it matter what operating system you use? I'm using Windows XP.

It matters not

 

Can I upload jpgs to my site?

Sure you can

 

Is there a limit as to how big a file can be that I download to my site?

Not really, though you are limited by bandwidth and space

 

I have Front Page, although I've never used it and have no idea how to use it but if I ever figure it out, can I use this to create my web site?

You may

[TCH-Don]

Hi Sheryl, welcome back!

SQL is a database used by many scripts like guestbooks and forums

 

cpanel is like the control panel on your computer

You can get some idea by looking at cpanel docs.

 

in cpanel you can create databases if the script you install does not automatically create one.

In cpanel you can (addon scripts) install guestbooks and forums by just filling in the name of a folder that you want to use for the script,

and cpanel will do the rest including create the database.

Or if you find a script that you want to try and have to create the database,

it will tell you how to use cpanel > MySql to create one.

 

You can use html or what ever method use like to create your pages and using ftp upload them to your web space.

There will be info in your welcome e-mail to show how to set up your ftp program

The only limit to a file size that you upload.

might be with your ISP. I have used ftp to upload zip files as big as 23 meg.

 

You can use frontpage if you like, in your cpanel there is a place to install frontpage extensions to allow frontpage to use extra features, if needed.

 

You can start with just your html pages and grow from there.

The main thing is to start out slow and get your feet wet,

knowing we are here to help as you need it.

[sheryltoo]

Thanks so much for the quick response. It sounds as if using TCH should work for me.

I don't run a business or anything. I just want to set up a web site and share information about some of the things which interest me, plus be able to set up a message forum where my friends can talk about our simliar interests.

Now I need to figure out a Domain name and set that up.

I think I read that I don't necessarily have to set up a Domain name with TCH. I'm free to set up a domain name where I can find the best price.... right?

Are there advantages to using TCH for my domain name?

Since this is only a personal website, I'm trying to keep the cost down.

Sheryl

[TCH-Rob]

I think I read that I don't necessarily have to set up a Domain name with TCH. I'm free to set up a domain name where I can find the best price.... right?

Sure can

 

 

Are there advantages to using TCH for my domain name?

Well, it does keep it in the family.

[TCH-Don]

You can get your domain name where ever you wish,

just follow the e-mal instructions that come with the domain name to point it to the nameservers for totalchoicehosting.com as per your welcome e-mail from totalchoicehosting.

 

If you get the domain name from totalchoicehosting it will set up for you, but in your name.

[TCH-Don]

Rob keeps beating me,

I am trying to type with a kitten in my other arm

[sheryltoo]

Thanks again for the quick responses and LOL about your kitty.

I have just a couple more questions and again, I may not be using the correct terms but hopefully you'll understand what I'm trying to say or ask.

I read that you're able to have sub domains. I'm not quite sure what this means so I'll explain what I "think" it's saying. I can register a second domain name pertaining to something other then my main interest or what my domain name refers to.

My son has a domain name that he uses on a free web hosting site and I thought I might let him use some of the space I'll be getting when I join TCH. His site has nothing to do with my site so I want to be sure this is ok to do before I decide how much space I want to purchase.

 

One other question.... are there any TCH sites I can look at to get an idea what established sites look like?

And would someone have to join my site to view it or can anyone see it?

Sheryl

[TCH-Thomas]

Hi sheryltoo,

Your explanation is not quite what a subdomain is if I understand you correctly.

Lets say you have a subfolder named "sheryl" (www.domain.com/sheryl), then you with some easy commands in the cpanel could turn that in to sheryl.domain.com.

Now the subfolder are a subdomain instead. Telling someone to go see sheryl.domain.com is often easier than telling www.domain.com/sheryl.

 

As for your second question. Having 2 domains on a regular account is not allowed unless they point to same index page (called parking) so your domain and sons domain must point to same. However you can get a domain and then create numerous subdomains for you and your son so it would be mom.domain.com and son.domain.com.

 

On a reseller account you can do what you want though.

 

As for number 3: Is this what you are looking for TCH family?

Edited November 11, 2004 by TCH-Thomas

[sheryltoo]

Yes, that linked helped me out.

I think I've asked all I need to ask now if I could just come up with a name for my site, I'll start the set up process going.

Sheryl

[TCH-Thomas]

Well, then let me be the first to welcome you to your extended family.

Dont forget to pop in to introductions for a formal welcome when you are settled in.

[Zoneraver]

Newbie

 

I have just transferred to TCH and i have a UK domain

 

I talked with the peeps on the forum and got great responses which really put me at ease considering i was swapping a largeish MYsql phpbb forum and also i had a bad experience from a host which i had decided to swap to

 

everything swapped over took a couple of days like normal

 

the first day it had finally swapped over...my forum was up and running by 3pm

 

177 meg mysql file restored within 5 hours including the hiccup and email chats regarding the task ..the hiccup was no ones fault

 

thats a big database and thats the speed of their support

 

Nuff said..im a happy person having transferred to tch

 

Alan

 

 

PS My forums faster too...bonus

[Newb1e]

Wow, never realised the thread had become so popular in my absence lol

 

I know both TCH Rob and TCH Don have probably answered your questions sheryl but it can't hurt for one more opinion...

 

This is my first website too (obviously), though I know some areas of building a site but not others, for instance I know my way around SmartFTP and how to code in html/php and I'm learning javascript but I have never even used cPanel

 

A first website can be very worrying at first especially as I didn't know a single other person with one so asking a friend for help was out of the question, but I can assure you the cPanel interface could not be any easier and I'm learning all the time, also getting support is near instant too, and the pricing is great too especially as we're both just after a small-fun, none-business site

 

Feel free to pm me if you would like any help at all, but I don't doubt the TCH Staff could explain it better

[sheryltoo]

Thanks for offering to help me Newbie.

Well I'm all signed up and just need to wait for my letter from TCH, saying I can start building my site.

I hope I did everything correctly. I purchased my Domain name first from TCH. I decided it was easier, then signed up for a hosting package.

In signing up for the hosting package, it asked me if I needed a Domain name or owned one and would be handling the transfer. I said I owned one but what do they mean by handling the transfer?

Do I have to do something else regarding my new domain name?

Sheryl

[TCH-Don]

Well welcome to the family Sheryl

 

By transfer I think that means if you already have a domain

you are going to point it to the nameservers in your hosting welcome e-mail.

 

You will get an e-mail with the domain name showing how to point it,

when you log in to your domain name account.

Don't worry, its easy,

if you have any problems or questions,

let us know.

[sheryltoo]

Thanks Don. I'll be sure to ask if I run into any problems.

I can't wait for my welcome e-mail. I'm anxious to get started on my site.

Sheryl

[TCH-Bruce]

Welcome to the family, Sheryl!

[sheryltoo]

Well I am officially a member of the family. (I think, lol) I got an e-mail giving me my web address, username, password, and domain name so now I just need to figure out how to upload files and start working on my site.

My next stop is the Tutorial forum. Stick around. I may have a few questions, lol.

 

Actually I have one question.

What does this mean," To access your site before the domain name completes

propagationyou can go to the URL below to view your site"

The "completes propagation" is what I'm unclear with.

Sheryl

[TCH-Bruce]

When you purchase a new domain it takes time for the names servers around the world to be updated with your IP address (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx). This process can take anywhere from a few hours to three days.

 

When you enter a web address such as www.yourdomain.net that request is sent to a name server that looks up it's numerical IP address. Once it has that numerical address it knows where to retrieve your site from.

 

Other wise you would have to use the address that TCH to have people access your site.

Edited November 12, 2004 by TCH-Bruce

[sheryltoo]

Thanks Bruce. I think I kind of figured out that the bottom line was, I wasn't really up and running yet but at least I'm on the right path.

However, I just posted a question in the Open Discussion forum because I'm totally clueless as to what to do now.

Sheryl