How to move from StartLogic to GoDaddy?

[Guest]

S.O.S. I have a grave situation with StartLogic...I installed osCommerce since 2005 via StartLogic. In 2007, Endurance purchased StartLogic then quickly changed the control panel, therefore, since I have not been able to do any of the oneline transaction. To make things worse, Endurance/StartLogic will terminate my account (by sending me back my payment). My questions is - if I would go to GoDaddy for hosting and reinstall osCommerce, would the control panel created by StartLogic impair the new installation via GoDaddy?

[Guest]

@@ktwishes

 

 

Use your FTP client to download all files to your computer. Then, in the start logic control panel, use PHPMYADMIN to download a copy of your database.

 

Upload the files using your FTP client using EXACTLY the same directory structure to your Godaddy server. Log into the Godaddy control panel and create a new database, once done, import your back that you created from your Startlogic account.

 

Then, all you have to do is change the TWO configure.php files to reflect the new path and database credentials.

 

 

WARNING: Godaddy uses PHP 5.3.8 on their standard hosting packages. If your old site (yes its old) has not been updated to be compatible with PHP 5.3.x then the site will not function properly. It will need to be updated before it will function.

 

 

Chris

[Guest]

Thank you, Chris, for your reply. I don't know what and where FTP is (so sorry, I am not technical...) The whole thing started with Endurance bought out StartLogic and change the Control Panel platform and since I could not log onto StartLogic's new Control Panel but continued to reply on the "old" StartLogic control panel via the "old" admin. Endurance sent me a CD with all the content from my website but did not give any further instruction. I did talk to GoDaddy. GoDaddy told me that they would be able to support osCommerce but they did not know how to do the specific. If that fail, GoDaddy told me that they have a "Zen Card???" that may allow me to force it to work. Then, if this fail, I have to use GoDaddy's own shopping cart. I spent a lot of money having someone built the website and now this. I this StartLogic/Endurance is very unethical, they are a publically trading company, they should be shot down for them to put me in this type of harm. So, how do I update PHP 5.3.x, and, from which site to update this? GoDaddy site, or, StartLogic site? Thank you so much for your insight.

[MrPhil]

If StartLogic/Endurance is worth the name "web host", they will be able to tell you how to get a copy of all your files AND a backup of the database in .sql format. Is all this stuff on the CD they sent you? Especially the database backup! If it's there, the first thing to do on GD is put an FTP client on your PC so you can upload and download files between your PC and the server. "FileZilla" (google for its install page) is very popular and free, and there are others. GD will work with any of them. You can use your FTP client to upload the files on your PC to your server. Be aware that depending on the file structure in use at SL/E and at GD, you may have to start several directories "down" so that your store files end up in /overhead stuff blah blah to site root/catalog/ (seen as /catalog/ from a browser). Depending on how SL/E made the CD, and what kind of server (Linux or Windows) are the old and new servers, you may need to transfer everything in binary or in automatic mode. You can start with "automatic" and see if all the files look correct when you browse them. If not, erase everything you brought over and try "binary" mode. FTP up the .sql database backup. GD should be able to tell you how to use phpMyAdmin to create a new database and import the backup into the database.

 

At this point, if your old server was at a comparable PHP level to the new one, it should work. More likely, you will need to upgrade osC to get it to work. Install osC 2.3.3 and get it working, remove the sample products, copy over the old store's product images to it, and migrate your old database to that level. There are instructions on this forum, and an "add-on" that will migrate databases. You then can start looking for any add-ons you need that were on the old store, and play with the theme.

 

If this is beyond your capabilities, you are going to have to hire someone to do this for you. They should be reasonably familiar with osC, and with GD hosting. You will have to hand over the account passwords to them, so make sure you trust them. They will also need either the CD, the CD already copied to a PC, or access to the old store if it's still up. They can try to get your existing store running, but likely will be unable to (without a lot of work) due to PHP level differences. They should be able to migrate your store to osC 2.3.3 without much trouble, if they know what they're doing. Make sure that they put osC into its own directory (/catalog/ or /shop/) and not in the site root /. Assuming you're on a Linux/Apache server at GD, use URL rewriting to jump a visitor from / to /catalog (it's easy).

 

GD can support osC, but they say they aren't familiar with it. It sounds like they are familiar with Zen Cart, which is another shopping cart based on an older version of osC. You might keep that in mind if you absolutely can't get osC to work, but naturally, anyone here is going to recommend that you stick with osC.

 

In the end, you should have an osC 2.3.3 site running with your existing store data. I presume that you're looking to transfer an active store and want to save as much from it as you can? Once you're up and running, you can look at installing any mods you want to increase functionality (any idea what add-ons were on your old store?), and tweaking the theme (see ThemeRoller) to just how you want it. Good luck!

[Jack_mcs]

@@ktwishes Don't rely on godaddy helping with this. Nothing against their support but as they themselves state, they are not familiar with it. You need to have someone familiar with their setup to do this since they may not put you on the correct type of server or have the correct mods enabled, out of ignorance on the subject. They will attempt to help you but it will go much more smoothly if someone that knows what they are doing handles it for you. If you are in a hurry to get this working, which you should be, I wouldn't suggest upgrading to 2.3 at this time. But if current files are not php 5.3 compatible, you're shop won't work with GD anyway. That can be fixed without upgrading to 2.3 though.

[Guest]

Gosh! Thank you, all, so very much for feedback...SL/E harmed me so badly. I do not even know where to begin...I don't know my passwords and login...I don't know what is in that CD that they sent me. I am not even sure if all is the right stuff and useful. Whenever there is an issue, SL/E would suspend my site, then, I would spend a few hours finding the right suport, then, they would just go into my site, God knows what passwords and login they used to un-suspend it. I am not a techie...I have a computer, I spent good money several years back to get the site up and running, and now because SL/E's own screw-ups, it appears that I have to spend money on something supposed to work to begin with. I don't know where is the server, I assume the server is located at SL/E, not on my computer. You see, I believe I am not alone here, and, I believe many SL/E customers, like myself, are having the same issues/problems with SL/E. Any other alternatives out there for my site? GD does not have to be THE HOST. The domain is with Network Solution and I like to stay away from them as well. Is there a HOPE out there for NON-TECHIES? This is unbearable!!! S.O.S. Thank you, all, again so very much. ~K

[♥joli1811]

Hi k,

 

I would be thinking that because your old host closed business, which can happen , you should be happy that they sent you a backup copy of your website.

 

As you say you are not tech savvy and think if I understand correctly you do or did seem to have the opportunity to possess a backup I know it may be annoying that the web is not built in stone but tech changes and considering it is at least 8 - 10 years ago you really can not expect this to work forever.

 

Websites must be updated on a regular basis if you are serious about selling online and websites should always be backed up to personal computer/ cd / hard drive etc.

 

Your domain name is always yours as long as you pay the yearly fees check where it is registered and make sure first that you have access to your domain control.

 

Hosting is separate from domain name that is where your domain resides including shop/ oscommerce / websites / software etc

 

You should normally be able to point your domain name ( using what is called) name servers to any hosting company of your choice

 

So open up your cd / dvd and see first what you have you should see a lot of files in there ending with .php that would be then your website.

 

Next step is to get new hosting and then point your domain using the name server control to your new hosting .

 

Not really that hard just checking that your website is up to standard may need a bit of work if it really is so old.

 

Regards

Joli

[MrPhil]

If GD is sure its hosting will work for Zen Cart, it should work for osC (at least, for the current 2.3.3). Have you actually been running an untouched, unmaintained store for 8 years? That must be some kind of record! Have you been adding and deleting products all this time, and making sales?

 

Pray that the CD contains the database, too, if SL is out of business and your old server is down. If no database, and no access to your old site's store, the best you could do is salvage the product images from the disc, install a fresh copy of osC 2.3.3, and build your store from scratch. Maybe there's some cached copies in Google or the WayBack Machine that you could get text and such from. If someone who knows what they're doing can look at the CD and get the database .sql file off it (possibly compressed to .sql.tgz, .sql.tar.Z, etc.), they can try building a new 2.3.3 store with the old data.

 

Since you know less than zero about the subject, your first step is to hire someone (preferably local, so they can show you around) who knows websites, osC, and preferably GD. I have no experience on GD, so I can't tell you how well experience on another host would transfer to GD. Hosting control panels should be similar enough that someone intelligent could figure out GD's, but who knows! Note that once you're up and running, if you make no effort to learn the innards of your site, you will find yourself totally at the mercy of your host, their tech support, and anyone you hire. If you can't learn that stuff, you'd better find someone you can trust and put them on a retainer to jump in and rescue you whenever something goes wrong (manage your website). If you can handle the store part yourself, that would be better than nothing.

[Guest]

First,

Hi, Joli, thank you for your comment...no offense, you sounded like you might be working for StartLogic/Endurance :-),...,that is exactly what they told me...true, innovation and technology advance...I got it...BUT, there has to be some ethics and corporate responsibilities. Individuals and small businesses are not ginea pigs of experiments of trial and errors. You don't hard sell your product then walk away when things gone south or sour. I spent serious money to bring my site up and very shortly I could not even do online transactions due to some "unfunctional" control panel that was without any security mechanism and did not function well from the get go. What is consumer protection? We all consumers...you may be a techie, but millions are not... I am just very angry at these radom criminal acts to civil matters. Shame on them to put innocent consumers in harm and emotional distress! Have you tried their below sub-standard customer/tech support? When people call themselves CEO or CTO or whatever, act like one, don't act greed. Leadership is meaningless here because there is none. We are all getting harmed.

 

Second,

Thank you, Phil, so much for your support on this matter. I have not viewed the CD. SL/E is shotting down my site without my consent today. I will wait for this to pass, then, move forward. This is a very stressful and humiliating situation, especially they put "This Website is suspended." as if I have done something or have something to do with it. To say the least, it is intentional defamation and defamation per se in front of my customers, let along the intentional infliction of emotional distress! On the top of all that, I am not sure if the CD is clean and I don't want to mess up with my computer. If I don't understand or don't know how to do or read any files I don't want to pretent that I can fix things if something happen to my computer. Thank you again, Phil, so much for your suggestions. I probably will go to a Kinko to read the CD coming weekend, then, report back to you.

 

Thank you, all, so much for following up with this topic. I am sure I am not alone here; I am neither the first nor the last who has to go through this criminally civil offense. ~ K

 

p.s. If anyone else out there is encounting the same or similar ordeals, please share your situation. I am sure all is appreciated. Thank you.

[♥joli1811]

@@ktwishes

 

Hi,

Well sorry if it sounded that way but I definitely don't work for StartLogic/Endurance actually you could say they would be competition for me as I provide hosting services for my customers so guess it would have been easier for me to run them down and maybe try to catch some business :) .

 

But a yearly hosting contract is exactly what it says you have rented a space on the internet this is not ownership you are only a tenant and thus may on some occasions have to move on and find a new space!!

 

Ok what is very important and what you do own is your DOMAIN NAME as long as this is paid and renewed yearly / 2 x yearly this is yours and you will need access to your domain manager to point your domain to your new host so important that you get these details they will be needed to get your domain up and running again.

 

No the truth of the matter is I do understand your disappointment and frustration and try to provide positive support and possible solutions for many people facing a wide variety of website problems.

 

So enough said something I learnt is we should not dwell to much on our past as this we can not change but instead use our energy to change our future as this we can do.

 

So it does sound as if you have a backup of your site and as Mr Phil says lets also hope a copy of your database which is the most important part.

 

If you are not capable of setting a store up yourself then you will have to get someone to do it for you, having a working copy this should only take a few hours and really should not cost very much.

 

The only problem is maybe the site is old and also needs updated to work on a new host but that is only a maybe so would worry about that later .

 

It is highly unlikely a cd from your old host would have virus a quick scan can check that so no problem there

 

There is a commercial section on this forum where you can ask for quotes with no obligation to buy anything.

 

Regards

Joli

[raydata]

@@ktwishes

 

 

Then, all you have to do is change the TWO configure.php files to reflect the new path and database credentials.

 

 

Chris

What exactly do i need to modify for 2 configure.php ?

 

Thanks in advance : )