Website management help

catspjs

A few years ago I set up a website for selling stuff - it was designed, created and hosted by the same person. Unfortunately I had to take it off line due to personal circumstances. I've been thinking about setting it up again and asked about re-instating it a couple of years ago. I was told it would cost ~£150 to reset the databse, unarchive and reconfigure files and would also include 1 years hosting. This sounds reasonable to me, but I'm wondering about changing host (could they do all the necessary work?) and also the fact that I have no access to the files.
Could anyone please tell me whether I should have a hardcopy of the files and if so, how to go about it? I was told that there were too many to just send to me. I also have a small amount of programming knowledge and wonder whether I should attempt to make small changes myself or if I'm heading for disaster if I do? I'd like to change a few titles and pictures that are present in the banner, so nothing major (I hope).

Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks

krustylicious

catspjs wrote: »

A few years ago I set up a website for selling stuff - it was designed, created and hosted by the same person. Unfortunately I had to take it off line due to personal circumstances. I've been thinking about setting it up again and asked about re-instating it a couple of years ago. I was told it would cost ~£150 to reset the databse, unarchive and reconfigure files and would also include 1 years hosting.

Most of it is a case reinstalling the files, which in the case of cpanel (probably the same in plesk) is a one click update).

catspjs wrote: »

This sounds reasonable to me, but I'm wondering about changing host (could they do all the necessary work?) and also the fact that I have no access to the files.
Could anyone please tell me whether I should have a hardcopy of the files and if so, how to go about it? I was told that there were too many to just send to me.

It should fit on a dvd max, only one of our customers needed a dvd for an offline backup of their site.

catspjs wrote: »

I also have a small amount of programming knowledge and wonder whether I should attempt to make small changes myself or if I'm heading for disaster if I do? I'd like to change a few titles and pictures that are present in the banner, so nothing major (I hope).

Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks

Do you know what e-commerce software was used ?

catspjs

Thanks for replying. I've actually no idea which e-commerce software was used. Do you think it would be likely that they would tell me?

Looks like owning the physical files isn't the done thing then? And if I don't know the software, I won't be able to modify anything anyway? I just wondered what would happen to my website if their company went bust since they're only a small outfit.

cally6008

if i had been doing your website then everything would be in your name and you would have had full access to all your files,

it is stupid the way webfolk hide everything and make you have to stay with them to be able to have your website