Home > Guides > Switching Service Plans

Intended Audience: Intermediate to Advanced Web Site Owner/Developer

If you are a current Parcom customer who has one of our previous services (without a control panel) prior to February 17, 2005, you can switch to our new services at any time.   You don't have to move if you don't want to at this time!   The following is the "self-help" easy 8 step process you need to follow so you can take advantage of the latest technologies and features Parcom now has to offer.

Keep in mind you do not have to adopt newer technologies if you are simply not ready today. Parcom continues to create new plans and incorporate new technologies all the time!  We never force clients to move.  The following is our free guide to helping you do this on your own.  If you had a web designer help you, we strongly suggest you use that person to follow these steps.

If you are moving from control panel based system to control panel based system (2005 plan to a 2008 plan for instance, then follow this link: http://kb.parcom.net/article.aspx?id=10228

Steps:

1. Sign up for the new service.   Select and pay for the service that meets your current needs or something similar to what you used to have.   The signup link is at: http://www.parcom.net/signup  (do not sign up if you are moving a control panel account as the control panel can only have one domain assigned to the system.  This does not affect legacy account holders like Win2000 Entry level plan holders.)
2. After you receive your new account, logon to your control panel and add a temporary URL.  This will give you the ability to see your web site before you actually move it.   (The temporary URL feature is located under application packs within the domain menu of the control panel) 
3. MANDATORY: Backup your old site onto your local machine.   If you have a MS SQL database and need our assistance to retrieve the data please coordinate this with our support department (ask before canceling your account).   (MySQL database users can export their database on their own with phpmyadmin.)
4. Upload the site to the new account using the temporary URL that will be given when you set the feature up as described in step 2.   (Make sure you create or edit an existing FTP user in your control panel to upload with.)   Test and make sure you are happy with the site at the new location.   FrontPage will work as well.  If you did not get a temporary URL or domain alias to work with, you cannot really upload anything until your domain points to this account (step 7)
5. Login to the control panel for your new account and create all necessary e-mail addresses and aliases you require.   Updating/changing passwords as you see fit.
6. Download all your mail from your old account onto your local machine because once you move you will not have access to your old account.   If you subscribed to the older (now legacy) Parcom Anti-Spam and Anti-Virus Services in the past, you will need to notify the Parcom support team to carry over and activate these services on the new servers.  However, you may find the new service does not require enhanced anti-spam services because it now comes with its own anti-spam and anti-virus service for free.
7. Update your name servers at your registrar using the name servers assigned to your new account (it is displayed on your control panel and is automatically assigned on our system, but you still have to update your registrar).  If you used Parcom for your domain registration, just contact support and let us know that you need to adjust your name servers as you are ready to have your new account respond to your domain.  Give this at least 24 hours.
8. (MANDATORY) When you are happy with your move and have moved your contents properly, cancel the old account.   ( do not cancel if you did not make a backup as said in step 3)   Parcom is not responsible for lost data if you cancel before you backup. https://secure.parcom.net/forms/cancel_request_form_.htm
   For the reason section of the form, just state you are moving to the new Parcom services. *

We recommend that you start reading the manual, the online videos, and visit the online help for the control panel system as it is very different from what you are used to.   It's a scalable system that allows Parcom to serve you better.  You will be able to do 10 times more things on your own without our help and you will love us for it!   Most of you will find that you are saving money with the new plans too.

That's it!  That may seem like a lot, but don't worry, we're experts at this and we can answer any questions you may have during this process.

* If you have any paid unused months and credits left on your existing hosting account, the dollar amount will not be applied to your credit card. You will receive a Parcom credit for that amount on your new hosting account AFTER the account has been cancelled. 

NOTE: Parcom does not move site information or e-mail content between hosting systems for free and for legal reasons.  Other reasons include: Scripting compatibility issues, database coding needs, e-mail configuration, etc.   Things that will always change as technology evolves!   Proper testing is a customer responsibility too.  Changing platforms and technology is a very complex thing and should not be taken lightly by a novice computer or non-technical person.  In short, this is very technical and can be challenging to some people.

If this is too technical for you, we completely understand.  Consider posting a request for consultation via our forum as there are a lot of loyal consultants there that understand our systems and can save you time by helping you do this right.