lost web designers and access to websites

[matildas.tardis]

I've been asked to take over managing and updating a couple of websites recently. The people who "owned" the websites have lost touch with the peoople who designed them. They don't know who owns their domain name or how to access their web site. Is there any way I can find out and then take up the website updating for them?

 

[chrishirst]

http://www.internic.net/whois.html or http://www.nominet.org.uk/ for .uk names.

You should get the registrant name from the whois records, if it is their webdesigner who "owns" the name they could be well and truly S.o.o.L. Unless they are in control of the contact email for the hostname.

The IPS tag will tell you who the registrar is and the nameservers or the IP block owner should get you to the hosting company.

http://www.ip2location.com/free.asp

 

[matildas.tardis]

Thanks very much, Chris. I've followed your adevice and there it all is. Just a phone call away. You're a pearl. Best wishes, Veronica