I think my webhost, active24, may have gone down, or about to go bust or something, I don't know. But our domain is stuck there, it doesn't work properly, we can't change it (most times it says the DNS server cannot be updated - see below) and there is no-where to change nameservers to point to hosting that works.
The DNS data is corrupt anyway:
http://www.demon.net/cgi-bin/dig?ww...dservices.co.uk
They don't respond to any emails, and although their telephone support says they are open from 9pm to 4pm (the voice sounds like NZ, so I guess those overnight times mean the call is answered downunder!) but the message is always the same.

It's not possible to use their online support service
http://www.active24.co.uk/sw3513.asp - as clicking "next" either reaches a 404 page, or a meaningless page which asks "enter a word" and then takes me back and it starts all over again!

Try searching help for the word "subdomain" on support:
http://www.active24.co.uk/sw1803.asp
The first link and second links are in Norwegian, and the links on those pages are all 404s.
The third results takes me to "ADODB.Recordset error '800a0cc1'"
On the fourth result, must links are broken, but I can get to this page:
http://support.activeisp.co.uk/supp...tiondomain1.htm
However, it tells me they won't change DNS for .uk domains, so I'm stuffed anyway, and besides, they want me to post it.

But the MAIN problem is as I described it in my support query to them. I've copied it below - I'd really appreciate any help. At least to get the wildcard going so I can use subdomains!
The following is what I emailed - as I've not had any reply to questions from four months ago, I think I can assume you good people are my only hope!
------------------------------------------------------------
Hi, we are having problems with the domain www.solarpoweredservices.co.uk
Some of the records seem incorrect, also whenever I tried to query more info about the domain, various services told me that this was a "badly administered domain" because there was no "SOA record".
For example: http://www.demon.net/cgi-bin/dig?ww...dservices.co.uk
Our blog at energy.solarpoweredservices.co.uk and any other subdomain is not working. I have now attempted to correct this - see below.
However, the .htaccess subdomain method you pointed me to in an earlier reply only results in 500 internal server error, whichever method I try.

Also, here are the details for the domain as of 14/oct/07 @ 13:15 BST

Host Type MX Prio Destination
@ MX 20 avs02.activeisp.com. Edit Delete
@ MX 20 avs01.activeisp.com. Edit Delete
@ MX 10 avsgw.activeisp.com. Edit Delete
photos A 213.188.129.160 Edit Delete
@ A 217.22.64.55 Edit Delete
stats.www CNAME stats01.newweb.active24.com. Edit Delete
stats CNAME stats01.newweb.active24.com. Edit Delete
ftp CNAME ftp.newweb.active24.com. Edit Delete
www CNAME web.newweb.active24.com. Edit Delete

The wilcard record for solarpoweredservices.co.uk was pointing to something which never connected. I have corrected this from above by changing

FROM
@ A 217.22.64.55
TO
@ A 213.188.130.110


solarpoweredservices.co.uk now works, but I need to be able to create the subdirectory survey.solarpoweredservices.co.uk and get the blog to be the correct pointer, and not the active24blog domain

Sometimes, when I try and make a change, it says

"The DNS servers are not able to accept any connections. Please try again later"

Also, http://stats.www.solarpoweredservices.co.uk/ doesn't work. Looks like the whole record is messed up - can it be corrected?

I went to the UK support site and tried typing in "subdomain" in the search, and got the following page:

It starts

ndring av A-record og CNAME (domenepeking).
Hva er dette og hvorfor endre?


etc etc, in Norwegian! This is not very helpful.

I took a look at your DNS configuration:
http://www.dnsstuff.com/
There are one or two issues which you may hope to resolve, but nothing fatal.

From what I can gather ActiveISP are originally a Norwegian Company consolidated into a Pan European group. They have a UK support number: 0870 730 4000 which they state is available 9:00 am - 3:00pm, this must be UK time. You can also email: support@mamutactive24.co.uk. Dunno if these are the details you've been trying but I found them here :
http://www.active24.co.uk/sw1818.asp

Hmmm, looks pretty fatal from here!! http://survey.solarpoweredservices.co.uk !!
I think the word "support" is used in a rather loose interpretation! If you call it, most of the time it says "sorry, we're open 9PM to 4pm(!)", and I've phoned them 3 times regarding this issue.
They have never, ever, replied to emails - and the first one I sent was in June. I'm going to call a supervisor and record the call this morning - if it still doesn't get done, I'm going to do whatever I can to FORCE them to change the name server so I can point it towards hosting that words.
Honestly...these guys make Webfusion look like a professional outfil! Thanks for the reply - I think 3 months of hell is going to come to a head this morning - let's hope I can keep a temper!

You've had a bad experience with Web Fusion too?
Never used either of these companies myself, I've never liked putting myself in the hands of a big corporate where my account is just another number. I did it once with a Spanish Company Arsys.es with whom I had 4 dedicated servers, but to them I was still a drop in the ocean.

I like to be able to pick-up the phone and speak to someone I've spoken to before, someone who is familiar with my account and my hosting needs, you only get this level of attention with smaller web hosting companies.

My top tip for hosting, host with an Ltd. not a Plc.

Sorted hit the nail on the head with this.




These large corporations are all about keeping investors happy. Unfortunately the customer tends to come off not so well.

True. But you CAN get consumer revenge - there's an extension in Firefox that will let you repeat a click or refresh every x seconds.
So, let's just say that setting it to submit the support form once per second and leaving it overnight certainly got their attention!

I bet it got your account closed! That extension is one step away from a DOS attack.