If you are reading this web page, it means that your ThirdSphere Hosting account has been set up successfully. You can now log in to your control panel to start building or uploading your website to your account.

This document is intended to answer questions that customers often have when first setting up their account at Thirdsphere.


How do I log in to my control panel?

An e-mail with the subject “Welcome to ThirdSphere” has been sent to you; please go ahead and read it right now. If you can’t find that e-mail, please contact us using our HelpDesk System and we’ll gladly send it again (instructions on how to contact us are further down this page).


I can't log in to my control panel using my domain name…

The most common cause for this is that your domain has not fully propagated yet. If your domain name has not yet propagated worldwide (which can take up to 72 hours after you have register a new domain name or re-point an existing one) be sure that you are using the instructions under “If your domain name is not available yet...” from the “Welcome to ThirdSphere" e-mail you received.

If, when you attempt to log in, your user/password combination is rejected, make sure that you have not accidentally copied an extra space at the end of either or both the user name or the password. Also make sure that you have not mistaken an l for a 1 or vice versa.


It still won’t let me in…

If you are logging in using that link and you get a “page not found,” check to see if you have a firewall running (hardware or software, like Zone Alarm or Norton). If you have one that you cannot turn off (i.e., you are surfing from work), read the next paragraph.

If you still cannot log into your Thirdsphere control panel, you will need to contact the helpdesk. When you write in tell us exactly what URL and user/pass you are trying to use and exactly what error you are getting and if you have a firewall (if you know).  Whatever it is that’s causing the trouble, we will be able to help you get into your control panel and on to the exciting part of using Thirdsphere tools to make your business website a success.


When I type my domain I see a list of files, but not my website.

If you are seeing a list of files it means that you don't have an index.html page. The page that your visitors will automatically see when they go to your domain name is the page called index.html. If you do not have an index.html page, your visitors will see a listing of your files.

So, if you want to create a 'coming soon' page, just create a page called index.html and place your coming soon information on it. If you have a website and your home page is called 'home.html', or something else, simply rename it to 'index.html' and it will pop right up.

If you have already uploaded a website and changing the homepage from home.htm, home.html or whatever you have called your home page, is going to break all your links throughout the rest of your site, you can use the information in the “DirectoryIndex” section of this helpfile to make your current homepage file name the default. If you need us to do this for you, don’t hesitate to write to the helpdesk, we are happy to help you set this up.


Here’s how to contact us…

You can get in touch with us either:
by replying to the Thirdsphere invoice or welcome letter that you received when you set up your account,
or
by going to http://thirdsphere.com, clicking on Contact & Support from the top navigation bar, and clicking on the link on the left side of the screen that says, “Open a support ticket."

If you have never used the Thirdsphere helpdesk system you will have to create a new account with a new username and password (the helpdesk system is separate from your control panel login, so your regular login and password will not work there).

We are looking forward to helping you get quick access to all the powerful tools waiting for you inside your hosting account.