Probably. If the domain name is already registered with 123-reg and you're not currently using it with another one of our services, you can add it to your website hosting package when you order.

If your domain is hosted with another company, there are two ways to use it with your 123-reg hosting:

• Transfer it to 123-reg, then associate it with your web hosting package. Most domain name companies will allow you to transfer domain names to 123-reg. Read about it here - you'll need to wait for the transfer to complete before buying your hosting. This can take a few days.
• Leave the domain name where it is, and point it at your hosting. It's easy to do this - read full instructions on our support site. You'll still need to register a domain name when you buy your website hosting (every hosting package must be linked to a domain name held with 123-reg), but because you get a domain name free, this won't cost you.

You don't need to do anything - just don't use them!

A subdomain adds another level to your domain name. For instance, we own the domain name 123-reg.co.uk. Our subdomains include inside.123-reg.co.uk and webmail.123-reg.co.uk.

You can set up subdomains to point to different websites, or different parts of your website. For instance, you might host your company blog at http://blog.yourcompanyname.com.

You can set up as many subdomains as you like with 123-reg hosting.

Domain pointers allow you to point your domain names at different areas of your web hosting. They allow you to upload and run more than one website with a single web hosting package.

Yes, no problem. Read these instructions on our support site. Please note that you'll still need to register a domain name when you buy your website hosting (every hosting package must be linked to a domain name held with 123-reg), but because you get a domain name free, this won't cost you.

Our website hosting packages are available with either Linux or Windows. These are the operating systems that take care of basic functions in your hosting. Each has its advantages.

You do not need to choose the same operating system that runs on your home or business computers. Instead, the system you choose should depend on what you want on your website.

Most of our customers opt for Linux hosting, and if you're not sure which you need this is a safe bet. But make sure you choose Windows hosting if you know your website is going to use Microsoft technologies like ASP.NET or Microsoft SQL.

Although we take as many precautions as we can to keep your data safe, we do recommend you keep a backup of your site too. Backups don't just protect you against a failure of our systems (unlikely), but also against problems caused by any changes you make.

Please see our support site for help with backups.

Yes. In fact, all our hosting packages come with a menu of applications for you to choose from. If what you need isn't there, you can always install your own - as long as the features of our website hosting meet their requirements.

However, please note that you cannot install applications that require root or administrator-level access.

We do everything we can to keep our systems safe from hacking, crashes, hardware failures and physical damage. All servers are located in our own highly secure, IBM-built data centre which is located in the UK.

Access to servers is tightly controlled and limited to essential personnel. In normal circumstances, power is drawn from the power grid. We operate uninterruptible supplies and have on-site generators too, in case the external supply fails.

All your data is kept safe behind a secure firewall with multiple layers of protection. We also operate regular backups and store copies of the data off site.

It's up to you. If you decide you no longer want the domain names, you can let them expire too. But if you want to hold on to them, you'll need to pay for their renewal yourself, at the standard price.

If you decide the web hosting package you've bought isn't right for you, give us a call within the first 7 days. We'll refund what you paid - excluding the cost of registering any domain names you have, because domains can't be "unregistered" once you've chosen them.