Save Redirects - Alternatives to .htaccess

Freebie webhost doesn't support .htaccess files!

[Still Waters]

Currently, we have website "A", which gets high rankings on Google, for our top keywords. We want to phase out website "A", and replace it with website "B" (same content, but different domain name).

As our first step, we copied all the pages from "A" to "B". As our second step, we want to create a redirect, so that visitors to "A" will be redirected to the corresponding page on "B".

Ordinarily, I would use an htaccess file with a permanent redirect 301. But I just found out that the free webhost (for "A") does not support htaccess files! I then considered using the META REFRESH tag, but I searched the WebmasterWorld archive and found conflicting reports about the risk of a Google penalty. :(

Given that I cannot use an htaccess file, what are the best ways to redirect people to "B", without risking a Google penalty on "B"?

PS: We are using a paid webhost for "B", and that host DOES support htaccess files. So, we shouldn't run into this problem again. ;)

[Still Waters]

I just had another thought. :)

If I do use a meta refresh tag to redirect people from "A" to "B",
and Google does assess a penalty...

Would that penalty apply just to "A"?
Or would it apply to "B"?
Or would it apply to both?

I'm hoping you will say that it applies just to "A", because I don't need "A", anymore. :)

[ciml]

You might hope that an HTML META refresh with a zero second delay would do the trick. I'm not sure if it does anymore.

The easiest thing to do is:

<TABLE width="100%" style=" height: 100%; ">
<TR valign=middle>
<TD align=center>
<H1>We Have Moved</H1>
<P>Please visit our new site, <A href="http: </TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

[Still Waters]

Thanks, ciml. :)

In another thread, Brett Tabke recommends using a 10-second refresh. Any idea if this is necessary, to avoid a Google penalty?

www.webmasterworld.com/forum5/1054.htm