301 redirect nightmare

html only option, so must I live with 200 header?

[Pro_Editor]

I need despartely to forward a site but do not have htaccess (and the site host can't provide it--I asked/demanded/cajoled/begged). I have also tried a php option, which does not work. So, it looks like I can only use html, which works (forwards the page) but returns a 200 header.

So, is there another option I am overlooking?

Or is there a way to get a 301 header returned using the html option?

Or do I have to live with my site where it is and just start over on a decent host?

Or am I overthinking this thing and the 200 really won't get me penalized for dup content as I suspect?

[Vishal]

In my opinion, maybe you should try different host.

[Pro_Editor]

I am trying so hard to figure this out because the site is maximally optimised, with lots of quality incoming links. It is nearly 5 years old and worked really fine until 12/01, when it slipped in the search results. I think the problem is that it looks like a subdomain (it isn't, but it was originally a free site, which I thought would be no big deal while setting it up--alas, that fact seems to have come back to bite me), and I think some other site that also looks like it is a sub of the same outfit has been doing blackhat things that got us all punished. So, I am trying to salvage years of hard work here. So, no other options?

[Fall]

You could use javascript, and put a noscript-link in there for search engines to follow, but I'm not sure you would be happy with this either.
If you have PHP, maybe you're doing something wrong? The redirect must come before any other characters have been sent to the browser (it's a header, and therefore must come before the content). Try this at the very top of your page :

<? header("Location: [etc");?>...]

Also remember to give the file a .php extension.

[Lobo]

I know it's not helpful but I'd have to agree with Vishal... not offering htaccess is rediculous .. dump them .. and find someone else who offers a proper service..

[Fall]

I think he is changing to a different host, but wants his previous, free host to redirect to his new host.
I may be wrong though.

[2by4]

move to a new hoster, it's just a new IP address, the domain name doesn't change. Full .htaccess support is on my list of must haves for any hosting company. Ask specifically if mod_rewrite is fully enabled before you sign up for the account. Or better, ask what is disabled, good hosters run almost everything you'll need in any practical setting, bad hosters cut off stuff that makes it too hard to run 4000 sites on a single server.