Domain search

[Hulk]

I'm in the process of setting up a business and I would like to have a website. How do I find out if the name is already taken? I know I could just type it in with the .com after it but is there another way?

 

[GaryS128]

I use http://whois.sc but there are many other web sites that will give you that information

 

[GaryS128]

Also, I just thought of it. godaddy.com (or any other domain registrar) will tell you if the domain is taken and sometimes suggest alternatives

 

[Hulk]

Thank you.

 

[Gutspiller]

Careful what you use to search for domains, many record what domains are searched for and report them back as possible domains for others to buy if you don't purchase it "on-the-spot". I've lost a good domain purchase by waiting less than 24hrs from search to purchase.

Networksolutions.com has been the best so far. DO NOT however use names4ever as they are the one that screwed me before.

 

[Lethal]

I know I could just type it in with the .com after it but is there another way?

You can't rely on trying to bring up the site. The name could already be taken and there's just no active site yet.

Also, there are people who buy up domains for the sole purpose of trying to resell them. Although many of them put up some placeholder page saying the domain's for sale and slap on a bunch of google ads to monetize it.

 

[berzerker]

From a Windows command line, you can type:

telnet whois.internic.net 43

Then hit enter. You won't get a prompt and you won't see the letters you're typing, but you can type somedomain.com and hit enter, then you'll get the whois information or see if the name is unregistered.

This is a way to avoid shady sites that spy on your searches.

If you search a name that's free, then find out someone else has taken it the next day, just wait a week or two and the domain may become available again. A lot of these stolen search domains are registered then cancelled within a few days.