If you need to move your Joomla website to another server (or maybe another domain) then check this post: http://www.itoctopus.com/how-to-move-you...
Like others said: the best and fastest way is to install akeeba backup and backup as a zip file (set this in the configuration). Once the backup is finished, download it, and then upload it to your new server in the public_html folder, or the folder your host uses for the html file. From your cpanel, select file manager, navigate to public_html, select the zip backup of Joomla, and click "Extract" button.
Next, from your cpanel, create a new database. You can name it anything. Just remember the database name, username, and password. Host will most likely be localhost.
Finally, point your browser to your new webserver. If you set the DNS servers on your domain name to point to new host, then type in the domain name and you will see the akeeba install script. It's just like the Joomla install script. Fill and the new database info and make sure the paths are correct for your new server and the install should do the rest.
A Joomla web site comes in two parts; a bunch of files & folders and a database, so when you want to move a Joomla Web site you need to move both. All you are doing is moving files from one location to another a bit like when you move files around on your PC using Windows Explorer.
As long as you do it in the right way you should be able to do it without too much effort.
Moving the files and folders part of Joomla is pretty straightforward by FTP. I use Filezilla. You are going to move them from the existing Server to your PC and then to the new Server. Downloading from the existing server to your PC also serves as a backup should you need it and of course you don't delete anything on your old server until your site is moved and running.
The Database is almost as easy as long as you can use phpMyAdmin.
Most of the tasks are in your control but changing Nameservers can take up to 48 Hours although in all but one case for me it was done within the hour. I assume that you have ownership of your Domain Name and the ability to change Nameservers. You need to be able to change Nameservers so that the Domain Name "points" to your new host.
The easiest way to do it is to use Akeeba Backup extension to back up your site on its original location and then Akeeba Kickstart to restore it on the new location. Video tutorials of the process are available on Youtube. This will bundle all Joomla files along with the MySQL database and all templates, etc. in a single backup file.
For restoring the site locally you can use XAMPP, it's a Apache / MySQL bundle that can be installed locally on a PC. I believe video tutorials for this are also available online.
Good luck.
Im currently building out a site using Joomlas 30 day trial on cloudaccess.net. The site is almost done but my trial ends soon. I need to package up the site with all of my extensions, templates, and settings ect and bring it down to my computer. There I can finish it and upload all content to my client's domain, which is hosted on ipage. I know this involves downloading Joomla to her domains database as well, but Im a little fuzzy on the whole process. What I really need is step by step directions on how to save all of my site, move it to my computer, what I need to work on it on my computer, and upload the entire thing to ipage so its fully function.
Please help if you know this process!
