re-installing zen cart w/same host

I downloaded and installed zen cart v1.3.8a.1 to my site (n a t i v e a l a s k a s e a f o o d.com) hosted by go daddy, was happy changing the layout, adding categories, products, images, etc. was using (frontpage)FTP uploading files then lost connection, I've re-installed back and forth can't get the re-install to work with the old files that contain my store information I see the files on the server side How can I get them to work with the new install, the new install shows an uncustomized zencart. I want to create a intro page in front page then link to the zencart store side, any help???
thanks thedb

Hi and Welcome to the Forum. :smile:

Your 'index.htm' can be your intro page, designed anyway you would like. You need only to have a link somewhere using 'index.php' which is the first page of Zen Cart.

Also, to change Templates within Zen Cart use:
Admin > Tools > Template Layout

Mind you, best it you read the FAQs (top of this page) to learn more about Templates; switching, customizing, etc.

You will also need to get your head round concepts like DYNAMIC CONTENT, and the fact that a HTML editor like FrontPage is no longer of any use to you where zencart is concerned (not just ZC... any CMS system using a database and code files cannot be edited in a HTML editor, unless you are a real expert at PHP and MySQL).

Zencart is designed to BE YOUR COMPLETE SITE, and performs best when it is so.

However, while you are learning, you may consider putting ZC into a SUB-DIRECTORY of your site:

eg:

MAIN SITE = http://www.yourwebsite.com/index.html

ZENCART = http://www.yourwebsite.com/zenshop/index.php

You can then have hyperlinks pointing to each "site", in appropriate places in the main site and the ZC install.

(PS: GoDaddy in not known for being the best place to host e-commerce. When you start getting serious about running a business via the WWW, you may care to move your hosting to somewhere that is more suited to running e-commerce systems).

thanks for the help I will keep at it

thanks for the help