Generally hosts provide a phpMyAdmin installation so you can look through your databases. What did you use to create one during your initial installation, or did your host do it for you? They should also have a way to look at your access logs, like in cPanel. Who are you with? Maybe we can offer suggestions if we know who your host is and what tools they offer.

Thanks Digital Jedi, the forum is hosted on a VPS with Servint.net. I'll look at the suggestions you offer and see how far I can get with it.

I'm with the same hosting company, go to your cPanel and scroll down to the Database section and click on phpmyadmin to access your database

ServInt? I *think* I have heard of them. ;)

Hang in there. The CS guys are great! They should be able to get you up and going soon.

Thanks HMBeaty, I'm currently working on improving my IT knowledge by learning some PHP and will hopefully soon move on to MySQL. I have had a look at phpmyadmin but unfortunately due to my lack of knowledge I don't really know what I'm looking at and I don't want to damage anything by playing around in there.

Thanks Boofo, they are currently dealing with the issue and they have been very supportive up to now. Do you have an association with Servint?

I have been with them for a while now. I have referred quite a few people to them, including the illustrious HMBeaty. ;)

Basically all you have to do is scroll through your table names, find the one called forum (usually prefixed with vb_ or whatever you chose upon installation), look at it and see if one of the columns has the name lastpost. Right now your just looking to see if what should be there is still there.