Installing a fresh SMF Forum but keeping old content,topics and DB etc

[aka Fusion]

OK so we want to do a complete fresh install of the forum (not an upgrade) so we can lose all the redundant mode files etc but keep all the existing posts and boards etc

So i have searched and read a bit but just want to check which is the best option it seems the are 2 options

1 - Delete the forum from the root and install a fresh  install package of SMF
2 - Install a fresh install package of SMF in a folder next to the existing one and into a fresh database then direct the new forum to the old database

I assume that i will need to run  repair_settings.php to populate the old boards and topics etc but could really need some advice on the best way forward with some instructions to carry it out

Cheers Fusion

[NanoSector]

You can do it quicker:

1. Remove ALL files from the SMF directory, EXCEPT Settings.php (you can remove Settings_bak.php, but it is recommended to leave)
2. Upload all files from the Large Upgrade Package to the SMF directory (except upgrade.php).

Done!

[Deaks]

actually both wrong ... download install of the version you want and upload replacing all the files ... BUT do not overwrite Settings.php or Settings_bak.php ( this bit is crucial). so in steps.

1. take backup of Settings.php and Settings_bak.php
2. download full version of smf you want
3. remove install.php, Settings.php and Settings_bak.php from the archive
4. extract it to a folder.
5. upload to your site
6. if you forgot to remove Settings.php and Settings_bak.php upload the backup of those iles you made

and there you go y our forum will now be  a default forum with no lose of data (if you done it correctly)

[NanoSector]

actually both wrong ... download install of the version you want and upload replacing all the files ... BUT do not overwrite Settings.php or Settings_bak.php ( this bit is crucial). so in steps.

1. take backup of Settings.php and Settings_bak.php
2. download full version of smf you want
3. remove install.php, Settings.php and Settings_bak.php from the archive
4. extract it to a folder.
5. upload to your site
6. if you forgot to remove Settings.php and Settings_bak.php upload the backup of those iles you made

and there you go y our forum will now be  a default forum with no lose of data (if you done it correctly)

Which is the exact same thing I said but in more steps.

[Deaks]

Instead of getting defensive Yoshi maybe look at the times of the posting you will see they are posted in less than one minute apart this means you started typing while i was typing (how can I tell this well, i update my post a few times while writing).

[aka Fusion]

Ok thanks guys but just to be clear (cos im like that  )

One of you say to use a large upgrade and the other a full version - Does it matter which?
And i dont need to run any repair settings etc ?

I understand that i  can just delete all of the forum root folder but must keep a back up Settings.php and Settings_bak.php and re upload these, as these are the only files required to end up with a fresh default forum with no lose of members , data etc

Thanks again

[Deaks]

Id suggest the full install but you can use the large upgrade

[Illori]

if you use the full install you may loose your Settings.php file, with the large upgrade it will not be overrode, but a good idea to back it up anyway.

[All Colours Sam]

the small update   is great for this too, since it does not have a settings ang settings_bak  files.

[Kays]

The small update package doesn't contain all of the files. Just the ones altered since the last version.

For something like this the large upgrade package is recommended as it doesn't contain Settings.php.

[All Colours Sam]

The small update package doesn't contain all of the files. Just the ones altered since the last version.

For something like this the large upgrade package is recommended as it doesn't contain Settings.php.

thats weird, I use the small update for RC4 and it has all the files, including the images and fonts.

[Kays]

For 2.0 it's different since it's still in development and all of the files are subject to change. This will change once final is released.

If you look at 1.1 packages the update package contains almost half the number of files. So it's wise to recommend using large upgrade package.

[All Colours Sam]

oh! I didn't knew that, thanks for letting me know

[Kays]

No problem.

Now the question is did the original question get answered.

[aka Fusion]

yep it sure did, i used the full install option.....worked like a charm ....thanks all

[Astra_200]

Maybe I should post a new thread but will try here as whats discribed above is exactly what i want to do - Update my forum keeping all my old posts.

Just a few questions if I may?

1. Will this work on a full upgrade from 2.0 RC1.2 to RC4? I really need to keep my old posts etc.

2. If so, just to be sure, After backing up Settings.php and Settings_bak.php from my smf folder I download the full RC4 version, remove install.php, Settings.php and Settings_bak.php from it and copy the remainder over to my smf folder via ftp allowing the new version to overwrite the old one?

3. Once updated, I re install / upload the backed up Settings.php and Settings_bak.php from my old forum?

4. I want to preserve gallery pictures, avatars too. How do I do that please?

5. For some reason I have a Settings.php and Settings_bak.php in my public_html root directory as well as my smf one, should they be there?

6. Presumably all my mods will be overwritten, so I will get no errors, just need to find new compatible ones and install them again?

Thanks in advance.

[Illori]

please open a separate topic, this way we can track your issue separately from the one in this thread.