Large upgrade question:

[Nodaz]

The directions state:
The SMF upgrade archive contains all of the files that need to be uploaded to the same location where the current forum is located, and overwrite all of the existing files with new files. "

What does that mean? 
 Do i upload the extracted folder to the server or do i upload the files within the extracted folder to a folder on the server...where?
into the public_html folder?

[Sir Osis of Liver]

You can do it either way, the files or zip must be uploaded to forum root, which is the directory that contains Settings.php.

[Doug Heffernan]

What does that mean?

That means that the files from the large upgrade package should be uploaded inside whatever directory that you have used for your smf files, and overwrite them. For more on the subject see this link:

Upgrading SMF

[Nodaz]

What does that mean?

That means that the files from the large upgrade package should be uploaded inside whatever directory that you have used for your smf files, and overwrite them. For more on the subject see this link:

Upgrading SMF

I read that wiki, hence the confusion.I understand they need to be uploaded, i am unclear as to WHERE they should be uploaded and if the FOLDER should be uploaded or each file into a directory.
 ANother poster has indicated i should upload the folder to the root ( and then navigate to the upgrade.php i pressume)

[marcosbr]

It's not the "folder" you must select and send everything inside it to public_html

[Sir Osis of Liver]

No, not necessarily.  If the forum is installed in a subdirectory (/public_html/forum) the upgrade package must be uploaded to that subdirectory.  IIRC, cPanel allows you to upload a zip and unpack it on the server, but I always unzip it locally, then upload the files to forum directory via ftp.  In either case, the files must go to the correct directory/subdirectory to overwrite the old files.

[Nodaz]

It's not the "folder" you must select and send everything inside it to public_html

Ive dont that now.  All i get is a 404 file not found on this server.

[marcosbr]

The directions state:
The SMF upgrade archive contains all of the files that need to be uploaded to the same location where the current forum is located, and overwrite all of the existing files with new files. "

What does that mean? 
 Do i upload the extracted folder to the server or do i upload the files within the extracted folder to a folder on the server...where?
into the public_html folder?

That's what he says. If not, just check where it is installed. The default is this. Unless it was installed by third-party software..

[marcosbr]

And in some cases the browser does not recognize it. You have to put upgrade.php

[Nodaz]

No, not necessarily.  If the forum is installed in a subdirectory (/public_html/forum) the upgrade package must be uploaded to that subdirectory.  IIRC, cPanel allows you to upload a zip and unpack it on the server, but I always unzip it locally, then upload the files to forum directory via ftp.  In either case, the files must go to the correct directory/subdirectory to overwrite the old files.

i appreciate the help the issue is i vae tried by upload the folder and navigating through the path to upgrade.php and i have uploaded the files individually to the public_html folder in eother case when i navigate using the approproate path i am mett with a 404 file not found on this server error.

[Nodaz]

And in some cases the browser does not recognize it. You have to put upgrade.php

I did, the path was www .my wesite. com/upgrade.php received the 404 error ( i am using firefox)

[Illori]

then somehow you are not putting the files in the right place. we cannot really tell you where they should go as we dont know how you setup your server.

[marcosbr]

You can do it either way, the files or zip must be uploaded to forum root, which is the directory that contains Settings.php

Log in to your hosting and look for where your forum is. There you will find the correct folder. If in doubt, just open a request for help (right there).

[Kindred]

Personally,  when I do an upgrade  -- after backing up the existing site,  I delete everything except Settings.php,  and the avatars and attachments directories.

Then I upload the upgrade contents  (or upload the zip and extract)

That way there is no issue with overwriting files

[Nodaz]

You can do it either way, the files or zip must be uploaded to forum root, which is the directory that contains Settings.php

Log in to your hosting and look for where your forum is. There you will find the correct folder. If in doubt, just open a request for help (right there).

Thank you i appreciate everyone's direction and willingness to help. I logged into my cpanel and i dont see anything specific about my forum,  when i ftp in i see all the files and folders for the current functioning forum within the public_html folder.


Additionally i see recently uploaded files including the upgrade .php within the root directory, all dated today , a question there, can those just be deleted to avoid any further issues.

[Nodaz]

You can do it either way, the files or zip must be uploaded to forum root, which is the directory that contains Settings.php.

If you upload the zip, how do you access run the upgrade.php?

[Chen Zhen]

Cpanel's file manager should have an option to extract the files from the zip archive.
Let it overwrite the current files & then access https://your_website/upgrade.php (<- sub in your website URL) to start the upgrade procedure.

[Nodaz]

UPDATE:  I continued to have issues, needed to get this done.  Found-someone on Fiver who upgraded both forums to 2.1.4 for a VERY reasonable fee and they are up an in action complete with all old data and users.  I appreciate EVERYONES time and insight and help as a bumbled through trying to do this myself.