Is it possible to restore the user base after a fresh install
 

I am helping a friend with their site and we did a clean install after backing up the database and blowing everything else away. Is it possible to restore just the user member information from the previous install? If so, what would be the best way to do that. BTW, it's a small backup since there less than 10 members and not very much was configured in the previous install.

Hmm why don't you do a full restore, then just delete all the forums...thereby deleting all the posts with it.

I didn't know if I could do that over top of 3.7.1

Are you importing from an older version?

yes. 3.7.0 RC2 all I need is the users also the default style was heavily changed and I didn't want to over write the one from the fresh install.

Since you're just importing the MySQL database, it won't affect styles. Styles are stored separately as XML so it won't mess it up...Just do a regular import (I guess there would be instructions on how to import from a previous version to current on fresh install)...After you're done, just delete all the forums and everything will disappear. Options and what not would be the same nonetheless but at least all your posts would be gone.

You could try using Impex, however if it is only 10 members you could just create their accounts via. the AdminCP it will probably be easier and quicker...

This is totally wrong!! Styles & templates are stored in the database.

Then please ask your friend to post for support himself.

The thing is that I purchased vBulletin for my friend as a gift and they do not know the inter-workings of the forum or admincp, etc which is why I am helping them.

...and my friend is a "she" so it would be "herself".. :)

They may as well start learning. It will help them in the future.

I suggest that you jsut restore the old backup, run upgrade.php to upgrade the database to the current version and remove all that you do not need.

Agreed. I will try to get her more involved however right now is not a good time for her due to some personal matters she's taking care of.

--------------- Added [DATE]1212585252[/DATE] at [TIME]1212585252[/TIME] ---------------

Ok, thanks.

Here's a little more "background". :) The site was orginally installed in /public_html/ and we decided to wipe everything after taking a backup of the database, then do a fresh install install in /public_html/forum/. The owner of the site had heavily altered the color scheme of the default style. I was thinking of reverting the changes.

I'm thinking if I restore the database completely all the pathing in it will be wrong based on the new setup. I suppose I could just reinstall the 3.7.0 rc2 files as they were before, but how would move the files to a "forum" folder and have the pathing be correct. Seems to me it's a lot less work to install a fresh copy and just import the users, if possible. Would it be enough to just import the user table? I'm guessing there are other tables that go along with it such as permissions, etc. I'd do it by hand through the admincp, but I don't know the passwords or email addys the users had.

Ok.. :) I think I've covered everything.. lol

I apologize, I made a mistake but could you be a little nicer about it. It's not like you're talking to a 5 year old.

I think he was just thinking that someone was trying to get support for a pirated copy of vb, but I agree, I was also surprised by this response initially when I read that.

Sorry if you took it wrong, but i did put a strong warning not to attack you, but to warn the member asking this question not to follow your suggestion as it would destroy data he might want to keep.

If you tell someone that styles are not stored in the database and he can without problems restore a backup without loosing his styles, then this is a wrong advice and potentially destroy his (style) data.

That is why i put a strong reply.