Upgrade question from 3.5.4
 

Hi folks -

I have a vbulletin install that is running 3.5.4.

I am a co-admin, and the other admin, who is the person who started the forum, wanted to put on as many hacks as he could - so we have everything from games to user name changes, anonymous user, game arcade, vbcmps, the works.

Now I cannot get the upgrades to work - I have created test intances on another server and loaded the databases trying to upgrade to 3.8 until I am blue in the face, but no luck.

Once the upgrade completes, the vbulletin does not work, giving me many errors.

Does anyone know how I can just get the plain vanilla vbulletin data out of mysql and then load that - hoping to just wipe the slate clean of all hacks and add-ons so that I can upgrade clean and still keep all of my post history and user registration information etc.

Thank you in advance for your considered reply.

best regards -

mqqn

In your 3.8.4 upgrade folder, includes/config.php, insert the following directly under <?php:

define('DISABLE_HOOKS', true);

This will force all add-ons to be turned off. :)

Now you can enter your test forum's AdminCP. Go there, then Plugins and Products on the left side near the bottom, and select Manage Products. Uninstall everything.

Now go to Plugins and Products -> Plugin Manager and uncheck anything that remains. Click Save Active Status to turn them off. Now you can go back to this screen and delete these with the Delete link on the right side.

At this point, you should be able to navigate around your upgraded forum with only default vBulletin code running. If everything's satisfactory, remove the Disable Hooks line you inserted into config.php earlier, and double-check the forum.

Once you're satisfied with your test forum, you're ready to upgrade your live one! :up:

Ahh don't do that :p

Make the test forum i.e. a clone of your live site to run the upgrade script on. Most 3.5/3.6/3.7/3.8 mods will work fine on 3.8 a few won't and some just need a simple version dependancy changed. If you were upgrading to 4.0 I would say uninstall all mods but to 3.8.4 simply disable them all in admincp AND the config before upgrading the cloned "test" site to 3.8.4 once upgraded turn on mods via the config but they are still disabled in admincp so no worries... now simply turn on each mod one by one and if any give you an error look for an upgraded version or fix in the mods thread if none exist then uninstall because there's no point uninstalling everything before you upgrade if you liek the mods and again most will work you only uninstall old styles and mods for the upgrade to 4.0 since it is such a big change to everything ;).

More info here: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=227933

Just disregard the 4.0 info and use the guide like your upgrading to 3.8 which you are ;).

Mike

Hi folks -

Thank you for the advice -

I did decide to un-install everything, because I am planning on upgrading to the 4.0 version soon afterwards.

In addition, my users are reporting (and I am getting) pm's from non-members - so someone is exploiting my code to post pm's telling my users that they have "infected" computers.

Thank you once again for your help - I am working on it all now.

best regards -

mqqn

Hi guys -

I was able to get my forum upgraded - but I had to completely delete all the php files from my html directory and upload a complete fresh version of first 3.6, install that, then do the same thing with 3.8.2 -

I am at 3.8.2 now and it is running smoothly.

Thank you for responding to my thread - I appreciate the effort.

best regards -

mqqn

I'm sure I can speak for James when I say that we are just happy to see you have it up and running smoothly - Enjoy!

*Remember not to go too overboard with mods or styles IF your considering upgrading to 4.0 anytime soon ;).

Mike

Hi Mike -

Thank you - I think we learned our lesson on hacks and such!

I am preparing to poll the members to see what stuff they liked, that way we only make effort towards things that make sense - and I will not be putting stuff on until we do decide on 4.0 or not.

So far so good - only one minor bug, and that is not impacting useability.

thanks again -

best regards -

mqqn