Thinking of downgrading and losing everything
 

I absolutely hate the headaches that VB5 is generating for my users. I have been up for less than a month, we have close to 100 members and even sight sponsors who pay to advertise. People say "no hard feelings but you don't have that much on your forum" YES WE DO, there are forums who have been up for years with less members and content than we have. I am not the biggest and baddest and I know this and understand this, but we do have growth. Our growth will only continue from here too. We had marketing strategies in place and thousands of dollars set aside for advertisements, all for what seems like nothing.

Data errors, image issues, site crashing when I post an announcement, PM problems, Avatar problems.

I want to completely delete everything, because VB didnt think it would be a good idea to sell a %$@# software and allow a content transferable downgrade, and start over with VB4.
To be honest I want to get the heck away from VB all together because of this bitter experience, but I have already invested in the software.

I really do not know what to do. I feel like I will lose momentum on the forum if I scrap everything and start fresh. But at the same time it is losing momentum while at this VB5 stand still.

Does any one have any idea when the patch will be released? Is there ANY hope that some of these issues will be fixed soon?

If you decide to downgrade you may make an empty installation and then carefully kraft some queries in order to transfer some of the data from vb5 to vb4. It is not easy, but it's possible.

My problem is I am completely ignorant to all this. Any set up so far has all been paid. I am at a loss for all of this, VB should come in and help with a downgrade if that is what it takes.

I am happy to install vb4 for you for free as i know all the problems you have been having

With all my respect, I believe IB will not invest a single penny into up- and downgrading tools. However if there are quite some people interested, I could give it a shot for downgrading.

Nevertheless I firmly (still) object the selling of vb5 as stable and refuse to sell vb4, while vb5 is still very weak and at the time wasn't much more than a popped beta. I acquired myself a vb5 license but haven't tried it since beta testing, just because I still have the feeling it is going to be a historical flop. IB has the difficult task to keep the customers kicking, while they kick their developers, more or less literally, to higher levels of software consciousness ;)

I really do appreciate everything you have done for me. I appreciate your offer too. I am still just on the fence about this entire situation.

I wish they would have had a warning at the purchase or even install about it still being a beta software or that there are still bugs running rampant. I URGE any one installing VB to run for your life as far away as possible from VB5. The only reason I am still running it is because I have members and content that I do not want to lose.



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How would downgrade and still manage to keep my content and registered users? How possible is this?

Do you not have any old back ups from before the upgrade to 5?

This was my original install.

What big problems are you facing right now with 5?

I bet you could use Impex but I am not positive. Any idea on this if it would work Zachary or anyone?

Just create a new default Vbulletin install of the version you want and import the data from the version 5 forum using Impex.