Using an existing user database?
 

A friend of mine runs a site with a huge user base already. Their current message board sucks a whole football team's worth of asses.

Can VB be hacked to use an existing database? (it's mysql)

well, you can install vb on a clean db, and then import the user db, but the table-layout should be the same ;)
so you have a bit of work to do :)

but it has to remain connected, because as new users register for the site, they need to also get access to the forum. Obviously the tables would have to be the same, but couldn't you add those tables to the existing database?

that's what i meant by bit of work :)
you have to add those tables and fields to your database ;)

but do you think it's doable?

Its doable, it just depends if its feasable or not ;)