MySQL troubles

[IR15H]

To cut a long story short; my site crashed and my sql back up didn't work.

I'm running vB 3.8.3, Apache 2.2.11, PHP 5.2.9-2 and MySQl 5.1.33 (which I downloaded as a WAMP bundle) and using MySQL Admin 5.1. I remote desktop to the machine, which is running Windows Server 2003. I've disabled all plugins by putting define('DISABLE_HOOKS', true); in my config.

When I try a restore via MySQl Admin I get the following error;

Error while executing this query:INSERT INTO `customavatar` (`userid`,`filedata`,`dateline`,`filename`,`visibl e`,`filesize`,`width`,`height`,`filedata_thumb`,`w idth_thumb`,`height_thumb`) VALUES ...LOADS OF NUMBERS...
The server has returned this error message:MySQL server has gone away
MySQL Error.

I tried altering my.ini to max_allowed_packet = 256M but that didn't help. Unfortunately, this is the case for all my manual back ups going back 6 months .


I did manage to copy the info from mysql/data/schema-name and try that way, rather then an sql restore. However, I've noticed that this method gives 12 missing tables (there's a .frm file there but no corresponding .myd or .myi). These files/tables are;

• albumupdated
• discussion
• discussionread
• groupread
• noticedismiseed
• pmthrottle
• prefixpermission
• profileblockprivacy
• socialgroupcategory
• socialgroupicon
• subscribeddiscussion
• subscribegroup

Those missing tables gave me a DB error when I tried to view my forum home. I tried installed vb fresh, which works fine, and then did a sql backup of those 12 missing tables - importing them into my existing forum database. That allows me to access my forums and (seemingly) do all normal things, except those related to the missing tables.

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I have daily backups made via this mod, but MySQL Admin doesn't like it as it didn't originally make the back up. I don't know if they'd be any use anyway, given the above sql error.

Is there any way I can;

• try a different sql restore program that allows for ~100MB sql files?
• get to the stage where I lose all data for the above missing tables, but they don't produce a DB error?
• break an sql file down, so I can skip out the customavatar table and hopefully get the rest to work? At the moment if I check "ignore errors" no tables alphabetically after customavatar are restored
• try anything else that might work

I've been trying for days without really getting anywhere so any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, I don't really know anything about mysql, I've just been googling lots and trying different things mentioned, so if you could keep any possible advice noob-friendly that'd also help.