The Web host where I have had my vB forum for the past three-plus years has just switched everything to a new server. Although I was told there would be no problems with my account, my WP blog is no longer visible and my vB forum no longer works at all.
The host is now telling me that I must upgrade from vB 3.8.2 to 3.8.5 because "we updated PHP to PHP 5.3.x, the latest supported version of PHP." (He adds: "PHP 5.2.x is already EOL, is not recommendable anymore; besides Vbulletin 3.8.2 has many exploits already reported.")
When I go to my member area, I can download 3.8.5. I'm really not good at installation. It makes me very nervous and fills me with anxiety. (There are things I'm fairly good at, but for some reason this isn't remotely one of them.)
Can anyone give me any tips on what to do? I have no real memory of my original vB installation, except that I was confused and unhappy throughout it.
Will there be any problems in preserving my existing database during the re-installation?
(Someone is probably going to tell me to be sure to back up the database first. I haven't done that for years either. Can I use PHPMyAdmin? is there something easier / better?)
Thank you so much for any help you can give me. I don't know why, but this stuff just always makes me feel so lost.
(P.S. Shouldn't my host be trying to help me in some way? They seem completely indifferent to the fact that they have rendered my current forum completely inaccessible.)
- - - - - - - -
On edit: In looking over other threads in this sub-forum, I see that there is information about upgrading at https://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/upgrade . And about backing up.
So I guess some of my questions have changed:
Will I be okay with 3.8.5?
Should I add the 3.8.6 and 3.8.7 patches, at least to try and see if they work?
What about my host -- I'm not very happy with their performance on this. My sense is that they could help with the PHP issue if they wanted to. (and that they could easily have given advance notice of this type of problem, rather than letting everyone be caught by surprise)
Again, thank you for your help. It's always so great for someone like myself to have insights from advanced users and experts.
.
The host is now telling me that I must upgrade from vB 3.8.2 to 3.8.5 because "we updated PHP to PHP 5.3.x, the latest supported version of PHP." (He adds: "PHP 5.2.x is already EOL, is not recommendable anymore; besides Vbulletin 3.8.2 has many exploits already reported.")
When I go to my member area, I can download 3.8.5. I'm really not good at installation. It makes me very nervous and fills me with anxiety. (There are things I'm fairly good at, but for some reason this isn't remotely one of them.)
Can anyone give me any tips on what to do? I have no real memory of my original vB installation, except that I was confused and unhappy throughout it.
Will there be any problems in preserving my existing database during the re-installation?
(Someone is probably going to tell me to be sure to back up the database first. I haven't done that for years either. Can I use PHPMyAdmin? is there something easier / better?)
Thank you so much for any help you can give me. I don't know why, but this stuff just always makes me feel so lost.
(P.S. Shouldn't my host be trying to help me in some way? They seem completely indifferent to the fact that they have rendered my current forum completely inaccessible.)
- - - - - - - -
On edit: In looking over other threads in this sub-forum, I see that there is information about upgrading at https://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/upgrade . And about backing up.
So I guess some of my questions have changed:
Will I be okay with 3.8.5?
Should I add the 3.8.6 and 3.8.7 patches, at least to try and see if they work?
What about my host -- I'm not very happy with their performance on this. My sense is that they could help with the PHP issue if they wanted to. (and that they could easily have given advance notice of this type of problem, rather than letting everyone be caught by surprise)
Again, thank you for your help. It's always so great for someone like myself to have insights from advanced users and experts.
.
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