vBulletin Lite installed over vBulletin?

[NobodySpecial]

I've already had a vB board set up and had it up for the past year. I had a license. It expired, I cannot afford to renew it. I don't want to close the board, of course. Can I install vB Lite and continue to run my board? I ask from both a legal point of view and a technical one. Legally, is it OK? Technically, will it work? Will it do anything to my database that would affect it later if I was able to buy the full version?

[okrogius]

You will need to write a php file to import things from your current vb database to another vblite database which you will create. Then delete the vbulletin install. Legally that would be ok. However I don't see how you can even work on a vb lite after being used to vbulletin.

[Cary]

I believe vBulletin Lite is used for testing purposes rather than using it for your community. (To see if vB would actually work on your server.)

Of course you are free to do as you like, though.

[okrogius]

vb lite is just a VERY stripped down old version of vbulletin. Of course it's recommended you install it to test php and mysql, however, there's nothing wrong with using it.

[Floris]

The older vB lite version isn't as secure as the current 2.2.5

[NobodySpecial]

I'm not worried about security. Hell, I'm still running 2.2.2 anyway. But it doesn't matter. My primary, overriding concern at this point is that my board stays open. All I want to know is if I can install vB Lite and make it use my existing database, and whether it will or will not do anything funny to it.

[Steve Machol]

I seriously doubt a 2.2.2 database will work with vB Lite.

[NobodySpecial]

Does vBulletin Lite use encrypted passwords? If it does not, then that's all there is to it: The two would not be compatible. Can anyone tell me if it does or does not use encrypted passwords?

[tubedogg]

vBulletin lite doesn't even have member registration.

[Andy Z]

Since you can't renew, you may want to look at phpBB2, they have a vB to phpBB converter I believe
(http://phpbb.com/downloads.php, its a ways down the page.) I've never tested it.

[Floris]

Originally posted by andypotter
Since you can't renew, you may want to look at phpBB2, they have a vB to phpBB converter I believe
(http://phpbb.com/downloads.php, its a ways down the page.) I've never tested it.

.. \ache\stop\ ..

Or, find a sponsor to renew your license, maybe stop eating for a month and you have the money!

[Andy Z]

Originally posted by xiphoid

.. \ache\stop\ ..

Or, find a sponsor to renew your license, maybe stop eating for a month and you have the money!

Well, that's acceptable too.

[bigmattyh]

I think a conversion could be done -- with at least a few hours' work. But that's the thing -- if you can't do it with your own PHP and MySQL skills, it'll probably be really tough to find someone who would be interested in doing a script that would convert your database.