Getting a "FRESH" install without losing...

[Pimpboard]

Hi all,

I have a couple questions. I have been running vb3 for about 8 months, and it seems that everytime I upgrade or need to change the look/theme of the site, or do any sort of major overhaul to the board, I install a clean version of the script, then have to throw the old database (With any template quirks from a previous theme/skin), then go back and try and remove all of the previous style/template variables that were added. It seems that over time, this is quite a task in itself.

What I'm wondering is this, the only thing about the board DB that I really care about are; threads, posts, and all user data. What I'm wanting to be able to do is this, I want to be able to "backup" only these portions of the database instead of it's entirety, then erase the pre-existing board, install a BRAND NEW script, then add the backedup posts/userdata back into the database.

The issue is that, I am not certain of all of the tables / database info that I will need to backup so that I don't lose any of it in the process.

It would be a nice feature to have where I can just run a script that strips everything back to default values, except for threads, posts and userdata.

If someone could provide me with a table list of ALL board "content and user info", I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

[Zachery]

Why go though all that trouble just to upgrade?

The upgrade scripts upgrade the database just fine...

[Pimpboard]

Why go though all that trouble just to upgrade?

The upgrade scripts upgrade the database just fine...

You're right, what I'm trying to do is install a fresh vbulletin on a clean site (no files on it), and import my users / posts / threads, but I'm unsure which tables contain all of the necessary info for this process.

The purpose of this, is that over time, and manipulating the vb templates to fit a certain design theme, it will keep pieces of the modified templates during an upgrade, and sometimes break a javascript, or a table somewhere etc..

So, basically, I just want to be able to del *.* to my site, upload a fresh copy, and import the users/posts/threads/pms (all of the content), and none of the templates.

[Zachery]

You can do that with impex but i still think you are really going overboard on your upgrad prefrences.

[Floris]

You can upgrade your vBulletin version to 3.0.3 and that will get you the latest language & style files. Build a new default style using the style manager and set it as default. Then you are all set.

[Pimpboard]

You can do that with impex but i still think you are really going overboard on your upgrad prefrences.

It's not for an upgrade, it's for a "fresh" install. I've already upgraded. What I'm wanting to do is wipe the site clean, start over with default values from a fresh install of vb, then import the user/thread/post database on top of it. So I have a clean vbulletin install to work with.

My understanding of how the vbulletin template system has become more refined since I originally started messing with it, and now I have much better ways to do what I had setup before, but can't seem to get it back to a clean install without losing my user data and content.

BTW, what is "impex"?

[Zachery]

You could add a new style and work from there. But Impex will be your best solution if you wish to do what you are planning.