[wp-testers] Report Err

[Kirk M]

> The upgrade instructions [1] no longer recommend deleting the old set of 
> WordPress files.
>
> So should the instructions be changed, or can old files be deleted as part 
> of the upgrade.php procedure?
>
> [1] http://codex.wordpress.org/Upgrading_WordPress
>
> MichaelH
>
>   
Michael,

This is just my simple way of upgrading here but it's based on a great 
deal of successful upgrading experience.

The problem with overwriting files (in "wp-admin" and "wp-includes" only 
at the moment) during any upgrade but especially a major one (2.2 to 2.3 
to 2.5 etc) is that certain files in the original version you're 
upgrading from may no longer be used in the new version and must be 
removed permanently. The best way to do this is to do the following 
using your FTP client:

--Deactivate your plugins. (I recommend installing the "Maintenance 
Mode" plugin and leaving that one activated. Keeps the general public 
(and "spamments") from accessing your blog during the upgrade.

--Delete both the "wp-admin" and "wp-includes" directories". Leave 
"wp-content" alone. That's all *your* stuff.

--Upload the new "wp-admin" and "wp-includes" directories.

--Now you can safely overwrite the root files with the new ones. You 
don't have to bother with "wp-config-sample.php" by the way unless it's 
a new install. (If anyone knows of any root file that has been changed 
since 2.2 please speak up. I don't believe there's any.)

--In the case of 2.5, the "Default" and the "Classic" themes now have 
been updated to support the built in Gravatar support so you might want 
to replace the old ones with the new.

You're done.

Note: If you're upgrading from several versions back say, from 2.2, 
there's going to major changes to the database during the upgrade that 
you're going to have to deal with which will most likely affect your 
plugins and any hacks you might incorporated into your theme that has to 
do with querying the DB directly.