Version update considerations

There are several approaches to upgrading your site. Unless you do this often however, you may miss a few other considerations when updating from one release to the next.

1. See the instructions in the UPGRADE.txt file of the Drupal download and in the upgrade section of the handbook.
2. Read the Best Practices on test sites and don't do it first on your live site.
3. Make sure that all the contrib modules you are using have an upgrade path or you are willing to upgrade them yourself or abandon them.
4. Make sure you read and follow any instructions regarding upgrading any permissions modules you are using. Many have specific steps you need to take before starting your upgrade.
5. Create a new database and restore your live site to it, files and all.
6. Disable all contrib modules.
7. Set your site to the default theme Blue Marine (for Drupal 4.7.x) or Garland (for Drupal 5.x).
8. Log in with UID 1.
9. Run sitename/update.php.
10. On the update.php page, check the schema date of the database, I generally leave it where it defaults to.
11. Upgrade.
12. Check for errors. Resolve all errors BEFORE proceeding.
13. Log in check it out.
14. Get your modules and read the install and readme files to see if there are any special upgrade instructions.
15. Upgrade and activate modules one at a time.
16. Test, etc.
17. Put your own favicon.ico back.
18. Congratulations.

You can restore this to your live site.
- or -
Follow the steps on your live site now that you are confident it will work.

Start working on your theme updates and other and stuff.