Drupal 6.x Upgrade - Files Only

The following downloads are provided for those users who do not find it necessary to overwrite all the files within their Drupal 6.x installation when an update becomes available. Using a file comparison utility, the following update zip files contain only the date modified Drupal core distribution files which have been changed, added, or updated since the previous release.

Upload the new files to your Drupal site, then log into your site as the administrator and run update.php. A link to the update.php file can be found on the Administer » Site building » Modules page.

After running update.php, your Available Updates and Status Report functions will indicate that you are running the latest Drupal release version.

Drupal 6.x Upgrade - Files Only

Drupal 6.4 to 6.5 Upgrade - drupal-6.4-to-6.5-upgrade.zip (428 KB)
Drupal 6.5 to 6.6 Upgrade - drupal-6.5-to-6.6-upgrade.zip (259 KB)
Drupal 6.6 to 6.7 Upgrade - drupal-6.6-to-6.7-upgrade.zip (310 KB)
Drupal 6.7 to 6.8 Upgrade - drupal-6.7-to-6.8-upgrade.zip (92 KB)
Drupal 6.8 to 6.9 Upgrade - drupal-6.8-to-6.9-upgrade.zip (348 KB)
Drupal 6.9 to 6.10 Upgrade - drupal-6.9-to-6.10-upgrade.zip (373 KB)
Drupal 6.10 to 6.11 Upgrade - drupal-6.10-to-6.11-upgrade.zip (428 KB)
Drupal 6.11 to 6.12 Upgrade - drupal-6.11-to-6.12-upgrade.zip (171 KB)
Drupal 6.12 to 6.13 Upgrade - drupal-6.12-to-6.13-upgrade.zip (363 KB)
Drupal 6.13 to 6.14 Upgrade - drupal-6.13-to-6.14-upgrade.zip (413 KB)
Drupal 6.14 to 6.15 Upgrade - drupal-6.14-to-6.15-upgrade.zip (295 KB)
Drupal 6.15 to 6.16 Upgrade - drupal-6.15-to-6.16-upgrade.zip (454 KB)
Drupal 6.16 to 6.17 Upgrade - drupal-6.16-to-6.17-upgrade.zip (407 KB)
Drupal 6.17 to 6.18 Upgrade - drupal-6.17-to-6.18-upgrade.zip (94 KB)
Drupal 6.18 to 6.19 Upgrade - drupal-6.18-to-6.19-upgrade.zip (352 KB)
Drupal 6.19 to 6.20 Upgrade - drupal-6.19-to-6.20-upgrade.zip (418 KB)

Sam308

By the way, I have successfully updated twelve (12) Drupal 6.x websites using this method and have never encountered any site problems.

Comments

chrisdfeld’s picture

Thanks for these. Were any files deleted (rather than modified) between point releases? If so, it would be helpful to list them here so they can be cleaned out during the upgrade. If not, it would also be useful to say so just for clarity.

Sam308’s picture

If any files were removed or became obsolete from the Drupal core, it would be too difficult to keep track of all of them for each of the incremental updates. If some files were removed from the Drupal core in an update and you did not remove them off your webserver, it will not affect your website. The will be no reference to the old files in the updated files scripts.

If you really want to delete the obsolete files, then you should download the latest full Drupal installation and compare the files to the ones currently on your webserver. You can then delete the files not found in the latest full Drupal installation off your webserver.

JoOngle’s picture

...in my case - it STILL asks for me to upgrade to 6.15, despite transfering all your files from the 6.14-6-15 upgrade. :/
(and yes, I've run the Update.php file several times...it also tells me there is no files to upgrade.

Sam308’s picture

If you installed Drupal via Fantastico, make sure that the Fantastico files in the root directory are not affecting the version number.

Here what I have done with all my Fantastico Drupal Installations and never had any upgrade problems.

After Installing Drupal via Fantastico, I moved all the Fantastico and Drupal text files from the Drupal root directory to a subdirectory called rootfiles.

The files moved to the rootfiles subdirectory are listed below:

CHANGELOG.txt
COPYRIGHT.txt
fantversion.php
INSTALL.mysql.txt
INSTALL.pgsql.txt
install.php
INSTALL.txt
LICENSE.txt
MAINTAINERS.txt
UPGRADE.txt

The Drupal root directory now only contains the following files plus of course the Drupal installation folders:

.htaccess
cron.php
favicon.ico
index.php
robots.txt
update.php
xmlrpc.php

After I perform an update, via the method stated on this page, I move all the updated Drupal text files to the rootfiles subdirectory, thus overwriting the old files.

If you want to perform an upgrade via Fantastico in the future, then you will need to move all the files in the rootfiles subdirectory back to the root directory.

JoOngle’s picture

I just transfered the files needed to their respective directories, thats it - really.

?

spudette77’s picture

Hi Sam308,

I am having a lot of trouble updating via fantastico... to the point where the techs have thrown up their hands and are blaming it on drupal. I have a large ecommerce site and wanting to upgrade to 6.15, however, each time I (or the techs) update the site, the site crashes.... like literally. I have a homepage that is white with a few of the graphics and menu options and I can't get anywhere. They solve this to some extent... namely I get my theme back, but then half my modules are missing!!!! I am just a beginner, so when I started Drupal I just uploaded the modules to the modules core, not sites/all/modules. I have corrected my ways since then, but with the update, Drupal is not recognising my sites/all/modules or sites/all/themes etc files. Please if you (or anyone) could help I would really appreciate it.

Sam308’s picture

Don't upgrade using Fantastico. I learned the hard way.

Upgrading via Fantastico will delete all the files in your Drupal installation and then install a new Drupal installation.

All third party modules and themes located under the sites/all/ folder including the sites/all/modules and sites/all/themes folders will be deleted in the Fantastico upgrade process. Plus, all files and folders under the sites/all/default folder will get deleted and you will get a new settings.php file during the Fantastico upgrade.

If you upgraded via Fantastico, then you will need to restore your website from your Hosting service provider's daily backup or from your local computer if you kept a copy of your site. This is what I had to do when I upgraded using Fantastico.

My method offered on this page is the fastest and simplest method for upgrading. It really works. I have upgraded many Drupal sites using the method and it only takes a few minutes.

Note:
It is also a good idea to keep an updated copy of your drupal site on your local computer. Just FTP all the files from your website to your computer.

To keep incremental backup copies of you database on your local computer, use the Free MySQL Database Backup Utility I wrote. It is available here: http://drupal.org/node/186848.

I use it all the time to backup the databases for over 20 Drupal sites.

spudette77’s picture

Thanks for that... now when you say you moved your drupal files from the root... where did you put it... did you simply move it out from your public.html area on the server to the account root? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I am very new at this and really have NOOOO idea!! I have just wasted a day with Fantastico and techs were asking ME advice!!!!

VM’s picture

moving it above the public root should be ok or you can download it to your local machine.

Using fantastico to test scripts is great. However, once you've decided on the script to go with it is usually best to install that script with its own installer. good luck.

spudette77’s picture

Thank you, I will attempt this again... hopefully with better luck this time!

Sam308’s picture

I created a folder within the public.html area (root directory) called rootfiles as stated in my previous comment.

After Installing Drupal via Fantastico, I moved all the Fantastico and Drupal text files from the Drupal root directory to a subdirectory called rootfiles.

VM’s picture

interesting. Drupal documentation states to backup outside the drupal root to avoid path collisions as the modules folders can be picked up inadvertantly.

Sam308’s picture

A simple and Fast way to both Install and Upgrade Drupal

This is the method I use for installing and upgrading Drupal.
I have used this method to install and upgrade over 20 Drupal websites.

(1) For a Quick and simple installation of Drupal, use the Fantastico Drupal Installation utility provided by your web hosting company.

(2) After installing Drupal via Fantastico, using an FTP program, create a subdirectory folder called rootfiles within the Drupal root directory.

(3) Move the following Fantastico and Drupal files from the Drupal root directory into the rootfiles.

CHANGELOG.txt
COPYRIGHT.txt
fantversion.php
INSTALL.mysql.txt
INSTALL.pgsql.txt
install.php
INSTALL.txt
LICENSE.txt
MAINTAINERS.txt
UPGRADE.txt

The Drupal root directory should now only contain the following files plus of course the Drupal installation folders:

.htaccess
cron.php
favicon.ico
index.php
robots.txt
update.php
xmlrpc.php

(4) As a Backup, download your entire website to your local computer via FTP. This would include all the files and folders within the root directory.

(5) Download a copy of your Database to your local computer. You can use the Free MySQL Database Backup Utility I wrote. It is available here: http://drupal.org/node/186848.

Upgrading

(6) To upgrade the Drupal installation, first login to your website as the administrator and navigate to the Modules page (Home » Administer » Site building). Now leave the web browser off to the side until step (9).

(7) Download the correct sequential Drupal upgrade zip file from this page: Drupal 6.x Upgrade - Files Only and unzip it on your local computer. If unzipped properly, you will have a new file folder, named for example Drupal 6.15 to 6.16 Upgrade on your local computer.

(8) Using your FTP program, upload the entire contents within for example the Drupal 6.15 to 6.16 Upgrade folder to your Drupal site thus overwriting all the old Drupal files.

(9) Switch back to your web browser and click on the update.php hyperlink located on the Modules page (Home » Administer » Site building) to upgrade the database.

(10) Run the cron function (run cron manually) hyperlink located on the Status report page (Home » Administer » Reports). Your site should now indicate that is up to date with the latest release.

(11) After you verified your site has been upgraded, move the Drupal update.php file and all other Drupal the text files to the rootfiles subdirectory. Do not move the robots.txt file.

(12) On your local computer, copy the all Drupal update files that you uploaded to your site, for example, the files within the Drupal 6.15 to 6.16 Upgrade folder, to your site's backup folder on your local computer. Your site backup was created in step (4) above.

(13) Download a copy of your updated Database to your local computer.

That's it, Your Done.

Note:
If your website happens to be behind 3 updates, for example your site is 6.13 and the latest version is 6.16, then you will need to do each incremental version update, for example, Drupal 6.13 to 6.14 Upgrade, then Drupal 6.14 to 6.15 Upgrade, then Drupal 6.15 to 6.16 Upgrade. Do not upgrade your site using Fantastico.

gcodom’s picture

Thanks Sam,

I take it this was the only files that changed. It worked great. I have done it both ways and I like this one best. I upgraded my test site the regular way and then my live site using your short list, it was easier with your files as I did not have to worry about the "Site" folder and such.

I read your remarks about Fantastico and I agree to not use it to upgrade. Just use the regular way, it is pretty easy and you can control things much better.

Being a noobie, I have had my share of frustrations including upgrading this site. Now that I can do it successfully, I am not sure why I had problems before.

Below you will find the method I used. Frankly, I surely believe I only followed instructions someone else provided, but maybe it will serve as a bit of encouragement to those still struggling.

1. Back up all of your files (my backup wizard on the control panel allows me to backup my entire home directory) and I put them on my computer.
2. Back up your database (same wizard) and also put on my computer
3. Disable all the modules
4. Put your site offline (site maintenance)
5. FTP the files from the 6.16 folder to the site's "public_html" folder overwrite everything expect the "Sites" folder (don't import that from the 6.16 folder).
OR use sam's abbreviated files and overwrite all of those in your site's "public_html" folder
6. Run update.php http://yoursitename.com/update.php (if you get a warning to change the settings in the settings.php file, you have overwritten it. Restore with your saved copy from the backup. Run update.php again and it should now run.
7. Enable all your modules
8. Put your site back on line
9. What about your backups? Well if all went well you don't need them. Be happy you had them in case things did not go well.
10. Go have a cup of coffee you are done.

Some of the steps might seem unimportant. I have read somewhere you should do them all. I have tried it other ways and this method has worked best form me.

I do not know if this will help anyone, but after learning the hard way, I thought I would share this with you.

Gcodom

seany187’s picture

Where is 6.20 to 6.21?

Sam308’s picture

seany187:

Sorry, but I cannot create the Drupal 6.20 to 6.22 Upgrade - Files Only method anymore because whoever created the version 6.22 download archive changed all the file date / time stamps to 5/25/2011 1:43 PM.

This was a complete blunder on Drupal's part to change all the file date / time stamps, even on the files that were not updated or changed.

If you can get Drupal to re-issue another 6.22 version leaving the date / time stamps on the unchanged files alone, then I can create a valid Drupal 6.20 to 6.22 Upgrade - Files Only package.

trofiarik’s picture

I read you now .. I understand the problem. Well I will go the standard way ... or maybe try this: http://fuerstnet.de/en/drupal-upgrade-easier - what do you think about this? anybody updated this way?

VM’s picture

use a single command in drush.

'drush up' udpates core and modules

trofiarik’s picture

any body know if it will be available orthere are problems about it?

intruction on how to produce the changed files only update by yourself?

thanks all

Sam308’s picture

It seems that the 6.22 version is buggy.

You may want to pass on this upgrade until these bugs are fixed.

Read This...
Blocks lose settings during update.php and cache clears

and this (Known issues):
Drupal 7.2 and 6.22 released