(This happened about a couple months ago, but I’m just now getting around to blogging it.)
A recent WordPress update stopped supporting mySQL 4.0, which I was using for this blog. Unbeknownst to me, if you replaced the files on your server with the new version of WordPress, you would be unable to update your WordPress database and therefore, unable to access your admin Dashboard. No access to your dashboard needs you’re unable to write new blog posts, approve comments, etc. Some panicked Google-ing*** led me to instructions on downgrading WordPress versions and I was able to restore the old version of my blog with no damage done.
After putting out that fire, I was able to think a little more clearly, so I did some non-panicked Google-ing on the issue***, I found people in the same exact predicament as me who had solutions. SOLUTIONS, YES! My first/main/only problem was migrating my current mySQL 4.0-based database into a mySQL 5.0 database. Despite the instructions and advice I researched, exporting the mySQL 4.0 database from PHPmyadmin was quite difficult. It took a couple hours of trial and error to get the right settings to get the correct database backup. However, importing it into a new mySQL 5.0 database proved to be a major roadblock. The size of my database far exceeded the maximum file size allowed for database imports, so I had to turn to 1and1 customer support to see if there was any way they could help me.
Their initial response was curt, telling me to SSH into the server and manually import it that way. Well my hosting package does not include SSH access, so that was a dead end. Next, 1and1 customer support told me to upgrade my hosting package so I could have access to SSH, but my current package is MORE than enough for my hosting needs. It would have been pointless for me to to upgrade and spend more for my hosting package just for this one thing.
Finally, after expressing my disgust at their “solution”, they relented and said they would upgrade the database for me as a one-time courtesy. This led to an additional exchange of back and forth emails, with 1and1 support asking for the database file/import destination over and over, even though I was painfully clear with my instructions each time. This is probably because each time I e-mailed them back, it was a different person replying. Finally, they were able to create a new mySQL 5.0 database and I was able to update to the latest version of WordPress. I give tech support a B for finally resolving the issue, although it took some jumping through hoops to get it done.
The best part about being on a mySQL 5.0 database? Automatic WordPress updates finally work! No more downloading/extracting/FTP-ing/uploading/overwriting/prayingeverythinggoesokay!
***Resources used:
How to downgrade from 2.8 to previous version?
What I Learned Upgrading to WordPress 2.9
Problems with WordPress 2.9 and 1and1 hosting MySQL Version