Jeff,

The upgrade from SQL Server 2000 to 2008 wasn't such a big deal. However, based on what I see in SQL Server Management Studio, when I imported my backed-up DNN database into SQL Server 2008, SSMS "sees" it as a 2000-level database. I don't know if that's going to present any issues coming up.

I attempted to upgrade 4.8.4 to the first upgrade level in the recommended upgrade path; that is, to 4.9.5 as recommended in the Suggested Upgrade Path wiki. As I said in my original post, I backed up SQL Server 2000 twice and copied my entire site to my own system. I use a hosted site, so setting up a test bed wasn't really possible. It was all or nothing. I suppose that could try to do it on my own workstation's copy of SQL Server 2008 and .NET 4.0 and IIS...but that would hardly be a complete test.

Anyway, I made another post about what happened to me after that first upgrade step: App_Browsers\OceanAppleWebKit.browser 

I followed that thread up with this one: Back to square one 

After that I wrote: Reversion back to 4.8.4 creates a small problem 

I have done nothing since then. In the "Reversion" thread I confused the issue a bit by saying that I'd first upgraded to 4.9.2 when in fact I'd upgraded to 4.9.5. That posed (for me) insurmountable problems so I reverted to 4.8.4. This was all done with a SQL Server 2008 DNN database since that upgrade had been performed by my web host. They also upgraded the site from ASP.NET 2.0 to 4.0 so I'm current as far as that goes.

But I've actually regressed a bit. My main use of DNN is for the Blog module. I had instituted the use of CAPTCHA for comments...but since reverting to 4.8.4, the captcha image no longer shows.  There's an "x" as if the image can't be found, and no one has been able to leave a comment on my blog since.

I suppose that I should have been keeping up with DNN upgrades as they came out so that I could deal more incrementally with the changes. But jumping from ASP.NET 2.0 to 4.0, SQL Server 2000 to 2008, AND DNN 4.8.4 to whatever...it's too much. I'm not enough of a web boffin (as The Reg puts it!) to handle things on my own....and while these forums are useful, sometimes the answers I get have no effect on what I want to do.

For instance, in the "Reversion" thread, Mr. Leupold said "If you upgrade your database, you need to use associated core files as well." OK, but what does "associated core files" mean? He went on to say, "I suggest upgrading to 4.9.5, which should not result in issues." But it sure did! That's why I wrote the additional threads ("Square One" and "Reversion").

I like the forums; but if one really has a sizable problem, getting bite-sized answers from even the top DNN gurus doesn't amount to much.

In the past I had problems with SQL Server 2000. I took a goodly amount of time to resolve the issue "by hand". I don't remember the exact steps, but it involved copying every DNN table into the same database using a different prefix (from "dnn_" to "nuke_" and, I believe, re-installing DNN from scratch and saying that I wanted the prefix to be "nuke". I'm sure I'm mixing up the timeline a bit, but I'm no stranger to SQL Server and I got DNN to work just dandy after a goodly amount of "hand work".

The upshot is, DNN 4.8.4 works except that my blog is less functional since the CAPTCHA images don't show up.

I don't know if this helps you. Perhaps you're more diligent/persistent/stubborn than I am and will successfully upgrade your DNN. I suppose that there's a way for mine to be successful, too, but I'll wager that it'll take devotion, study, additional boffinry, and lots and lots of time.

My sites aren't business sites and I don't really care if people visit them or not. The most popular things on my web site are the old WHAMCO radio ads I ripped from the original LPs. The originators of those wonderful spoof ads are both dead; but I imagine that they'd be pleased to know that new people discover them on my site on a regular basis: www.swerbach.com/whamco.

I'll take up the cudgels and try the upgrade again at a different date. I'll probably scan the forum more closely for upgrade tips. But I have no illusions about how easy it's going to be. I know that it can be a cast-iron SOB.

Thanks for reading this wandering screed. I like DNN; but, like a lot of web stuff, it takes lots of time to be a master.

Steve Erbach
Neenah, WI