The procedure for upgrading live web sites documented here:
http://www.dnncreative.com/Tutorials/DNNTutorialsforBeginners/HowtoupgradeDotNetNuke/tabid/202/Default.aspx
Doesn't work when you are going to DNN 4.0.2 -> 4.3.4 (the only combo I tried), you get these error(s):
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[ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: type]
System.Activator.CreateInstance(Type type, Boolean nonPublic) +2797139
DotNetNuke.Framework.Reflection.CreateObject(String TypeName, String CacheKey, Boolean UseCache) +232
DotNetNuke.Framework.Reflection.CreateObject(String ObjectProviderType, String ObjectProviderName, String ObjectNamespace, String ObjectAssemblyName, Boolean UseCache) +571
DotNetNuke.Data.DataProvider.CreateProvider() +39
DotNetNuke.Data.DataProvider..cctor() +13
[TypeInitializationException: The type initializer for 'DotNetNuke.Data.DataProvider' threw an exception.]
DotNetNuke.Common.Globals.GetUpgradeStatus() +65
DotNetNuke.Common.Global.CheckVersion() +187
DotNetNuke.Common.Global.Application_Start(Object Sender, EventArgs E) +316
or
DotNetNuke Upgrade Error
The Assembly Version ( [ASSEMBLYVERSION] ) does not match the Database Version ( [DATABASEVERSION] )
ERROR: Could not connect to database.
The type initializer for 'DotNetNuke.Data.DataProvider' threw an exception.
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Before you ask my Web.config was correctly configured for the DB in question, and automatic installtion was turned off.
This is a major pain, how are you supposed to perform a clean upgrade without users blatting what you are doing?