upgrading vs fresh install

I am currently running versin 1.2.7 and will be upgrading to 1.3.0.2.

There are about 1240 files at are different from what I am running and 1.3.0.2. Pretty daunting a task to go through them all and compare the 3 versions (stock 1.2.7, my version with contributions added, and 1.3.0.2). My little brain can't handle that confusion.

It seems easier to me to do a fresh install of Zencart using 1.3.0.2, add whatever contributions that are compatible with 1.3.0.2, and then import the database.

My concern is importing the database, which includes all the database changes required by the 1.2.7 contributions I installed.

Do I install 1.3.0.2, install any contributions, make everything work happy, then restore the 1.2.7 database into the 1.3.0.2 database, run zc_install, and reapply any SQL modifications that the 1.3.0.2 contributions need?

I'm fuzzy about how to import the data from the old database into the new without loosing anything significant. Can anyone help blow the fuzz off me?

Last question, am I making a good decision of fresh install/import old data?

Thanks!

baldysm:

Do I install 1.3.0.2, install any contributions, make everything work happy, then restore the 1.2.7 database into the 1.3.0.2 database, run zc_install, and reapply any SQL modifications that the 1.3.0.2 contributions need?
Yes.

I'm fuzzy about how to import the data from the old database into the new without loosing anything significant. Can anyone help blow the fuzz off me?A backup of your entire old database, imported into your new database, should bring ALL your data forward. There shouldn't be any losses. Naturally, check your data to be sure it's intact.

http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.php/LocalCopySite#TO_BACKUP_THE_DATABASE