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### Converting your old YaBB

This section only applies to those converting YaBB 1.x data from an existing old forum to the new YaBB 2 data format. You must also have already installed a NEW YaBB 2 forum using all of the preceeding instruction pages before continuing.

1. Visit the following URL to start the Converter (note it is the same as the URL used to install a new forum).
   - http://www.mysite.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/Setup.pl
   Modify this URL to fit your installation! If your website domain is "mysite.com" and you installed YaBB in "forum," then your url would be http://www.mysite.com/forum/Setup.pl.
2. The Converter will print the steps required to proceed. Make sure you have a backup of your existing YaBB 1.x data!
3. If your YaBB 1 Gold - SP 1.x forum is located on the same server as your YaBB 2 installation:
   - Insert the path to your YaBB 1 Gold - SP 1.x forum in the input field on the Converters start page - and go to point 4.
   Else if your YaBB 1 Gold - SP 1.x forum is located on a different server than your YaBB 2 installation or if you dont know the path to your SP 1.x forum:
   - You must upload the /Convert/Boards, /Convert/Members, /Convert/Messages and /Convert/Variables folders from the YaBB 2 zip package and chmod them 777.
   - drwxrwxrwx (chmod 777)cgi-bin/yabb2/Convert
   - drwxrwxrwx (chmod 777)cgi-bin/yabb2/Convert/Boards
   - drwxrwxrwx (chmod 777)cgi-bin/yabb2/Convert/Members
   - drwxrwxrwx (chmod 777)cgi-bin/yabb2/Convert/Messages
   - drwxrwxrwx (chmod 777)cgi-bin/yabb2/Convert/Variables
   - Copy all files from /Boards, /Members, and /Messages from your OLD YaBB 1.x forum to the corresponding /Convert folders in your NEW YaBB 2 installation. You must then copy Variables/cat.txt from your OLD YaBB 1.x forum to the /Convert/Variables folder of the NEW YaBB 2 installation.
4. You can now follow the on-screen instructions provided by the Converter. It will step you through its 5 steps by having you click the next step's link when it is time.
5. After converting you should be ready to login and test your new forum.... Visit the following URL:
   - http://www.mysite.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl
   Again, modify this URL to fit your specific website and YaBB installation location.
6. After you have successfully run your YaBB board from the web, you need to try logging in with your existing account.
7. Test everything, such as posting, registering a new member, modifying messages, etc.
8. Once you are satisfied that your YaBB 1.x forum has properly been converted, use your FTP client to delete 'cgi-bin/yabb2/Setup.pl,' 'cgi-bin/yabb2/Variables/setup.lock' if it exists, and 'cgi-bin/yabb2/Variables/converter.lock.' This will prevent anyone from tampering with your forum using the Setup Utility.