darkzonemedia.com

Well I have been a loyal Wordpress user for YEARS. I simply love how simple it is. Want a link, press link. Want to put a pic, press IMG.

Things that they have had since the beginning. And while I loved the additions of tags and a few of the niceties — well it was classic wordpress that I loved.

Well so nice to see that Wordpress 2.5 has so many cool things to offer. For the new or novice user, it eliminates a lot of the “well what is that for” questions by simplifying the menu to 4 things, write, manage, design and comments. Since writing, editing and addressing comments are sort of the “day to day” things — that is kinda nice.

But what I LOVE — is the simple way to add tags (like they added with 2.3.3), simple ways to address things like settings such as permalinks and plugins . They did not piss off the long time user by trying to make it attractive for the new user.

If you are not familiar with wordpress — it is the GOLD STANDARD of blogging software and it is FREE. You can download it from Wordpress.org or you can most likely get it on your hosting account under the control panel as every hosting from small comprehensive hosts like PqHost have it as do big hosting companies like godaddy and dreamhost so if you have any interest in blogging or think of the MILLION reasons a blog can be awesome for your business – then you will go get it

Ok — It seems like the Wordpress upgrades have been really close together — In my eyes wordpress can do no wrong because they do have such a great software – and come on — it is FREE

Just getting kind of old to be doing like the 3rd urgent upgrade in a month

In case you need to upgrade manually — search down the blog, there is whole HOW TO on how to do that

Now, I usually use my Cpanel for upgrades — I mean it is a ONE CLICK so that is really what you should do if possible.

But, with the latest wordpress upgrade, I got an error on a lot of my sites saying manual update was required. This can freak you out if you are used to the one click. But seriously not that big of a deal.

FIRST — BACK EVERYTHING UP
you really should back up weekly to an external, a cd, etc. I personally back up to 2 externals every week and then to a CD and/flash as I feel it is needed. Not to be SUPER ANAL but the more backups you have and the different types you have, the better. Think flood or fire as the worst case scenario. SO BACK IT UP. This means backing up your entire blog BEFORE you even think of starting this.

SECOND – DOWNLOAD to your desktop the latest version of wordpress. Just to a file folder — NOT TO YOUR BLOG!!!!

THIRD — Copy all the files EXCEPT the WP-CONTENT folder to your blog. This will overwrite the existing files. If you use a language OTHER THAN ENGLISH, READ THE WP INSTRUCTIONS as there are additional files for language in the WP-INCLUDES that you must retain so if your blog is NOT IN ENGLISH — BE SURE YOU READ MORE ABOUT WHAT TO DO!!

FOUR — Once the files are copied over, go to http://www.YOURBLOGNAME/wp-admin/upgrade.php

FIVE — It will tell you that your database needs to be backed up. Press the button and upgrade it.

You are done!!

So easy!!!