The final step is to unveil the upgrade to the members. Access the vBulletin Options page, and switch the forum back on. This will allow your members to log in again, to post and read messages, and to interact normally.
Be on the lookout for things that don't work, and take all reports of problems seriously. If you think that there are problems, follow these simple steps:
- Shut the forum down.
- Test to see whether you can recreate the problem. (Remember to test the forum using a registered user's account as well as an administrator's account, as some problems may only show up to members.)
- Carry out the upgrade again. This time pay special attention to migrating the hacks and uploading the files properly.
- Test again.
If problems persist, then it could be that one of your hacks is incompatible with the new version. If you think that this is the case, then install a hack-free version and add the hacks manually to find out which one is causing the problem. If you are making use of a popular hack, then it is likely that others will also have the problem and will be talking about it on the vBulletin forums over on http://www.vbulletin.com or http://www.vbulletin.org—check these out for information!