XAMPP USB Lite - How to change or upgrade MySQL 5.5 to 5.6?

Question

Since XAMPP supports only MySQL 5.5, I would like to upgrade the MySQL server to version 5.6 (beta) in the currently stable 1.7.7, or 1.8.1 version of XAMPP.

Can I do that? If so, how?

(Just to clarify it: coping and switching the mysql folder won't make it.)

Answer 1

I have found the perfect way of doing it without any side affects and also works perfectly with xampp control panel...

before you begin, make sure you backup your databases to files and also export all users to a file be sure to stop mysql there is no need to uninstall the service

Step 1: Download the new version on MySQL install version or zip.(install version prefered since it is considerably smaller)

Step 2: Install MySQL to C:\TEMP. Install only the MySQL server

Step 3:Do not run advance options. do not let it install service. no configuration is required.

Step 4: Go to C:\TEMP, look for installation and copy the following folders "bin, include, lib, share, support-files". be absolutely certain not to copy data Once copied, go to your xampp folder, rename mysql folder to mysql_old. create new mysql folder then paste the contents that were copied

Step 5: Go to mysql_old and copy the data folder and paste it into your new mysql folder as well

Step 6: go to the bin folder within mysql that is located within xampp and create a blank my.ini file. If you are upgrading to version 5.6.11 which is what I did, then all you have to do is write a few commands which I have at the bottom of this instruction

step 7: click start next to MySQL on the xampp control panel and it should start normally assuming to you followed to instructions properly. Once done, you can uninstall the mysql package that you had installed to C:\TEMP Any questions or problems, message me or post back!

BY WAY, the key is having a proper my.ini file

here is mine:

[client]
port=3306
socket="C:/xampp/tmp/mysql.sock"

[mysqld]
port= 3306
socket = "C:/xampp/tmp/mysql.sock"
pid_file = mysql.pid

skip-federated
explicit_defaults_for_timestamp

basedir="C:/xampp/mysql"
datadir="C:/xampp/mysql/data"
tmpdir = "C:/xampp/tmp"

log-output = FILE
log-error = mysql_error.log
general-log
general_log_file = mysql_general.log
slow-query-log
slow_query_log_file = mysql_slow.log

default-time-zone = -5:00
long_query_time = 2
plugin_dir = "C:/xampp/mysql/lib/plugin"
server-id = 2

#ft_stopword_file = "C:/xampp/mysql/bin/mysql_ft_stopword_file.ini"
ft_min_word_len = 3
ft_max_word_len = 50

character-sets-dir = "C:/xampp/mysql/share/charsets"
character-set-server = utf8
collation-server = utf8_unicode_ci

innodb_ft_max_token_size = 50
innodb_ft_min_token_size = 3
innodb_ft_enable_stopword = off

key_buffer_size = 8M

query_cache_type = 1
query_cache_size = 4M
query_cache_limit = 4M

default-storage-engine = InnoDB

[mysql]

default-character-set=utf8