Well okay. I read the Docs on upgrading from 1.4.x to 1.4.10, and this is what it said specifically:
* First, make a backup (dump) of your database.
Okay - you say that is not mandatory, which is good because I don't have the slightest idea how to do that. Other questions pertaining to this did not give me a clue.
* Backup your include/config.inc.php file, your anycontent.php file and your "albums" directory.
You don't mention this - not that I understand how to do it anyway... How does one "backup" files on my FTP server?
* Unpack the archive
Okay, THIS I can, and have, done, in my Coppermine folder/1.4.10 The only thing I did there was delete all the theme folders because I won't be using them.
* If the file install.php exists in the root directory, delete it. When performing an upgrade, it is not needed.
If I understood this correctly, all I needed to do was delete the install.php file from the unzipped archives root directory.
* Except for the "albums" directory, upload all of the new files and directories making sure not to overwrite the include/config.inc.php file, your anycontent.php file or the albums directory.
Okay, HERE you lost me. Above you say to simply overwrite the folders/files. How does one backup an entire folder? Or those specific files?
* Run the file "update.php" in the coppermine directory once in your browser (e.g. http://yourdomain.tld/coppermine/update.php). This will update your coppermine install by making all necessary changes in the database.
This too is understandable even for me. Maneuver to the root directory on my browser and run update.php. Okay.
* If you have made a custom theme, apply the changes that were introduced in the themes structure to your custom-made theme - refer to the theme-upgrade guide.
This again is confusing, in light of what you said in your message. The theme-upgrade guide does illustrate the methods to update a 1.3.x series theme - not 1.4.x series theme. But it contradicts what the upgrade directions itself says. Therein lies the confusion.
Don't get me wrong - I like Coppermine a lot and would prefer to stay with it. In time I might learn enough to improve the look of my theme more. But there are enough problems listed in this board by well-experienced programmers to cause newbies like myself to have serious concerns about upgrading. True - it may not be a significant number considering how many users there are - but even a few are enough when one doesn't know how to fix things SHOULD they go wrong.