Pre-Move Advice from an old to a new server

I'm moving hosts and could really use some advice please.

I have to create the exact replica of my .com site onto my new server (same domain name w/ different TLD instead).
Once I have perfected everything on the .ca new server, my host will change that TLD to my .com
I will install the SSL after they change the TLD to .com (to avoid long waits for the certificate TLD changes)

I want to upgrade my version from 1.5.5.1 to 1.5.6.4.
I installed the new version and installed vqmod on the new server.
I am going to install my opencart theme next.

I have backed up my old server and want to upload all the images, categories, info pages, etc., etc., etc. onto my fresh OC installed on the new server.

Which directories do I need to upload to the new server to populate my store? (besides the image directory)
Obviously don't want to upload any old files from v1.5.5.1 that don't need to be on the new server.
Also, I notice that both the image/data and the image/cache/data have the exact same files (taking forever to D/L and U/L) Do I need to do both of these?

Can anyone please advise, thank you! I have searched the forum for this info and could only come up with other move issues not related to this.

I strongly advise you to use some service like this, combined with Pro Assistance:
Opencart Migration & Remote Upgrade Tool
http://www.opencart.com/index.php?route ... n_id=24347

Just, because you will not be able to do it in another way, after reading above, how you ask for such.
OC v.1.5.5.1 is not v.1.5.6.4, in all details, so, just be careful, if you want to use any of your existing extensions.
More could not be said, without exact Knowledge on Software and Mod's. But then again, such kinds of Assistance usually belong to the Pro's around here, it's time-intensive work, to make it right. After all, you expect it to work !

Good Luck !
Ernie

Many thanks for your suggestions IP_CAM. I prefer to be hands on.

So, my development so far has been the following:

I have installed OC on the new server and uploaded the database. Everything worked great.
DUH! At first, I was trying the links on the menu and was getting a 404 error. Until I remembered I had to remove the dot txt from my htaccess file.

After that, everything was perfect. This was yesterday!

Today, I thought I should delete the database and upload the most current version (lots changed in my store overnight), so I will be prepared to simply follow these same steps when I am ready to make the big switch. Test, test, test.

Well, that was an epic fail.

I deleted the database and user in my Cpanel. Created a new database and user and then uploaded the most current database backup.sql through My PHP Admin.

It stops importing half way through, after several minutes, I receive this error:
I have tried deleting the database several times again and re-creating new ones, new names, new users, etc., etc.
Re-downloaded the backup .sql file incase this one was corrupt.
Tried many different avenues and the same error pops up everytime.
I even tried the original .sql backup that worked perfectly yesterday, same error even with that.

When I search Dr. Google for this documentation #1146 error, everyone says simply Re-start mysql server.
My host will not do this because it's a shared server and they don't want to disrupt the other 100 users on this server, which I completely understand.

Is there any other way other than re-starting the server to fix this error? Should I delete everything and start with a fresh OC install again? I don't want to run into this problem again on the day I am ready to make the switch.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

You probally are trying to import ypur database through opencart admin or use a export from opencart admin, if database is deleted then you cant do that.

solution
export current database using phpmyadmin in cpanel and reimport through phpmyadmin in your new hosting.

Thanks so much for your reply victorj!

The old server doesn't have cpanel, so I just exported my .sql backup through OC admin to u/l to the new server that I have a fresh install of OC on. Then uploaded it through phpmyadmin in my new server's cpanel after creating a new DB and user to test this method.

It doesn't work deleting the original db, not gonna work I don't think. Unless someone knows how to remedy this issue somehow without re-booting mysql service.

I'm going to try a fresh install tomorrow. It may be that I'm just gonna have to shut down the site overnight and do this all in one fell swoop. Well not really that fast, because the gazillion images take hours and hours to upload!

when using a backup from admin, you need all tables to be present in your database in order to import original one.

A new install would create these tables, allowing you to reimport your existing database.
If toy need to reimport again, just do from admin, during restore from admin existing database tables are replaced with the ones you are importing.

make sure when upgrading to latest 1.5 version after importing run the upgrade script to convert all tables to 1.5.6.4

Thank you for your help victorj, I appreciate you taking the time. I was never able to re-upload the most current backup by first deleting then trying to re-upload.

I have another year now to do it and will keep a log here of my progress. I just had a death in the family and wasn't able to dedicate the time needed to get this done by the end of May. So I renewed my old server hosting and ssl for another year.
The new server had to be put on the back burner temporarily.

I will be deleting this recent fresh install on my new server shortly and starting from the beginning again listing all the steps necessary to do this flawlessly. That way, I will be much better prepared to do it all really quickly on the day that I make the changeover.