wille wrote:Did anyone test this for a clean install? I think (I'm not sure) when you have a database there is more data linked with that folder, like maybe settings.
What "settings" do you have in mind?
I have tested it and it works for me or I would not have suggested it here - I have even copied over a database name folder to another test instance of XAMPP I have on another drive, which also was faultless (
the path tree is the same in both instances except the actual xampp folder name which is taken care of in the mysql\bin\my.cnf file).
As I mentioned above you may test it yourself and then, if you wish, post back here your findings so you can then "be sure" about your perceived concerns which may help others with perhaps similar concerns.
This method allows you to backup the whole mysql\
data folder by making a copy to a location out of the xampp folder tree.
It is even possible to move the whole mysql\
data folder to another location on your PC as long as you tell MySQL where you have moved it to by editing the mysql\bin\
my.cnf, file under this section:
my.cnf wrote:# The MySQL server
[mysqld]
basedir="C:/xampp/mysql"
tmpdir="C:/xampp/tmp"
datadir="C:/xampp/mysql/data"
No other "settings" to change are listed in this configuration file to further ease your concerns about backing up your databases but, as I also mentioned above, you can export a backup copy of your database to an sql file using PMA if you prefer.
BTW the mysql\bin\my.cnf file may appear simply as a
my shortcut file which to read and or edit should be dragged into your text editor.