# \[Help\] Convert the SQL dump developed in Joomla 1.3 to Joomla 5.0

**URL:** <https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450>\
**Category:** Discussion & Solutions\
**Tags:** solved\
**Created:** [December 7, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450 "2025-12-07T15:11:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![teodor11](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/teodor11/32/158489_2.png) [@teodor11](https://onehack.st/u/teodor11)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450/1 "2025-12-07T15:11:03Z")

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A friend asked me to rebuild a website built in Joomla 1.3. I am an expert in building WordPress websites.  
Unfortunately I only have basic knowledge of Joomla. I installed localhost Joomla 5, but when I imported the SQL dump of the website I got a lot of errors.  
How can I convert the SQL dump developed in Joomla 1.3 to Joomla 5.0?  
Otherwise, about 15 years of information loaded into the database will be lost.  
Can I convert it to use it in WordPress?  
Otherwise, what solution do I have to avoid losing the information?  
I read online that I need to upgrade from 1.3 to 1.5, 2.5, 3.x, 4.x, 5.x but I CAN’T FIND VERSION 1.5 TO INSTALL IT.

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**Author:** ![Rizal\_Consulting](https://onehack.st/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Rizal\_Consulting](https://onehack.st/u/Rizal_Consulting)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 12:55pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450/2 "2025-12-08T12:55:41Z")

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I don’t know if this is helpful or not, but I usually use [https://rolandd.com/products/ro-csvi](https://rolandd.com/products/ro-csvi) to migrate data from one Joomla website to another.  
Oh, btw, there is no Joomla 1.3, but Joomla 1.0  
If the Ro CSVI doesn’t work or you don’t have the money to subscribe to it, just try using ChatGPT codex to make Joomla 1.0 export plugin and Joomla 5.4 import plugin

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**Author:** ![teodor11](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/teodor11/32/158489_2.png) [@teodor11](https://onehack.st/u/teodor11)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 9:24am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450/3 "2025-12-12T09:24:34Z")

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Thanks, but neither of the 2 solutions are viable.  
For the first solution, I won’t give $75.  
What about the 2nd solution, AI, suggested an unclear solution to me.  
Anyway, thanks for the reply.

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**Author:** ![Life\_Bull](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/life_bull/32/85104_2.png) [@Life\_Bull](https://onehack.st/u/Life_Bull)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 10:42am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450/4 "2025-12-12T10:42:41Z")

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I can try it, if you give me sql

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![teodor11](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/teodor11/32/158489_2.png) [@teodor11](https://onehack.st/u/teodor11)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450/6 "2025-12-26T12:44:10Z")

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I have an archive containing SQL dump joomla.sql and configuration.php files.

- [https://files.catbox.moe/m9fyyz.zip](https://files.catbox.moe/m9fyyz.zip)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sarah](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/sarah/32/166974_2.png) [@Sarah](https://onehack.st/u/Sarah)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450/7 "2025-12-26T13:30:27Z")

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Hey @teodor11 — breathe. Your 15 years of data isn’t going anywhere.

* * *

## 🧟 First, the plot twist

**Joomla 1.3 doesn’t exist.** Never did. What you actually have is Joomla 1.0.x (or possibly Mambo, its weird uncle). The forums just mislabel it constantly.

That’s why importing directly into Joomla 5 exploded. You’re trying to feed a 2024 engine fuel from 2004. It’s not compatible. At all.

* * *

## 🔧 Before anything else — fix your SQL file

Open your `.sql` dump in any text editor. Find and replace:

```auto
TYPE=MyISAM → ENGINE=MyISAM

```

Modern MySQL literally won’t accept the old syntax. Skip this step = enjoy cryptic errors forever.

* * *

## 🛤 Your actual options (all free)

> **🥇 Option 1: jUpgradePro — Skip the bullshit chain entirely**
>
> Forget the 1.0 → 1.5 → 2.5 → 3.x → 4.x → 5.x nightmare.
> 
> **[jUpgradePro on GitHub](https://github.com/fastslack/jUpgradePro)** is free and does **Joomla 1.0 → 3.x directly** via database connection.
> 
> **Steps:**
> 
> 1. Install fresh [Joomla 3.10](https://downloads.joomla.org/cms/joomla3) locally
> 2. Install jUpgradePro component
> 3. Point it at your old database
> 4. Migrate
> 5. Then upgrade 3.10 → 5.x using Joomla’s built-in updater
> 
> No $75. No hunting for ancient installers. No PHP 5 requirement.
> 
> **Important:** Use “Database Method” in the settings, not RESTful. Your old site doesn’t need to be running.

> **🥈 Option 2: Escape to WordPress (you said you're a WP expert)**
>
> The famous FG Joomla to WordPress plugin? **Free version doesn’t support Joomla 1.0.** That’s a €40 feature. Fuck that.
> 
> **Free workaround:**
> 
> 1. Export your content with this SQL query:
> 
> ```sql
> SELECT id, title, alias,
> CONCAT(IFNULL(introtext,''), IFNULL(`fulltext`,'')) AS content,
> created, modified, state
> FROM jos_content ORDER BY created;
> 
> ```
> 
> 1. Export as CSV
> 2. Use [WP All Import](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-all-import/) (free) to import into WordPress
> 3. Map columns: title → Post Title, content → Post Content, created → Post Date
> 
> Your table prefix might be `mos_` instead of `jos_` — check your actual dump.

> **🥉 Option 3: The step-upgrade path you read about (if you hate yourself)**
>
> **Yes, those old versions still exist:**
> 
> - [Joomla 1.0.15](https://downloads.joomla.org/cms/joomla10)
> - [Joomla 1.5.26](https://downloads.joomla.org/cms/joomla15)
> 
> **The catch:** Joomla 1.5 requires PHP 5.x. Modern servers run PHP 8. You’ll need XAMPP or MAMP with legacy PHP enabled locally.
> 
> Honestly? Use Option 1 or 2 instead. Life’s too short.

* * *

## 📁 Don’t forget your images

Whatever method you pick — manually copy your `/images/stories/` folder to the new site. No tool migrates the actual image files, just the database references to them.

* * *

## 🎯 Summary for your situation

You’re a WordPress expert. Your data is stuck in ancient Joomla.

**Fastest path:** CSV export → WP All Import → done. You’re on WordPress in an hour.

**Want to stay Joomla:** jUpgradePro database method → J3.10 → upgrade to J5.

Both are free. Both work. Pick one and stop stressing.

* * *

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sarah](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/sarah/32/166974_2.png) [@Sarah](https://onehack.st/u/Sarah)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450/8 "2025-12-26T14:10:19Z")

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@teodor11 — Done. Your data is rescued. 🎉

* * *

## 📦 Download your fix

**[joomla\_migration\_package.zip](https://files.catbox.moe/w2hev2.zip)** — everything ready to import

* * *

## 🗂 What’s inside

| File | Use it for |
| --- | --- |
| `wordpress_import.xml` | **WordPress** — easiest for you ⭐ |
| `joomla5_migration.sql` | Joomla 5 |
| `wordpress_migration.sql` | WordPress (SQL method) |
| `data_export.json` | Raw data backup |

* * *

## ✅ What got saved

- **20 articles** (MEDING, REPARATII, LOCURI DE MUNCA — all your 2004-2008 content)
- **11 categories**
- **4 sections**
- **1 user** (admin)
- **35 menu items**

All dates, all metadata — preserved.

* * *

## 🚀 For WordPress (recommended — you’re a WP expert!)

1. Install fresh WordPress
2. Go to **Tools → Import → WordPress → Upload** `wordpress_import.xml`
3. Map authors
4. Copy your old `/images/` folder to `wp-content/uploads/`
5. Install plugin **“Better Search Replace”** — fix image paths
6. Reset passwords (old ones won’t work)

Done in 10 minutes.

* * *

## 🔧 For Joomla 5

> **Click here for Joomla 5 steps**
>
> 1. Install fresh Joomla 5 locally
> 2. Import the SQL file:
> 
> ```auto
> mysql -u root -p yourdatabase < joomla5_migration.sql
> 
> ```
> 
> 1. In admin: **System → Maintenance → Database → Fix** (rebuilds categories)
> 2. Reset admin password (MD5 from 2004 won’t work)
> 3. Copy your old `/images/` folder

* * *

## ⚠ Important

- **DON’T** import your old `sql.zip` directly — it will fail
- **DO** use these new converted files
- **Passwords** must be reset — old Joomla 1.x used MD5, modern systems don’t accept it
- **Images** — copy manually from old server’s `/images/stories/` folder

* * *

No more upgrade chain hell. No $75 tools. Just import and go.

Let me know if anything breaks! 🍻

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bob.Smit](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/bob.smit/32/161700_2.png) [@Bob.Smit](https://onehack.st/u/Bob.Smit)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450/9 "2025-12-26T17:54:48Z")

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If anyone has not said so, you are awesome for going that extra step to help this fellow 1hacker! Highfive 🖐

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![teodor11](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/teodor11/32/158489_2.png) [@teodor11](https://onehack.st/u/teodor11)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 8:44am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/help-convert-the-sql-dump-developed-in-joomla-1-3-to-joomla-5-0/314450/10 "2025-12-27T08:44:53Z")

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**Sarah,**

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!\*\*\*  
I will try the migration after the New Year holidays.

**Once again THANK YOU!**