Mysql – How to move from MySQL 5.0 to 5.5

Yes. Have a look at this document:

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/windows-create-option-file.html

You can specify the data folder either in an option file, or on the command-line for the service.

Edit: I just pulled down the MSI and had a look, and I don't see any way to specify the data directory during install w/ an addt'l property on the command line.

You can transform the install with Orca, if you are familiar with Windows Installer, to change the "DataDir" location in the Directory table.

The mysqldump approach will certainly work, and the result will be reliable. This is the way I would recommend, unless you have very good reasons not to do it like this.

Now, for MyISAM tables you should be able to simply copy the .FRM, .MYI and .MYD files to the appropriate directory corresponding to the target database (MySQL creates a dir corresponding to each database in the data directory)

For InnoDB tables, simply copying the files does not work. I have seen people do it though, for example, see this article: http://www.chriscalender.com/?p=28=1

I Hope this helps.