Clean install

From AzureusWiki

Windows and Mac OS X

The automatic update feature of Azureus is not perfect. Sometimes, an old version of the executable is not updated along with core components and plugins ("Unable to find main class" may be the most common error message). By performing a clean install, you can ensure that nothing but up-to-date files reside in your program folder.

It is still worth attempting a reinstall first, however. Download the installation package for your OS at http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=84122 and just install it over your current program folder. This may solve your problem while preserving your configuration settings. (This works on Windows systems and should also apply to other OSes, but I can be wrong.)

Note: A clean install will erase your current settings and download information, but you can preserve them by following these steps.

First, shut down Azureus with File->Exit, then find your config files:

Windows: Click Start -> Run and enter %appdata%\Azureus\. If you are upgrading from a very old version or are running Windows 95 or 98, your config files may be found under %programfiles%\Azureus instead. Either way, copy what you need to another location for backup.

If you cannot find your Documents and Settings folder, go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options. On the View tab, make sure that 'Show hidden files and folders' and 'Display the contents of system folders' are checked and 'Hide extensions for known file types' is unchecked.

Mac OS X: Find your files in Users/<username>/Library/Application Support/Azureus. Rename the directory.

Dual CPU Mac experiencing kernel panics:

Search for "Azureus" in the Finder search window, and trash everything including config files and plist. Then install from scratch. One user has reported here to have found it helpful.

Any OS: Here are some of the files you may come across in that directory:
- azureus.config - config options, window placements, column setup, etc.
- downloads.config - seeding and downloading torrent data, share ratios, status and priorities
- filters.config - IP filters info
- tracker.config - tracker settings and stats
- azureus.statistics - Azureus statistics
- messagesbundle.properties - outdated language files, no need to save
- tracker.log, update.log - debug logs, no need to save

You will not lose these settings by reinstalling, but may still want to back them up, and just in case the clean install does not fix your problem, you can still return to the original state.

You must also backup the metafiles (.torrent) for your currently active torrents. These will be either in the directory you specified in the Files -> Torrents config or in the torrents folder under either program directory (see above).

Finally, move your actual seeding and downloading torrent data to a safe place. As long as they're not in the program directory you should be fine, but it doesn't hurt to be careful. Duplicate everything if you have the space on your HD.

Windows: Don't bother backing up your plugins. It's probably best to clean-install them.

Mac OS X: Plugins are in the folder you just renamed. If you get new ones, either via the updater or manually, then you can delete the plugins folder in the renamed folder and replace it with the new one you get during the clean-install, if necessary. <-[I'm not sure what this means.] Please do not do this until after the clean install has been shown to be working properly.

Windows: Uninstall Azureus using Add/Remove in Control Panel.

Delete the two program directories, x:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Azureus and C:\Program Files\Azureus. Then grab a copy of the latest official release from http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=84122

Mac OS X: Drag the Azureus icon to the trash.

Go to http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=84122 and download the latest Azureus OS X zip release.

All OSes Install Azureus. Follow the wizard if you like. If you get any update pop-ups, hit Update to install them. Let it restart. Repeat until there are no more updates.

Go to Tools->Options and review all settings. Copy your .torrents and torrent data to their proper locations. Do not copy your .config files back yet.