How to update MySQL Server on Windows Machine

Preliminary notes:

These steps work for MySQL Server that is running as a service on Windows machine.

These steps were tested, when MySQL data directory is located on a different drive from MySQL  installation directory.

Determine your current MySQL version.  Run MySQL command shell:

..\YourMySQLFolder\bin\mysql.exe -u root

You should see something like this:

Server version: 5.5.8 MySQL Community Server (GPL)

Rename MySQL installation directory

Download a *.zip file from Oracle (not *.msi).   GA stands for “Generally Available”.   Select x32 or x64 package from:

http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/

Stop MySQL Service

Create empty MySQL install directory and unzip content of ZIP file into new MySQL directory

Restore (copy) your old my.ini file

Re-start MySQL Service

Determine your current MySQL version one more time:

Server version: 5.5.14 MySQL Community Server (GPL)

MySQL upgrade is now completed.