THERE's (should) NO need to need phpMyAdmin DURING UPDATES!!
Jens, i think it is time to post some "
PRO OG" news.
I just updated a running testsite on a t-com server (about 10 articles, maybe 40 cp´s incl. fe-login, formular, image_special etc.) from 1.3.5 to the last r179. Here is my summary:
Step 1: Save all data incl. Database
about 5 Minutes for the transfer
Step 2: Edit config files (copy&paste) deactivate "Bad behavior"
again 5 Minutes
Step 3: Upload the whole stuff (i did not delete the server files because i wanted to test if this will work) (took a cup of coffee)
This could differ depending on the server settings and your ftp appliction! - in my case it is working as expected 
Step 4: No need to change attributes
needs to be checked because this could also differ
Step 5: run the setup and did the sql update (1.3.5 to 1.3.9)
(NO phpMyAdmin) just out of the box!
(1 Minute ? - no errors!
Step 6: uploaded my changed & own templates, css
(about 20 Minutes because i also changed system templates in the past 
)
Step 7: Login into backend and *tata* WORKING!
I did some tests with exisiting articles, new ones, register tabs, fe-login...seem to work without errors.
The site looks like before.
So, my recommendation:
Very very important!!! - when you start your new project try not to change system templates or the core files because in a huge site it could be a paine to check this! (i did this in the past, but i will try to avoid this in the future!)
Make a backup of your site and database. So even if something goes wrong your site will only be down for a short while since you re-install your backup.
...
please run:
