Host upgrading Gallery version-how to save old version

Is there an easy way to make a copy of my gallery, especially the captions? I am with Ipowerweb and they have changed servers and upgraded to Gallery 2. I cannot put 2 galleries on my site so I will need to transfer them manually. Tech support has said that, in future, I will be able to 'push a button' for any upgrades to versions of Gallery that they offer so this will be the only time I have to do this. I have over 15,000 images and don't know of a way except to copy and paste the captions to a document so I can do that in reverse when I upload the photos. It's a lot of pages and I dread doing this twice. I don't really understand much tech things but can follow step by step if it covers absolutely each step and keystroke. Any help with this would be appreciated-even if to tell me that is the only way. Thanks, appreciate it. Barb

This is what I copied from the support section of Ipowerweb.

Gallery URL (optional):http://graphicoriginals.com/Gallery/
Gallery version: v1
Webserver (with version): Debian
Database (with version): MySQL version 5.0.45
PHP version (eg 4.2.1): 4.4.7
phpinfo URL (optional): ?
Graphics Toolkit(s): ?
Operating system: Web browser/version: Mozilla Firefox 5.0
G1 version (for migration bugs): ?

Thank you for your reply. I do have a working version but they are not forcing me to upgrade. G1 was offered years ago via their Control Panel and I 'pushed the button' to have it automatically installed. I understand enough to open the correct page and have changed the title from Gallery to what I want. The host has upgraded all their servers and migrated everyone to them. I have had issues with G1 such as not always loading or my albums showing up in a different order than when I left them. Tech support explained that if there were spam issues then the resources may be used up at the time I want to load Gallery and so I get an Internal Server Error.

I cannot have two Gallery installs, via their control panel, at the same time. He said if I wanted to make separate folders etc, I could install a separate version myself. I do not know how to do this. I would like to install the G2 that they offer, in hopes it would eliminate the server error, and then, in future, any upgrades they offer would be migrated via a push button service they would have on their Control Panel.

I have discussed this at length with their tech support and cannot install G2 via the Control Panel while I have G1 installed via the Control Panel. I would have to uninstall the G1 via the control panel and then install G2 via the Control Panel-it will not handle two separate installs of Gallery. I suppose if I were to install another version of G on my own, which I don't have the know-how to do (folders, accesses etc.) then I could migrate to that, install G2 via their Control Panel and then migrate again using the tool. I would never attempt this on my own and don't understand the instructions I have read in the forums for those troubleshooting their own install.

If I cannot do this just by pushing buttons or FTP, then I am stuck with an old version that does not load at all times.

That is why I asked if there was a way to save the current Gallery1 to my computer so that after I install G2 via the Control Panel, I can copy and paste the captions. The number of photos I have, over 15,000, are a great many to do a second time. Also the order of the photos would not be maintained unless I did all separate folders-I do have all the photos on disks for backup safety but I do not understand how to make a static copy of Gallery.

I appreciate your advice and sorry I posted on the sticky thread-I do know those are for info only. I really like Gallery and hoped to upgrade easily. I see that this is probably not possible. I used to have an online friend that did install Gallery for me on another host many years ago, but she has passed on so unless I can do it via their Control Panel......

Thanks again,
Barb Novak

Thanks so much for your prompt reply. About the host, they indeed might be weird but are extremely reliable and the tech support is always fast and good (except of course in my very strange situation). I think that not being able to help clients with Gallery has prompted them to do this upgrade so that in future they can have upgrades taken care of automatically.
I think I will first try to FTP the site down. I can also see if I can do the temporary copy option. I do know about paid support, thanks for the reminder, but right now, that is not a financial possibility. Again, thanks for your generous advice.

Barb Novak