For the record, the install script from the getting started page successfully installed 0.8.8.
7 .
actually, it specifically installed: 2014-Dec-29 21:35:35.066784 bitmonero v0.8.8.7-f4675dc
interesting daemon notes:
2014-Dec-30 00:41:28.434234 [P2P4]###### REORGANIZE on height: 369806 of 369806 with cum_difficulty 319681729064686
alternative blockchain size: 2 with cum_difficulty 319682809074868
2014-Dec-30 00:41:28.546933 [P2P4]----- BLOCK ADDED AS ALTERNATIVE ON HEIGHT 369806
id: <0f8dc2b39f5cbbceff8d73c77d14e74e0c00fd02e1788557ba22bd1dbb4aacda>
PoW: <767175835137ac49ef5d456f67879b91782e39b3d5c23e50c6cb784601000000>
difficulty: 1077762163
2014-Dec-30 00:41:28.547030 [P2P4]REORGANIZE SUCCESS! on height: 369806, new blockchain size: 369808
so, at least the daemon is excited!
and im assuming this is still the old database because it was gobbling up 33% RAM on my 16 gig system.
But I was able to run simplewallet, and it gave me the new mnemonic, and found my old coinage.
Noob-approved method to get monero updates (im the noob):(i'm assuming here Ubuntu, with the ability to have multiple windows of terminal, and that you know that ./ will execute a file, and using a GUI to drag .n drop files, because I'm a noob, and you could be one too, and thats OK, because linux)
1. exit wallet, daemon
2. rename bitmonero folder to bitmonero_old_date (for archive purposes)
3. goto
http://www.monero.cc/getting-started/index.html , and copy the second linux command thing listed under Source (item #2 on the list), paste into terminal
4. Watch the magic of compiling. Choose NO for download blockchain (you should already have it)
5. When finished, fire up the daemon, which can be found (with other executables) in bitmonero/build/release/
bin6. Watch the magic of p2p blockchains
7. goto the bitmonero_old_date folder, locate all of your wallet files (.bin, .bin.address.keys, .bin.keys) - copy these files to bitmonero/build/release/bin
8. goto bitmonero/build/release/bin and run simplewallet with your old wallet file
9. write down mnemonic in as legible handwriting as possible
10. send me some monero : 46aRPgXEgqf23G2VU5fy4oeKBGpU6uXSv57CkXKrz4EbDwDeh573QQhZYeyjriWAMUhNoBHMUwkGV2A
2ppWwAx4JT9HNJ9h
(edited twice - once for type, once for more details on daemon version)