# Is there a way to move gems from 1.8.4 to 1.8.6? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [July 25, 2007, 7:29am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-move-gems-from-1-8-4-to-1-8-6/110313 "2007-07-25T07:29:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 7:29am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-move-gems-from-1-8-4-to-1-8-6/110313/1 "2007-07-25T07:29:31Z")
I am currently on Ruby 1.8.4 on Windows XP. I’d like to move to 1.8.6 - do I need to reinstall all of my gems or is there a way for me to move them to my new 1.8.6 installation? Thanks, Wes ---
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-move-gems-from-1-8-4-to-1-8-6/110313/2 "2007-07-26T00:46:29Z")
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Wes G. wrote: > I am currently on Ruby 1.8.4 on Windows XP. > > I’d like to move to 1.8.6 - do I need to reinstall all of my gems or is > there a way for me to move them to my new 1.8.6 installation? In my upgrades, I upgrade Ruby, then run gem update -y Your gems are separate from your ruby install, so all your gems will stay put. I recommend checking that all your gems support 1.8.6 (don’t know of any conflicts, just a disclaimer) * * * Travis W. “Programming in Java is like dealing with your mom – it’s kind, forgiving, and gently chastising. Programming in C++ is like dealing with a disgruntled girlfriend – it’s cold, unforgiving, and doesn’t tell you what you’ve done wrong.” -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - [http://enigmail.mozdev.org](http://enigmail.mozdev.org) iD8DBQFGpubPWvapaOIz2YYRAjlhAJ0Y0yeytU14/AzHf5TjH1pnbuFowwCfc4BB h7lbWzNj8HfD76tv53F8Yys= =47EP -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ---
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-move-gems-from-1-8-4-to-1-8-6/110313/3 "2007-07-26T00:52:44Z")
Under Windows, the gems are not separate from the Ruby installation, hence my question. RUBY\_HOME=C:\ruby Gems live in C:\ruby\lib\ruby\gems. I plan to just copy them over in the new installation directory for now. Thanks, Wes ---
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-move-gems-from-1-8-4-to-1-8-6/110313/4 "2007-09-25T23:00:47Z")
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 James B. wrote: > > In my upgrades, I upgrade Ruby, then run > > > > gem update -y > > > > Your gems are separate from your ruby install, so all your gems will > > stay put. > > Are you sure? I haven’t installed on windows in a while, but last I > recall, if you used the packaged (i.e. “1-click”) installer, it deleted > the entire existing Ruby install, gems and all. I didn’t use the 1-click installer, I just downloaded the Binary version and unzipped it into the ruby directory. * * * Travis W. “Programming in Java is like dealing with your mom – it’s kind, forgiving, and gently chastising. Programming in C++ is like dealing with a disgruntled girlfriend – it’s cold, unforgiving, and doesn’t tell you what you’ve done wrong.” -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - [http://enigmail.mozdev.org](http://enigmail.mozdev.org) iD8DBQFGpvLAWvapaOIz2YYRAgU4AJ93QME+dfMmQwroqHqlYGga2vFmNQCfX85A gwR5kdDnmySc54eZVzDa/5c= =FG9K -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ---
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2007, 3:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-move-gems-from-1-8-4-to-1-8-6/110313/5 "2007-07-26T15:00:35Z")
On 7/25/07, Wes G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Under Windows, the gems are not separate from the Ruby installation, > hence my question. > > RUBY\_HOME=C:\ruby > > Gems live in C:\ruby\lib\ruby\gems. > > I plan to just copy them over in the new installation directory for now. Wes, don’t forget that some gems install a binary component which if you just copy the gem tree, you will miss. I would suggest that you get all the gems from your gem cache directory. Your cache directory can be found by: gem environment RubyGems Environment: - VERSION: 0.9.2 (0.9.2) - INSTALLATION DIRECTORY: /opt/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8 - GEM PATH: - /opt/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8 - REMOTE SOURCES: - [http://gems.rubyforge.org](http://gems.rubyforge.org) The GEM PATH plus cache, so on my system /opt/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/cache is where all the gem files live. Copy these off and then update your ruby, then (with gem installed if necessary it is part of the one click installer), in the directory where you copied off the gems: gem install \*.gem --force You need the force to simplify the handling of dependencies and assumedly all the dependencies were valid in your previous install. Note this can take a while if you have a lot of gems, but this has worked for me in the past. Good luck pth ---
**Author:** ![weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/7ab992/32.png) [@weyus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/weyus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 11:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-move-gems-from-1-8-4-to-1-8-6/110313/6 "2007-09-25T23:04:48Z")
Travis D Warlick Jr wrote: > gem update -y > > Your gems are separate from your ruby install, so all your gems will stay put. Are you sure? I haven’t installed on windows in a while, but last I recall, if you used the packaged (i.e. “1-click”) installer, it deleted the entire existing Ruby install, gems and all. James