OK lots of issues. The server we were swapped onto still hadn't got the necessary versions of PHP and SQL to run the latest forum software, so after a few days tinkering, they moved us again onto their newest server then the database got corrupted but luckily I had backups and all is working again now but without updating the forum software.
I might leave it alone for a bit now as I thing WHUK are getting a bit fed up with me!!
I will have another go at updating the forum in a few days time. I'm also buying a house in Cumbria so along with working from home I have a lot of time juggling to do.