Thread:Project:Support desk/upgrading MediaWiki to Version 1.17.2/reply (9)

Database returned error "1146: Table 'wikichis.oldimage' doesn't exist (ibmatmgmt.vienna.at.ibm.com)" Backtrace:

Something is very wrong with your database if you get that error. Oldimage table has existed since the very beginning of Mediawiki, so should be in your old install.

Basically the updater can't update your db if it cannot find the old data it needs to update.