Thread:Project:Support desk/How to restore a database backup from a very old version (1.8) to a current one (1.22)?/reply (2)

Yes, take the old database and put it in the new MySQL server. Together with the files of the new MediaWiki version you then have the same situation as you would have when you updated from MediaWiki 1.8. Follow the steps on page Upgrade to complete the update; most importantly run update.php.