In a fit of stupidity, I used the WordPress auto-update to upgrade from 3.7.1 to 3.7.3. Which promptly borked:
- the custom header images
- the custom templates i used (based on the Juggledad template)
- the footer credit removal (I am a paying customer...)

I recovered from that, but wanted to warn others not to follow my path. If you have any custom code, custom header images, custom templates, then the auto-upgrade is to be avoided.

Download the newest to your drive, unzip into separate folder, upload that new folder into the themes folder. Then put your custom header images in the images/header folder (deleting those that are there), copy your templates into the new folder. Then use the Theme selector to select the new version (you should see the old theme version on that list).

Just a warning to others....not to follow my path. (I really should have known better, having done upgrades before....)

...Rick...

Sorry to hear of your problem. It re-enforces the suggestion that you backup before doing any automatic updates.

Many hosting companies (for example, the one I own) do regular automatic backups and free restorations on request. That would have allowed you to restore your system.

HOWTO: upgrade Atahualpa to a new version

Yeah, I knew that (the "HowTo" link from JuggleDad). Have done it correctly before.

Just a cautionary tale about being too quick to click....