Do you want to make changes your running site? You should simulate the changes in your local environment (XSAS etc.), first.
- copy all files other than mainfile.php of remote server into document root of your local XOOPS - export sql from remote server - import the sql into local environment
And don't forget issuing the 3 queries into local environment (phpMyAdmin etc).
update (prefix)_users set email='' where uid>1;
delete from (prefix)_xoopsnotifications;
update (prefix)_newblocks set bcachetime=0;
query 1 and 2 protect you from un-preferable notifications. query 3 makes your development much efficient.