Dear Ralph!

... But it apparently isn't possible - at least in version 1.7.4 - to change the default sort order from the date of the top posting in a thread to the date of the last reply, although this sort order can be selected manually.

OK, this is the forum for the 2.x branch, questions regarding the 1.x version please to the respective forum (English, Deutsch).
Since I know already you're from Germany, just have a look at this post.

In all versions (1.4.1.beta to 1.7.5) you have to change line 41 of 'forum.php' from

  if (empty($order)) $order="time";

to

  if (empty($order)) $order="last_answer";

Has this been changed in the new version, or is there a solution in 1.7.4?

• I don't think so
  
• See above