diff --git a/applications/utilities/preProcessing/foamUpgradeFvSolution/foamUpgradeFvSolution.C b/applications/utilities/preProcessing/foamUpgradeFvSolution/foamUpgradeFvSolution.C
index d9e1402a34..9128ad3d5c 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/preProcessing/foamUpgradeFvSolution/foamUpgradeFvSolution.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/preProcessing/foamUpgradeFvSolution/foamUpgradeFvSolution.C
@@ -90,7 +90,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
                 solutionDict.objectPath() + ".old"
             );
 
-            solutionDict.regIOobject::write();
+            solutionDict.writeObject
+            (
+                IOstream::ASCII,
+                IOstream::currentVersion,
+                IOstream::UNCOMPRESSED
+            );
 
             Info<< "Backup to    " << (solutionDict.objectPath() + ".old") << nl
                 << "Write  to    " << solutionDict.objectPath() << nl << endl;
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/lduMatrix/lduMatrix.H b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/lduMatrix/lduMatrix.H
index 6a6a09ab92..c9e797d2d2 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/lduMatrix/lduMatrix.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/lduMatrix/lduMatrix.H
@@ -396,6 +396,9 @@ public:
 
     public:
 
+        //- Find the smoother name (directly or from a sub-dictionary)
+        static word getName(const dictionary&);
+
         //- Runtime type information
         virtual const word& type() const = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/lduMatrix/lduMatrixSmoother.C b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/lduMatrix/lduMatrixSmoother.C
index e9aa429683..a18f65687d 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/lduMatrix/lduMatrixSmoother.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/lduMatrix/lduMatrix/lduMatrixSmoother.C
@@ -36,6 +36,29 @@ namespace Foam
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+Foam::word
+Foam::lduMatrix::smoother::getName
+(
+    const dictionary& solverControls
+)
+{
+    word name;
+
+    // handle primitive or dictionary entry
+    const entry& e = solverControls.lookupEntry("smoother", false, false);
+    if (e.isDict())
+    {
+        e.dict().lookup("smoother") >> name;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        e.stream() >> name;
+    }
+
+    return name;
+}
+
+
 Foam::autoPtr<Foam::lduMatrix::smoother> Foam::lduMatrix::smoother::New
 (
     const word& fieldName,
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/solution/solution.C b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/solution/solution.C
index f988cc2305..44ecc4792c 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/solution/solution.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/matrices/solution/solution.C
@@ -27,13 +27,23 @@ License
 #include "solution.H"
 #include "Time.H"
 
-// these two are for old syntax compatibility:
+// these are for old syntax compatibility:
 #include "BICCG.H"
 #include "ICCG.H"
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+#include "IStringStream.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Data Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 int Foam::solution::debug(::Foam::debug::debugSwitch("solution", 0));
 
+// list of sub-dictionaries to rewrite
+//! @cond localScope
+static const Foam::List<Foam::word> subDictNames
+(
+    Foam::IStringStream("(preconditioner smoother)")()
+);
+//! @endcond localScope
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::solution::solution(const objectRegistry& obr, const fileName& dictName)
@@ -91,32 +101,33 @@ Foam::label Foam::solution::upgradeSolverDict
                 subdict.add("solver", name);
                 subdict <<= dictionary(is);
 
-                // preconditioner can be a primitiveEntry w/o settings,
-                // or a dictionaryEntry.
+                // preconditioner and smoother entries can be
+                // 1) primitiveEntry w/o settings,
+                // 2) or a dictionaryEntry.
                 // transform primitiveEntry with settings -> dictionaryEntry
-                entry* precond = subdict.lookupEntryPtr
-                (
-                    "preconditioner",
-                    false,
-                    false
-                );
-
-                if (precond && !precond->isDict())
+                forAll(subDictNames, dictI)
                 {
-                    Istream& is = precond->stream();
-                    is >> name;
+                    const word& dictName = subDictNames[dictI];
+                    entry* ePtr = subdict.lookupEntryPtr(dictName,false,false);
 
-                    if (!is.eof())
+                    if (ePtr && !ePtr->isDict())
                     {
-                        dictionary precondDict;
-                        precondDict.add("preconditioner", name);
-                        precondDict <<= dictionary(is);
+                        Istream& is = ePtr->stream();
+                        is >> name;
 
-                        subdict.set("preconditioner", precondDict);
+                        if (!is.eof())
+                        {
+                            dictionary newDict;
+                            newDict.add(dictName, name);
+                            newDict <<= dictionary(is);
+
+                            subdict.set(dictName, newDict);
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }
 
+
             // write out information to help people adjust to the new syntax
             if (verbose)
             {