Web Design Articles

#1 Download Xampp

Visit the Xampp homepage and select the correct download for your operating system – I’ve tested the program on Windows XP, Vista and now Windows 7, and it runs smoothly on them all!

Once your download is complete, install Xampp – This is a pretty painless process and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

#2 -Download Wordpress

Check out the Wordpress download centre and get the latest copy. Notice that the requirements to run Wordpress are PHP 4.3+ and MySQL 4+.

#3 – Create your Database

Run Xampp from the desktop shortcut you’re given, and it should take you to the Control Panel. Once you’re there, select ‘phpMyAdmin’ from the left menu, and under ‘MySQL localhost’ write in the name of your new database – you’ll need to remember this when installing wordpress.

#4 – Install Wordpress

Go to the location that Xampp was installed, it’s usually C:/Program Files/Xampp and enter the htdocs folder. In there, create a new folder, and call it what you’d like. I simply called mine ‘Wordpress’.

Drag the Wordpress files into this folder. You’ll see a file called wp-config-samle.php – edit this file and enter in your info into the necessary fields. If you’re not sure of any of the information, you can check the information that the Xampp cControl Panel gives you about your database. Once you’ve edited the wp-config-sample.php file – save it, and rename it as just wp-config.php. Now go into the wp-admin folder, and run the install.php file in your browser. There you go!

I strongly recommend Bookmarking your wordpress installation once it’s installed.