It is needless to introduce WordPress since it is very common and widely used blog across the world. Initially, when WordPress came into the view, they were only allowing people to create a blog and share information gradually as they expended it started allowing people to build a website on its platform.
The installation process of WordPress is very easy that barely take 5 minutes to complete. Nevertheless, many host providers make this process more ease for customers by offering tools (e.g. Fantastico) to install WordPress automatically. Though for your convenience if you wish to install WordPress yourself, below is the easiest process you should go through.
Before starting the process, there are few things that you need to be clear with, in order to obviate an error.
Things to Know Before Installing WordPress
You will require an access to your site and its directory along with software to proceed with the installation and those are:-
- Access to your web server (via shell or FTP)
- A text editor
- An FTP Client
- Your web browser of choice
Things You Need to Do to Install WordPress
Begin your installation by:
- Checking to ensure that you and your web host have the minimum requirements to run WordPress.
- Download the latest release of WordPress
- Unzip the downloaded file to a folder on your hard drive
- Be prepared with a secure password for your Secret Key
Language and Database requirement
- PHP version 4.3 or greater
- MySQL version 4.1.2 or greater
System Requirement
- These steps will work on Windows versions which include IIS, such as Windows XP professional, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server.
- You must be able to install programs on your machine (i.e. have administrator rights).
Primarily there are 6 steps that will just take 5 minutes to install WordPress.
Login to your site
Login to your hosting control panel (cPanel) with information provided by your host company.
MySQL Database Wizard
Under the Database section, click on the MySQL Database Wizard icon.
MySQL Database Wizard icon
Step 1. Create a Database
Step 1 in the wizard is creating the database. Simply give your database a name. The actual database name will be prepended by your hosting account name. In this example, after clicking Next Step, the database michaelh_demowp will be created.
Step 2. Create Database Users
The next step in the wizard requires creating a database user and assigning that user a password. When entering the password, make sure the password strength meter registers Very Strong for your selected password. Also remember the password you enter as you will need that information later. In this example, dbuser is entered in the Username field, but when the Create User button is clicked, the database user ultimately will be named michaelh_dbuser.
Step 3. Add User to Database
In Step 3, you assign the user to the database and you assign the necessary database privileges. In this case, click the All Privileges checkbox and click the Next Step button to assign all privileges to the database user.
Step 4. Complete the task
In this step, you are notified that the user was added to the database. You have successfully created the database, created the user, and assigned privileges to that user.
Editing the WordPress Config File
Open the file wp-config-sample.php using a text editor. There are the four pieces of information you need to complete in the file. The following is an example; yours may look slightly different:
Note that the prefix michaelh_ assigned by that cPanel is part of the database and database user. Also note, the DB_HOST value for almost all cPanel hosts is localhost.
Important – Save the completed file as wp-config.php.
Continuing the Installation
The database is created, and user is created and assigned to the database with the proper privileges. And the wp-config.php is updated with the database information.
Step 5: Upload the files
Now you will need to decide where on your web site you’d like your blog to appear:
- In the root directory of your web site. (For example, http://example.com/)
- In a subdirectory of your web site. (For example, http://example.com/blog/)
Note: The location of your root web directory in the filesystem on your web server will vary across hosting providers and operating systems. Check with your hosting provider or system administrator if you do not know where this is.
In the Root Directory
- If you need to upload your files to your web server, use an FTP client to upload all the contents of the wordpress directory (but not the directory itself) into the root directory of your web site.
- If your files are already on your web server, and you are using shell access to install WordPress, move all of the contents of the wordpress directory (but not the directory itself) into the root directory of your web site.
In a Subdirectory
- If you need to upload your files to your web server, rename the wordpress directory to your desired name, then use an FTP client to upload the directory to your desired location within the root directory of your web site.
- If your files are already on your web server, and you are using shell access to install WordPress, move the wordpress directory to your desired location within the root directory of your web site, and rename the directory to your desired name.
Step 6: Run the Install Script
Point a web browser to start the installation script.
- If you placed the WordPress files in the root directory, you should visit: http://example.com/wp-admin/install.php
- If you placed the WordPress files in a subdirectory called blog, for example, you should visit: http://example.com/blog/wp-admin/install.php
Setup configuration file
If WordPress can’t find the wp-config.php file, it will tell you and offer to try to create and edit the file itself. (You can also do this directly by loading wp-admin/setup-config.php in your web browser.) WordPress will ask you the database details and write them to a new wp-config.php file. If this works, you can go ahead with the installation; otherwise, go back and create, edit, and upload the wp-config.php file yourself (step 3).
Enter database information
Finishing installation
The following screenshots show how the installation progresses. Notice in Entering the details screen, you enter your site title, your desired user name, your choice of a password (twice) and your e-mail address. Also displayed is a check-box asking if you would like your blog to appear in search engines like Google and Technorati. Leave the box checked if you would like your blog to be visible to everyone, including search engines, and uncheck the box if you want to block search engines, but allow normal visitors. Note all this information can be changed later in your Administration Panels.
Enter site, login, and email
…and that is it! You are now ready to use WordPress. If you find any problem during the information process or have any query feel free to contact us.
Primarily there are 4 steps that will just take 5 minutes to install WordPress on Windows.
Step 1. Navigate to the WordPress Installation Page
- Choose the “Install” button.
- If you have Web PI already installed, it will automatically be launched and you can skip to the next step.
- If you do not have the Web Platform Installer, you will be prompted to install it.
- Web PI is a tool from Microsoft that downloads and installs the latest components you need to develop or host Web applications on Windows. Everything in the tool is free. Web PI will install and configure IIS, PHP, MySQL and anything else you may need.
Step 2. Choose to Install WordPress
- When Web PI launches, you will see an information page for WordPress. Start installing WordPress by pressing the “Install” button in the lower right hand corner.
Step 3. Installation of WordPress and its requirements
- Finding Dependencies: Web PI will determine the minimum set of components and modules you need on your machine to run WordPress. It will only install what you’re missing. For example, PHP will be installed and configured to run WordPress.
- Configure the Database: After accepting the terms, if you need to install MySQL, you will be asked to create a password for the root account database account. Keep this password safe. WordPress will ask for this information later.
- Choose the site: Choose a site to install WordPress to. You may install to an existing Web site in IIS or create a new site. Use the default setting if you do not have advanced configuration needs.
- WordPress Setup: WordPress will need answers to a few specific questions such as the username (in the case of a new MySQL install is root) and password for your MySQL database to complete the install.
Step 4. Completion
- Once you enter the WordPress setup information, Web PI will finish the installation.
- Click, Launch in Browser and WordPress will launch.
