Installing Wordpress On Windows (2000 and XP) -Part 1

Wordpress requires an Apache server (recommended), a MySQL database and PHP scripting to run .

All of which can be installed on a Windows PC in my case Windows XP but windows 2000 works just as well.

Therefore the Wordpress install requires 4 separate steps

• Install Apache Server
• Install PHP scripting
• Install MYSQL database
• Install Wordpress

Here are the current (march 2007) requirements

• PHP version 4.2 or greater
• MySQL version 4.0 or greater

So you just decide on the version of PHP and MYSQL you are going to use. I always prefer to use one level back i.e. 4 not 5  or 4.4 not 4.6 unless I find a explicit reason not to.

The reason I do that is that new versions of any software have problems and I don't won't to be the one who finds them. In addition you will find more supporting help on the Net for older versions if you run into problems.

Installing The Apache Server

You first need to download a copy of Apache for Windows- download here.  I used the Win32 Binary (MSI Installer) as it is easier and looks like a standard windows install. I also used the 2.059 version not the newer 2.2.4.

If you are on XP the XP firewall may display a warning about apache access. Click ok to I allow it access through the firewall.

Once installed you will see the Apache monitor in the system tray near the clock. (green arrow)

If you click it the monitor opens as shown below

 Here you can stop and start the apache server. You will need to do this after making changes to the httpd.conf configuration file.

You can test that everything is ok by just opening a web browser and typing localhost in the address bar, and you should get a web page from the server or if it is not working an error page.

Apache Folders

There are two important folders that you will come across when setting up an apache server and they are the conf and htdocs folders

The conf folder contains the main Apache configuration file httpd.conf which you will edit with a text editor like Notepad. Don't use Microsoft Word.

The htdocs folder is the root of the web server and contains the web pages. Once wordpress is installed you will find the Wordpress files there.

Testing The Install

Open a web and type

 http://localhost

in the address bar and you should get a web page from the server or if it is not working an error page.

Providing Apache is working ok we can go ahead with the PHP install.

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