For years I've wanted to setup a server on my computer to test my blog design tinkerings locally before running them live. And surely, if you've been visiting this blog for more than a few months, you've been privy to some of my more stupendous errors – some of which cause the default WordPress theme to activate while others break the blog completely and have resulted in some really exciting HTTP Error codes.
With excellent technical people (thank you a gazillion times Steve!) on my side, I've always felt free to ‘play' with the live blogs and have never been worried about destroying anything completely. The home computer was another matter entirely, however. Like, who you gonna call at 2am?
However, after being told that a pc-based server setup could be problematic – and I think they were implying ‘for you', I decided to take on the challenge of installation myself… and trust me, I am NO geek. Indeed, the word ‘server' used to strike fear in my heart.
Well, that is no longer the case and I couldn't believe how quick and easy it was to do the pc-based server setup!!! It took me 30 minutes to install WordPress on a WampServer on my PC and it only took that long because I had to sort my way through a few problems of my own creation (uh, like not following instructions step-by-step and trying to jump ahead).
Here are the steps I took, MINUS the skip-ahead problems. 🙂
Install a WampServer
Download the WampServer and then double click on the downloaded file to run the automatic installation keeping the default options (installed to C:wampwww). The package comes with the latest releases of Apache, MySQL and PHP included. When the installation is complete, click the WampServer icon now displayed in your taskbar and click “Put Online” as shown in the graphic to the right.
Setting up the server requires a few more steps, but rather than reprint the instructions here, I'll direct you to John of UrbanGiraffe whose instructions led me through the process of getting the WampServer all setup for WordPress.
Install WordPress on the WampServer
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Download WordPress, extract the files and drag the WordPress folder into your C:wampwww directory by opening the directory from the WampServer icon in the tray.
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Open PHPmyadmin from within Wamp and create a new database for your blog. Just enter the name of the database, e.g. ‘blog' and click Create.
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Return to the main PHPmyadmin page, click Privileges and click Add a New User. Enter a username (leaving Use text field: in the dropdown menu). Next to Host, select Local and enter ‘localhost'. Choose a password and again leave Use text field: in the dropdown menu. Click “Go”.
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Go back to Privileges and click “Edit Privileges” beside the User you just created. Select All. Now click the name of the database you created and make sure that all privileges for that database have been ascribed to that user. Click “Go”.
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Rename the wp-config-sample.php within your WordPress file folder to wp-config.php. Open the file and fill in the following information:
- DB_NAME – The name of the database you created, e.g. blog
- DB_USER – The username you created for WordPress, e.g. admin
- DB_PASSWORD – The password you chose.
- DB_HOST – The hostname – probably ‘localhost'
Save the file.
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Run the installation script from your browser using this link:
http://localhost/blog/wp-admin/install.php
Ta da!! You should be all done and ready to play!
Of course, if you use a site builder like BizZites, you won't have to ever worry about mucking up your blog design for all the world to see.
The interface includes well-placed warnings to newbies ‘not to touch' certain aspects of code until they're sufficiently advanced.
I wish my copy of WordPress did that on occasion. 🙂
thanks…good ideea
Thanks for the tutorial..really got me back on track!
This is such a good idea and something I am definitely going to try later on today. I’m not very technical but I think even I could do this
Thanks
Mary
Hi,
I’m still a beginner in blogging. But by reading all these important information on maintaining and testing blog site, it really seems a lot easier to me right now. I’m going to try this on my pc now. I’m really looking forward for a lot other information based on blog design.
Thanks a lot.
Terry
I’ve used xampp (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html) in the past for all my windows-based testing, worked great with no hassles to setup.
That wamp menu thing looks like a blast from the past lol!
Superb information! I never knew about wampserver until I read your blog post! I have wanted to tinker with my new blogs before they go live or before Google caches the blog. Now I have my secret weapon to do this! thanks
As being a stock market investor it was very necessary for my blog to update & i tried lots of ideas but they all gave me some partial satisfaction!but after reading your post & all the comments i am thinking that i should give a try to yours one!hope i will get satisfied results!thanks for it!warm regards from me !
Hi,
Great post. I did this a while back, but its a shame I didn’t have your information before. It would have came in very useful and saved me time.
I was thinking of putting the same type of info on my new blog, but you beat me too it 🙂
So I’ll send em across to here
I followed your instruction and succefully download teh WAMP server and installed in my root directory.
but whan I clicked on the “put online” button, an error message appeared. It reads as
“could not execute menu item( internal error)[exception]. Could not perform server action….”
I’m so happy to finally have a way to tinker with changes *before* they go live! Using your instructions, a test blog was up and running on my computer in less than 30 minutes – thank you so much for sharing this info!
It is very nice i installed it on my computer & i got some part which were very necessary to change for my blog!it is very great & i am gonna recommend it to all my friends also !thanks for it!
Hi,
I write your post by accident and was attracted by your article on off-line wordpress. Your instruction to download the WAMP server and wordpress was clear.
I followed your instruction and succefully download teh WAMP server and installed in my root directory.
but whan I clicked on the “put online” button, an error message appeared. It reads as
“could not execute menu item( internal error)[exception]. Could not perform server action….”
I don’t mean to bother you but may I asked how to over come this?
Thanks alot
I’ve also installed XAMPP on my PC, pretty easy to do, and now when I find a wordpress theme I’m interested in, but they don’t include a live example, I can go ahead and test it and look at it before installing it.
Yes, I’m using it for theme testing very often, along with testing of new PHP code.
Roz we need exactly this recommended software as we need to complete our 1st site behind closed doors and not published on the web. Divine right timing !
Also your SAH is priceless (even though we did pay the $47 cost :).
This post couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve been fretting over how I was going to do a major overhaul for one of my blogs without having the production blog crash and burn in the process. I’m so happy to finally have a way to tinker with changes *before* they go live! Using your instructions, a test blog was up and running on my computer in less than 30 minutes – thank you so much for sharing this info!
Very good choice is XAMPP (apachefriends.org) also; I’m running it on my computer for years.
I’ve tried that solution in the past and it does work great. I did however recently read about a plugin (I think) that would let you do online tests that only you would be able to see and your readers would only see it if you accepted the changes you had made.
Unfortunately I can’t find the post about it right now… maybe someone else has read it too?
ThankU Ros,
Was thinking about this a couple of weeks ago…And couldn’t find information
I would have been confortable to experiment with…
A Goddess(Information) if I may call U…
Again ThankU,
DMAllred