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. 🙂