How to Install WordPress
In this WordPress tutorial I will show you two ways to install WordPress. The first is with Fantastico in cPanel. The second is to install the program after downloading it from WordPress.org.
WordPress Installation Using Fantastico
WordPress is an open source project that is powerful, very flexible and free. It allows anyone with little or no computer skills to build and maintain a professional website.
The software has lots of free templates and plug-ins to allow it to be highly customized to the website owners needs.
WordPress can be used two ways. The first is by going to WordPress.com and setting up a free account. The second way is to install the WordPress script on your website. For eCommerce websites the only option is to install the script on your own website.
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There are two ways to install WordPress to your website. The easiest is to log into your cPanel and use the Fantastico WordPress install feature. This will create the database and install WordPress automatically. If your Webhost doesn’t have Fantastico then you can install WordPress manually. Install WordPress from Fantastico in your cPanel.
Many website hosts utilize a program called Fantastico in the website administration cPanel. Fantastico is usually on the bottom of the row of your cPanel. Here you will see many scripts that you can install on your website. One of the scripts is WordPress.
Click the Fantastico icon.
On the left panel under the heading, “Blogs” you will see a link called, “WordPress.”
Click on the link and you will be presented with a WordPress install directory.
On the right side of the install directory, you will see a heading called, “New Installation.” Click on the link. You will then see the installation panel for the Fantastico WordPress installation.
The first line will ask you which domain you want to install it on. If you only have one domain in your cPanel the domain name should be listed in the box. If you have more domains in your cPanel then you will pick the domain you want to install WordPress to.
Next line is “Install in directory.” If you want your blog to be hosted on your root directory which is the home page of your website, leave this box blank. If you want to install WordPress into a subdirectory (www.sitename.com/subdirectory/) then add the name you want the subdirectory to be called.
Under the next category, ”Admin Access Data” you will add the name you want to login in to your administration area.
Fill in the Administration-Username and Password and write them down.
Then fill in the Base configuration category. Add an Admin nickname. I usually use the same name as the administration Username. Now fill in your email address in the box.
Next fill in your Site Name. You can call this anything you like. It will appear as the title of your site. It will be shown in the title bar and on the top header of your page.
You can add a brief description in the box below the Site Name. This usually appears right below the title in your header panel.
If you want to use the blog by e-mail feature, then fill in the e-mail account information.
Finally click “Install WordPress” button. Fantastico will then create the MySQL databases and install the WordPress files where you want them.
Congratulations, you have successfully installed WordPress.
Log into the Administration panel
Go to www.yoursitename.com/wp-admin if you installed WordPress to your root (main) directory or www.yoursitename.com/subdirectory/wp-admin if you installed WordPress in a subdirectory.
Installing WordPress On Your Website – No Fantastico
If you donxt have Fantastico in you cPanel then you must install WordPress from a zip file.
Download the WordPress script from WordPress.org. Unzip the files with a unzip software like WinZip or WinRar. These can be found at Download.com and both are free trials.
Create a MySQL database on your website through your cPanel
Create the WordPress Configuration file.
Copy the WordPress files to your website via an ftp program. Filezilla ftp is a free and very good program to use.
To create a MySQL database from cPanel.
Launch MySQL Databases in cPanel.
Under the Users section, create a Username. I usually use “WordPress” and will write that in the UserName field.
Choose a password and put write that in the password field.
Click “Add User.”
Under the Databases section, create a database name. I also use the name “WordPress” for this, but you can name it anything you want as long as you remember it. Enter the database name in the Db field and then click “Add Db” button.
Now you must associate the database user to the database. So, under database select the User name from the User dropdown list. Then select your database from the Db dropdown list. Make sure that the “All” box is checked under Privileges. Click the Add User to Db button.
Create a Database with MySQL Administration
In the “Connect to MySQL instance” dialog box, enter your information.
Server Hostname you can get from your Website host provider.
It is usually “localhost”. Enter a Username and password for the database. Click connect button.
The server information window should appear.
Click the catalogs button. This will display existing catalogs. Click the + button beneath the schemata list.
Enter the name for your new database in the Create Schemata Dialog.
The new database has been created and added to the Schemata list.
Quit MySQL Administration.
Create your WordPress “wp-config” file
Open wp-config-sample in the WordPress folder. Locate the line:
Define {‘DB_NAME, “WordPress”};
Replace [WordPress] with the name of your database
Locate define {“DB_USER”, “username”};
Replace [username] with the name of your MySQL database username.
Locate define {DB_PASSWORD”, “password”};
Replace {password} with the name of your MySQL database password.
Locate define {“DB_host”,”localhost”};
Replace [localhost] with the name of your MySQL database domain name or IP address of the database host. For most webhosts, this is left alone and localhost is used.
Save file as wp-config.php in the WordPress folder.
With your ftp program upload all the files to your server. I use a free ftp program called, “Filezilla” FTP. It is located at: filezilla-project.org.
If you want WordPress to be viewed as your first page, put the WordPress files in your root (main) directory. This is the directory usually named public_html. If you want a website page with the WordPress program in a subdirectory, then upload the WordPress folder onto your route directory. This is the directory usually named public_html. If you want a website page with the WordPress program in a subdirectory, then upload the WordPress folder onto your root (main) directory. Then change the folder to whatever name you want the directory to be called. For example it could be called:
www.sitename.com/blog/
www.sitename.com/WordPress/
www.sitename.com/jewelry/
www.sitename.com/whatever/
Quit your ftp client.
Run the WordPress installer.
If WordPress is in your root (main) directory then you would type:
www.sitename.com/wp-admin/install.php
If your WordPress installation is in a subdirectory then you would type:
www.sitename.com/blog/wp-admin/install.php.
The WordPress installation screen should appear.
Type in:
• Weblog Title. This is the title of your site.
• Your email address. Click continue button to the second step.
You will see a notification screen that will notify you that the installation is complete. REMEMBER to WRITE DOWN THE LOG-IN INFORMATION. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Next at the Log-in screen, type the username and password you copied down. After you hit the “Login” button you should see the main administration panel called the “Dashboard.”
This screen will give you information about your installation as well as any activity your blog has had on the right side. This includes any posts you have made or any comments a viewer might have made.
The first thing you should do is navigate to the category “Users” on top. The profile administration panel will appear. Scroll down to update your password and enter a new password that is easier for you to remember.
Congratulations! Your WordPress blog is installed. Now, you are ready to customize your blog.
WordPress Famous 5-Minute Install
1. Download and unzip the WordPress package.
2. Create a database for WordPress on your web server via cPanel. Create a MySQL user who has all privileges for accessing and modifying the database.
3. Rename the wp-config-sample.php file to wp-config.php.
4. Open wp-config.php in your favorite text editor like notepad or textpad. Fill in the your database name, database username and database password.
5. Upload the WordPress files on to your web server:
• If you want WordPress as the root program of your web site (e.g. http://example.com/), move or upload all contents of the WordPress directory the root directory of your web server.
• If you want WordPress in its own subdirectory on your web site (e.g. http://example.com/blog/), rename the folder wordpress to the name you’d like the subdirectory to have. Upload the subdirectory to your web server.
Run the WordPress installation script via your browser. The file is located at: http://www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php. if you have WordPress in the root directory or http://www.yourdomain.com/subdirectory/wp-admin/install.php if WordPress is located in a subdirectory.
That’s it! WordPress should now be installed on your server.
