In this post I will explain how to manually install WordPress on a server. It’s not difficult as long as you follow the instructions carefully and watch out for spelling mistakes.
[Some web hosts provide WordPress (and other software/scripts) installation through a service called Fantastico. Look out for it in cPanel - I will publish a post on setting up WordPress this way in the future.]
You will need:
- The latest version of WordPress – Download.
- Access to your cPanel account – if you don’t know your login details contact your host or check the email they sent you when you signed-up.
- A FTP program such as FileZilla – Download, and watch this video if you don’t know how to use it. Your FTP login details are usually the same your cPanel login details.
To manually install WordPress you have to go through several stages and switch between programs and tabs in your browser. Expect to make mistakes if this is your first time – I did. It took me a couple of hours to download the files, upload the files and get everything right as the language and use of databases etc were all new to me; in the words of the great man, Morrissey, “I can smile about it now, but at the time it was terrible.”
Oh, a coffee might be a good idea too!
Phase One
Download the latest version of WordPress, unzip it and upload all the files inside the WordPress folder to the root of your server.
Phase Two
Step 1 – Login to cPanel and create a MySQL database
For WordPress to work it needs a database. Most hosting company’s offer at least one for free, but you need to create it. While the files are uploading head over to your website and access cPanel (the address is usually http://yourdomain.com/cpanel).
In cPanel look for the Databases section. cPanel has a few skins, so yours may look different to mine. When you find it click on the MySQL Databases icon.
Step 2 – Create the new database
At the top of the screen you will see this:
The blurred part is your cPanel username.
In the text box enter a name for your database. Use anything you like – if the name is okay cPanel shows a green icon to the right of the text box, if the name is unusable cPanel shows a red icon to the right of the text box. The database must only consist of alphanumeric characters.
When you have the name, hit Create Database. On screen you will see a success message.
Now click on the Go Back link.
Step 3 – Create a database user
Add a username and password for your database user and hit the Create User button. On the next page you will get a success message and a link to Go Back.
Click the link to Go Back.
Step 4 – Connect the new database and the new database user
For the database to work you need to connect the user and database. If you only have one user and one database just click the Add button. If you have more than one user and more than one database, from the drop down menu choose the two you have just created and click the Add button.
You will a screen that has this:
Click on All Privileges to highlight each box (as seen here), and then Make Changes.
You should see a screen that gives you a success message. Your database and your user are now connected. Click the Go Back link.
Step 5 – Make a note of the database name and the username
Before you leave this screen make a note of the database name and the username as you will need them for the next part.
Phase Three
The next step is to configure the WordPress files. If you haven’t already uploaded them to your server, do so now using a FTP program.
Within the WordPress core files there is one that needs editing before the installation can go ahead. It’s the config file. Look for a file called wp-config-sample.php in the root directory of the downloaded files.
Open it up with Notepad.
To do this in Windows, right-click on the wp-config-sample.php file and click Open With, choose Notepad (or another text editor if you have one).
Now look for this section:
There are three parts to change (in bold):
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘database_name_here‘);/** MySQL database username */
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘username_here‘);/** MySQL database password */
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘password_here‘);
Refer back to the data you recorded earlier and change the above fields accordingly.
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘yourcpanellogin_testdatabase‘);/** MySQL database username */
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘yourcpanellogin_test‘);/** MySQL database password */
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘yourpassword‘);
Refer to the image in Step 4 if you’re not sure.
Now double-check this information as this is the place where you are most likely to make a mistake.
When you are happy the information is correct, rename the file to wp-config.php and save it.
Now upload the file to the server.
Phase 4
The next stage is to run the installation file that sets up WordPress.
In a browser, type in your domain name followed by in /wp-admin/install.php (http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php) and hit return.
If you get an error message here read it carefully and take steps to fix it. Common problems include spelling mistakes, not connecting the database and user together, and putting the username in the database name field and vice versa.
If the installation is successful you will see this screen (click the image for the bigger version):
Now fill in each field to complete the installation.
You can change these details, apart from the username, later.
The one thing I urge you to do here is change the username from admin to something more personal. Any WordPress installation using the default username is a target for hackers.
I also recommend unticking the box that says Allow my site to appear in search engines like Google and Technorati. You can change this when your site is set-up correctly (and you’ve installed a plugin to stop unnecessary pinging).
Now click the Install WordPress button and you will see something like this:
Click Log In and you’re done! You have successfully manually installed WordPress on a web server. Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your new site!
