I’ve created the Visual Guide to Installing WordPress for the Complete Novice because the tutorials and guides I’ve seen just haven’t shown as much detail as I think a person new to installing WordPress would like to see. Please note that this is the method I use. There are different situations, hosts, operating systems, and personal preferences for different people, so this guide can’t possibly cover it all, but I hope it helps.
Also, this guide assumes that you are using Windows XP and are uploading your files with an FTP (file transfer protocol) program to your hosting provider. This is what I use, so that is what the photos will reflect.
Step One: Creating a Database for WordPress
Create a database for WordPress in your hosting account
Now, this may not be the best way to start a tutorial on how to install WordPress, but this first step is totally up to you, because you’re the one who’s most familiar with your hosts administration features. The good news is that most hosts make this pretty easy and most certainly have the required instructions readily available if you’re not quite sure how to set up a database. The important part are the settings you’ll need after the database is created. You’ll need the Host Name, Database Name, Username, and Password. Soon, we’ll be telling WordPress this information so the installation script can create the tables that Wordpress needs inside the database you’ve created. Here’s a screen shot from within my hosting administration area that shows me the settings I’ll need.
58 Comments
Wow! Thanks for such a detailed post, I will give it a shot!
Donate Pennies’s last blog post..Make a Commitment Against Prejudice
Readable and educative post for novice and always something to pick of for everyone.
I have my blog at a web hotel and a friend of mine installed WP there. I use WP 2.2.1 and are thinking about updating, but not sure if I dare
Btw: your on my blogrool now and I faved you at Technorati too.
RennyBA’s last blog post..A culinary feast at Restaurant Eik in Oslo
@ RennyBA,
Thank you for commenting, I’m glad you found this helpful. As far as upgrading your WP install…you really should update to the latest. Maybe that should be the next tutorial written here?
If you need help or advice on this, feel free to contact me. Thanks also for the add to the blogroll, I’ve added you to mine as well here: http://wordpressmodder.org/resources
Great piece, especially for me who is relatively new to wordpress.
Sweet tutorial, just what I have been looking for.
@ Bubblia,
I’m really glad it helped! Stay tuned for more tutorials and theme releases.
Great tutorial! I recommend wordpress to all of my seo clients. Its nice to have a resource like this to give to them so they can see how easy the process is.
Oh thank you! This is so awesome. I want to install another one and since I didn’t do my first one, I am clueless. This is a great outline. I will bookmark this for you!
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@Tampa Blog,
Thanks, I’m glad I could help:) I will be contacting you via your blog…
I was wondering, do you know how to make wordpress show the code for the paragraphs in the HTML section of the posts?
Jason’s last blog post..Color Wheel Pro
@ Jason,
I’m using this plugin to display code in my posts:
http://thislab.com/2007/12/16/release-wordpress-plugin-syntaxhighlighter-plus/
There are many out there that will accomplish this, but I’ve found this one to work best for me.
Hope that helps!
Thanks. It was very useful.
WMGrounds’s last blog post..101 Ways to increase traffic to your website
Thank you for this great tutorial. We all here at the graphic designer room of Action Printing, Inc. enjoyed this very much.
yeah good tutorial it might come in handy if i am going to move from blogger to wordpress
susans home’s last blog post..Champions of Europe – bet365 Casino
This is indeed a great tutorial. So many new bloggers are still lost. What a cool way to help them.
Monica Boston’s last blog post..30 year mortgage interest rates remain unchanged
@ Monica,
Thanks, I try to do what I can to help because we were all noobs at some point;)
You (or the other readers here) may also be interested to know that I’ve built a project that makes it even easier for new bloggers to get up and running. It’s called IndieLab and you can learn more here http://indielab.org
Thanks for the comment!
Thanks a lot for this tutorial. Now I can install it on my friend’s hosting.
Vikas’s last blog post..Block TCP/IP ports to increate system security
Wordpress is far more than a blog. With all kinds of plugins and themes, it is a CMS now. It’s nice to know that millions of people are contributing and trying to make Wordpress a better platform. I strongly recommend Wordpress to everyone.
gfxstuff’s last blog post..Pinnacle Studio Ultimate v12 Multilanguage Final
Hi, very nice tutorial. I was wondering, do you have a tutorial on how to restore wordpress data bases as well? It’s great that WP is so automated now when you create a new blog, but what happens when you’re changing hosts and you want to restore your blog?
Thanks!
Print and Stitchs last blog post..Get High Tech With Customized Electronic Mouse Pads
@Print and Stitch,
Sorry, I don’t have a tutorial on restoring databases, but you might want to try some of these links…
http://codex.wordpress.org/Restoring_Your_Database_From_Backup
http://technosailor.com/2007/04/06/wordpress-faq-how-do-i-move-my-blog-to-a-new-host/
this was really helpful
thanks
antalya travels last blog post..OLYMPOS and ÇIRALI
Thank you for another great posting. I going to get off my but and upgrade to 2.6.
Thanks for the tutorial! Wordpress 2.7 is coming out soon, hopefully they make it a bit easier to install!
Very nice tutorial, thank you. It was very helpfull especially for a newby like me. In my opinion creating and setting up the database information is the most difficult part.
I wish i had come cross this guide a while back. Nevertheless it helped clear things out.
greek bookmarkss last blog post..Social Bookmarking and Tag Clouds-Is it going to Rain?
Definitely the best step by step instructions on installing Wordpress. Very clear instructions. Thanks for this!
You’re welcome Victor. I’m really glad I could be of assistance:)
Thanks for this tutorial! You make it look very simple and easy!
Voos Baratoss last blog post..Voos Baratos e Low Cost
Great article, especially for me who is relatively new to wordpress.
I like the wordpress instalation: “expected more steps ? sorry”
I have more than 5 wordpress blogs but believe it or not, I have never installed it. I use hosting with Fantastico Deluxe script installed. It allows me to install any blog engine and many other scripts including Joomla and Mambo in unsder a minute. =)
Surely, anyone can install in a minute with fantastico software but beware that correct choice of database language is important. You don’t want your wordpress being installed in Swedish language set as default in most such scripts
I prefer custom installation.
Best Antalya Hotelss last blog post..Antalya Delphin Palace Hotel Lara
This is a very good tutorial. It would be very helpful for first-time bloggers who are just getting started. Thanks!
I referred a customer to this post to help him learn to do this on his own. thanks so much for the post!
Great tutorial. Is there any script out there that can install it automatically? Like with Joomla. I don’t need to install it by myself. I just upload a small script to my server and the script make all the job.
@Rami,
Thanks for the comment, although I’m not aware of a script that does exactly what you describe, I wouldn’t be surprised if it existed.
On the other hand, there are many hosts that will install WordPress for you as well.
A very nice tutorial. There are some auto installers but surely it is better to know the process step by step. Thanks
rus arkadass last blog post..Beautiful Blonde Anna from Ukraine Nikolaev
I’m setting up a blog right now, this is definitely useful! Thanks!
Doesn’t fantastico install Wordpress for you? For those who don’t know, it’s part of cpanel management.
Nice guide since I am scared installing Wordpress on my other host that does not have cPanel/Fantastico. I usually just use the installer found in Fantatstico. But I found a cheaper host not running on cPanel at omnidomain.net They have no cPanel but has a cheaper hosting rate. Thanks for the guide. If ever we encounter problems, I might post my questions here and hopefully I can get an answer in a timely manner. Are you open to consultation?
Great post! I recently just signed up for a new host and got one without Fantastico and the one click install equivalents! Ouch! I can’t blame anyone but myself on that. Thanks for this guide because I was having serious headaches trying to figure out the install, it seems that I was messing up the database.
I think it is important to say that a wordpress blog installed within your normal website may do better than one outside of it
http://www.your-seo-services.co.uk/seo-services-leeds.php
lyndon ogdens last blog post..Using Articles for SEO
Great tutorial! I love wordpress and I recommend to all of my friends.
Thanks.
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Radboxs last blog post..BlackBerry 7130c User Guide
Hey, great post there! Im first time here visited your blog, definitely will visit back later, keep it up
There is also a massive market for this with Drupal. Not as popular but under dodumented.
SEO Leeds
lyndon ogdens last blog post..Don’t fall for the SEO Tricksters
thank you
Hotel e Residence Bari
Nice visual guide for installing wordpress, this exactly what i’m looking for. Perfect for the aspiring blogger who are new to this CMS. Thanks
Yeah, If you can install it you better can not use this software. It is so simple. the only thing you have to know is that you have to change the permissions when you want to redesign you templates.
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