How to Install WordPress Manually

Installing WordPress as the blogging platform to setup a blog for business, marketing or personal purposes can be difficult, especially a non-web savvy individual. There are basically two ways of installing it. The manual method and the automatic method sometimes called fantastico (one click installation).

This post aim at making you understand the manual method of installing WordPress blog software step by step. Before then, I would want to assume you already know how to register domain name and also, how to host a domain name with a web host. You must have registered a domain name and host it with a web hosting company to get to the stage. These are prerequisite to using wordpress.org. However, we can setup a WordPress blog for you free.

Lets now look at how we can install WordPress blogging program on our site.

Download WordPress software: The first step is to download WordPress software on their official directory to your desktop. It usually come in two forms – DOWNLOAD.ZIP or DOWNLOAD.TAR.GZ. You may download any one preferably the .zip file by clicking on it. A dialog box will emerge, click on save file and the file will be saved on your computer or you can choose the destination of the file on your computer.

Unzip the file: You’ll need to unzip the file before uploading to appropriate server because, the file is in a compressed form. To unzip, right click on it and select ‘extract all’ or ‘unzip’ among the menu options. If you do not see it, that implies your computer does not have the facility. You’ll need to install it by downloading Smuffit Expander or WinZip.

Channel Functionality setup: There are paths or channels through which WordPress unzip folder would be updated and uploaded to the server for effective installation and functionality. For instance, there are two ways by which files or folder can be uploaded to a server.

(i) FTP (file transfer protocol): Set up the FTP account on the cpanel. Though, there are other forms of cpanels, but the most common one is cpanel. Click to watch a tutorial on how to set up FTP on cpanel. You may use any FTP clients like FileZilla, CuteFTP, Cyberduck and SmartFTP. You need to download, install and configure one on your computer for smooth and speedy file transfer and management to your server which otherwise would be very slow.

When setting up FTP client like FileZilla, you’ll need your host name, the username and password used on control panel and the port number. By default, the port number is set at 21. Fill in these information and click on quickconnect if you’re on fileZilla. This will automatically transfer all the files on your website to the right and files on the computer to the left. Click here for flash tutorial on CuteFTP.

Watch a video clip below on filezilla setup

File Manager: It is one of the numerous menu options on cpanel that function as FTP. It can be use to upload files, extract compressed folders or unzip files, download and general file management. To upload file, you must specify where you want to put the file on your server. Click on upload which can be seen among the top menu.

Then, click browse on the new screen displayed. Choose the file you want to upload from your local computer. double clicking it. Click upload and close when upload is completed.

Setup MySQL database on your server: This can be done on your cpanel provided by your web host. You may log in from your web host website or by typing this URL on your browser- http://yourdomainname.com/cpanel or http://cpanel.servername.com and then log in. Click on MySQL and follow the procedure.

a) Create a database: enter a name for your database and click next. Write down this database name. (VERY IMPORTANT) Your cpanel username will consistently be added by default to MySQL setup.
b) Create database user: Type in a username and create a very strong password. Usually, a strong password should contain at least a number and a sign. Click on create user. Write down both the database username and the password. (VERY IMPORTANT)
c) You will see another form where you can assign privileges to the newly created user. If the user is the admin, it is important to grant all privileges. So, click on all privileges and click on next. You’ll see a screen confirming the addition of a user into the database. Watch flash tutorials here.

Update unzip WordPress folder: It is now time to update and furnish the WordPress folder we downloaded and unzipped on the local computer with information that would aid connection and functionality on web server. Firstly, open the unzipped WordPress folder and look for a file named wp-config-sample.php. Open the file to see the content for editing. Ensure you use text editors like notepad or word pad for editing. The file content look like the text below.
// ** MySQL settings – You can get this info from your web host ** //
define(‘DB_NAME’, databasename); replace ‘databasename’ (on this post it’s step 4a)
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘databaseusername’); replace ‘databaseusername’ (on this post it’s step 4b)
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘databasepassword’); replace ‘databasepassword’ ( on this post it’s step 4b)
/** MySQL hostname */
define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’);
Don’t let this intimidate you, what you are looking out to replace are just the following:
databasename;               (generated on step 4a)
databaseusername;      (generated on step 4b)
databasepassword        (generated on step 4b)
localhost.                         (Contact your web host)

The database host name differs from one web host to the other but basically, most of them use localhost. Nevertheless, ensure you find out from your web host. Below are just a few database name of some web hosting company.

Hosting Company	DB_HOST Name ( Value Guess)
AN Hosting	localhost
A Small Orange	localhost
Blue Host	Localhost
Dream Host	mysql.example.com
HostGator	localhost
HostICan	Localhost
LaughingSquid	Localhost
MediaTemple GridServer	internal-db.s44441.gridserver.com
One.com	localhost
Yahoo	mysql
Hosts with cPanel	localhost
Hosts with Plesk	localhost
Hosts with DirectAdmin	localhost
GoDaddy	db.9492532.hostedresource.com

Save File: When you are done, save the file as wp-config.php in the same folder.

Upload Folder to server. Upload this folder either through FTP clients like fileZilla or via file manager on cpanel to your domain server (as explained above).

Where to put the uploaded file: There are two places you can put your WordPress blog file on your server, either in the root directory (public_html) or sub-directory. Oftentimes, I advocate installing WordPress on the root or main directory for reasons of some SEO functions, but if the blog is to serve a secondary purpose on the site or perhaps you intend to manage several websites on the same server, then you should consider installing on a sub-directory.

Install script: To install WordPress placed in the root directory of a server, you’ll type in the browser the following;
http://www.domainname.com/wp-admin/install.php (where domain name is your actual domain name). Your blog will thereafter take up the address; www.domainname.com

For installation on a sub-directory, http://www.domainname.com/subdirectory/wp-admin/install.php (where domainname is your actual domain name and sub-directory the name given for the sub-directory) The actual blog address would be;
www.domainname.com/blog

Install WordPress: After the above process, a form will show up prompting for your blog title and email address. Fill the form appropriately and click on install WordPress button. The next stage generates your admin username and password. Keep this information, because that will henceforth be the log in requirement to access the admin back-end of your WordPress blog.

However, the procedure of installation may differ slightly from one web host to the other, but their is always a guide provided through video tutorials, eBooks or slideshows to help clients push through the process of installation.

Nevertheless, a reputable hosting company with track record of good customer service like godaddy or hostgator are preferred in order to effectively sail through the process of installing blog platforms. However, we can help take this burden off you by allowing us setup a blog just the way you’ve dreamed it.

Contact us now and you’ll be amazed at our pace of service delivery. We don’t stop until you are satisfied because your success is our passion.