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How To : Install Your WordPress (self-hosted)

For the last few weeks, I have been installing WordPress (self-hosted) for so many times. I received some script errors and sometimes I can’t get through inside my administration panel. What’s the cause? Maybe, due to installing lots of plugins without knowing if all of them will work or compatible with the theme that I am using.

Anyway, that’s ain’t my purpose in writing this post. I just like to share my own ways/steps in installing WordPress (self-hosted) in order to have a clean and organize installation of your WordPress.

Steps:

1. Sign-up on a free web hosting service provider e.g. 000webhost.com or a paid domain/hosting (much better if you have).
2. Download WordPress or download it directly from my website.
3. Extract the downloaded zip file of WordPress to your computer. (the folder name should be “wordpress”). Hold on, we will go back to this step.
4. Login into your host cPanel and create a database/username/password for your WordPress. If you’re done, open Notepad and copy all details including database name, username, password and host address. (For a paid hosting, you won’t need the host address anymore)
5. Now, let’s continue on Step #3, open wordpress folder. Find the file, wp-config-sample.php then open/edit it using your own HTML editor program (Dreamweaver or Notepad).
6. You should see something like this:

// ** MySQL settings ** //
define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘putyourdbnamehere’);    // The name of the database
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘usernamehere’);     // Your MySQL username
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘yourpasswordhere’); // …and password
define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’);    // 99% chance you won’t need to change this value

7. From your Notepad, input the correct details or you may use copy&paste technique. Again, for paid hosting, you won’t need to edit (DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’); This is already provided by your host.
8. Next, open your web browser and visit this site http://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/
9. Copy everything and replace the following:

define(‘AUTH_KEY’, ‘put your unique phrase here’); // Change this to a unique phrase.
define(‘SECURE_AUTH_KEY’, ‘put your unique phrase here’); // Change this to a unique phrase.
define(‘LOGGED_IN_KEY’, ‘put your unique phrase here’); // Change this to a unique phrase.

10. Last, in order to have your private and secured database table prefix, change the prefix ‘wp_’; into your own. (Recommended)

$table_prefix  = ‘wp_’;   // Only numbers, letters, and underscores please!

ex: $table_prefix = ‘nme123_’

11. Save the file as “wp-config.php” (this is the default wp-config.php file of your WordPress).
12. Now, everything is set, you may upload all files under wordpress folder into your host root folder (e.g. public_html) and not on the main folder of your host or else it won’t work. Use an FTP application/software to gain fast upload.



13. After uploading all of your WordPress files into your host, from your web browser, type the following:

http://your_domain_or_host_name/wp-admin/install.php

ex: http://www.jhaygamba.com/wp-admin/install.php

14. An interface with a BLOG NAME and EMAIL will appear. Kindly fill up the information to finished the installation. Leave the line “Google search blah blah” checked. Be sure you use the correct email, this will be going to be your default blog email. If you receive an error, or cannot install WordPress, go back to Step 6 & 7 then overwrite “wp-config.php” in your host.
15. Once installed, it will give you a temporary login information to gain access to your WordPress administration page. You can modify it later.

Username     admin
Password     V!uLX0p&rRBa

16. After logging in to your admin page, go to your profile page or by clicking “admin” on the top right portion. This is your profile page.
17. Fill in the information and type new/confirm your password. Click “Update” if you’re done.
18. Click on Settings > General, fill in the Blog title, Tag line, Time Zone (if you’re from Philippines set it to UTC+8) and starts the week on Sunday. Click “Update”.
19. Next, click on Settings > Permalinks. Choose any settings of your choice (except default) by clicking on the radio button. Or you can make your own structure. To see all structure tags click here. If you’re done, click “Save Changes”.

Note: Some web hosting .htaccess file are not writable, mostly free web hosting. Make sure your .htaccess file is writable in order for Permalinks to work properly. You can make .htaccess writable by changing its attribute from 644 to 755/777. Use your FTP or host file manager to do this. If you don’t see any .htaccess file, make one.

20. After that, click on Plugins, then activate Akismet. It will ask your API key, to get this you must have an account on WordPress.com. Once you have the key, copy&paste it in your Akismet configuration page, click the checkbox saying “Automatically discard spam comments on posts older than a month.” then save (Update Options).
21. Voila! We’re already done. But there’s much more. If you notice, you can’t change your username “admin” on your profile page. Why? Because it’s permanent and it’s already in your database. To do this follow these steps: (For Experienced User Only)

• Login to your host cPanel
• Click phpMyAdmin
• Click Databases
• Open your WordPress database
• On the left, you will see list of your database table. Find ‘wp_users’ or ‘nme123_users’
• On the right, click Browse tab.
• Edit admin by clicking on the pencil icon. Then change the user_login value from admin to your desired value. It could be numbers. Cool eh?
• Click Go if you’re done.
• Now, login to your WordPress using your own username and password.

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