Installing WordPress On Your Laptop
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
If you encounter any issues while installing WordPress on your laptop, we will offer online support through our support ticketing system.
To request help, please send an email to support@flossnet.supportsystem.com.
In your email, be sure to:
- Clearly explain the issue and specify the step where the problem occurred.
- Include a screenshot of the problem whenever possible.
We typically respond within 12 hours, or sooner, after receiving your support request.
Our support, in this instance, is exclusively aimed at the successful installation of WordPress on your laptop.
Introduction
When you install WordPress on your localhost (your own computer), you don’t need hosting or a domain name to start building your website. You’re working completely offline, so you don’t need an internet connection to make changes or design your site. This is perfect if you’re just getting started or want to test things out without putting anything live.
Once your website looks the way you want on the localhost, you can then get hosting and register a domain to take it online. But remember, you don’t need hosting or a domain to begin designing your website.
Because the site is hosted locally on your computer, you can work on it anytime, without needing the internet.
By having Wamp installed you can duplicate your live WordPress website on the localhost. Click here for more information.
The Laptop Prep
- We do not recommend Windows 7 or the use of Internet Explorer.
- Make sure that your Windows is updated before you start this prep. If Windows updates while the course is being conducted, then we will proceed and you may miss out on some modules.
- Do the following to make a screenshot:
- Press PrtSc on the keyboard.
- Open your word-processor and paste the image.
- Save the file according to the name specified in the steps below.
If you use the snippet tool of Windows, ensure that you capture the WHOLE screen and not just part of it.
Installing Windows Visual Code File
- Download the following zip file and unzip it: http://wampserver.aviatechno.net/files/vcpackages/all_vc_redist_x86_x64.zip [100MB]
- Install the files (except the files containing 2008 in the file name) one by one. There might be instances where it will request to repair the file. Repair it.
- Restart the computer.
Downloading & Installing Wampserver
- Download Wampserver using the following link:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/wampserver/files/latest/download [330MB]Click Keep anyway if Windows indicates that the file can’t be downloaded securely. After having done this, you might have to click on the above link again. - Locate the Wampserver file in the Downloads folder and double-click it. Click Yes.
DO NOT COPY THIS FILE TO THE DESKTOP. LEAVE IT IN THE DOWNLOADS FOLDER - Click the OK button for English.
- Click inside the I accept the agreement radio button and then click the Next button.
- Click the Next button for the Wampserver information dialog.
- Click the Next button for the destination location.
- Click the Next button for the components dialog box.
- Click the Next button for the start menu folder.
- Click the Install button for ready to install. Wampserver is now being installed.
- It will show that Wampserver will be used with the Edge browser. If you want to use Edge, click No. You can open Wampserver with another browser.
- Click the No button when it indicates that Notepad will be used as the editor.
- Click the Next button for the Wampserver information.
- Click the Finish button.
- Start Wampserver by double-click the pink shortcut button on the Desktop and then click Yes.
- A green W button will appear bottom right and might hide itself with other icons.
Configuring Wampserver
Implementing the following items in Wampserver may take some time. You might encounter several flashing screens during the process, so please be patient.
Changing PHP Settings
- Click the green Wampserver button which is bottom right and will show the Wampserver menu.
- Point to PHP → PHP settings → post_max_size → Select 32MB
- Point to PHP → PHP settings → upload_max_filesize → Select 32MB
Disabling MariaDB
- Right-click the Wampserver button which is bottom right and click Wamp Settings.
- Click Allow MariaDB. It should be unchecked.
Showing www Directory
- Right-click the green Wampserver button which is bottom right and click Wamp Settings.
- Click Show www folder in Menu
- The option will appear as www directory on the menu.
Making Links Clickable Under Projects
- Right-click the green Wampserver button which is bottom right and click Wamp Settings.
- Click Caution: Risky! Only for experts.
- Click Allow links on projects homepage
Creating a Database
- Click on the Wampserver button and point to phpMyAdmin and then click phpMyAdmin.
- Type root for the username and leave the password field blank/empty. Click the Go button.
- Click the Databases tab.
- Type mywebsite for the name of the database in the Create database textbox. There must be no space in the database name and it must be typed in lowercase.
- Click the Create button. The database name will appear on the left-hand side.
- Take a screenshot and save it as: database.jpg or database.png
- Close the phpMyAdmin tab/window.
Creating a Website Folder
- Click on the green Wampserver button, which is bottom right and then click www directory.
- Create a folder and name it: mywebsite
There must be no space in the folder name and it must be typed in lowercase. - Double-click the folder you have created.
Downloading & Copying the WordPress Files and Folders
- Download WordPress from: https://wordpress.org/download/
- Locate the downloaded file and double-click it. It should be in the Downloads folder and have a name similar to: wordpress-6.6.1.zip
- Double-click the wordpress folder. You should see 3 folders and 16 files. **VERY IMPORTANT**
- Select the files and folders (you can press Ctrl + A or use any other method) and copy the files and folders (you can use Ctrl + C to copy the files and folders or use any other method).
- Paste the files and folders into the mywebsite folder you have created earlier. You can use Ctrl + V to paste the files and folders or use any other method.
- If you don’t see the folder that you created, then click on the Wampserver button, then click www directory, then double-click mywebsite.
- Take a screenshot and save it as: folder.jpg or folder.png
Installing and Configuring WordPress
- Click the Wampserver button and click Localhost.
- Click the name of the website folder you have created under Projects.
- Select English (South Africa) for the language and click Continue. This option might not appear in some instances.
- Click Let’s go!.
- Do the following:
- Type mywebsite for the database name.
- Type root for the User Name. It must be in lowercase and there must be no space after the word.
- Leave the password field as is. There is no password.
- Click Submit
- Click Run the Install
- Do the following:
- Type a name for your website under Site Title which can be your organisation or company name. It is not your web address. You can have spaces, special characters, upper-case and lower-case characters.
- Type admin for the username. When you create your own website, you must never use admin as the username.
- Type flossnet123 for the password.
- Type admin@flossnet.co.za for the e-mail address.
- Click Install WordPress.
- Click the Log In button.
- Type admin for the username and flossnet123 for the password.
- Click Log In
- Take a screenshot and save it as dashboard.jpg or dashboard.png and send it to: support@flossnet.supportsystem.com
- This will confirm that you have installed WordPress suucessfully.
WordPress Login
- Start Wampserver, by clicking the pink W shortcut on the Desktop and then click Yes to start it.
- Click the green Wampserver button located bottom right and then click Localhost.
- Click the website folder under Your Projects.
- Type the username and password and then click Log In.