Installing PHP and MySQL under Windows XP using the WinLAMP package

(Apache, PHP, MySQL, phpMyAdmin, PHP PEAR library)

What is WinLAMP?

If you want to set up a (development) server to create database-driven websites and web applications in PHP and MySQL you can use the WinLAMP package as a relatively easy way to get started.

WinLAMP installs the necessary software to run a web server and database server on your computer, i.e. the Apache webserver with the PHP module, the MySQL database, the web-based phpMyAdmin database administration tool, and finally the PHP PEAR library that contains a number of useful PHP function that, among many other things, makes working with databases easier and more portable.

However, be aware that this installation opens your computer to a number of security vulnerabilities which is why I strongly suggest that you install a personal firewall software first.

Enabling Windows XP's built-in firewall

• Click on the Windows "Start" button
• Right-click on "My Network Places" and select "Properties"
• Right-click on "Local Area Connection" and select "Properties"
• Click on the tab called "Advanced"
• Place a checkmark into the checkbox "Protect my computer..."
• Press the "OK" button
  

Downloading WinLAMP

• Open a web browser and go to: http://sourceforge.net/projects/winlamp/
• Under "Latest File Releases" click on the "Donwload" link
• Click on WinLAMP02.exe
• Choose one of the download locations and click on the little document icon next to it to start the download
• After the message box pops up click on the "Save" button
• Select "Desktop" and click on the "Save" button

Installing WinLAMP

• Double-click on the WinLAMP02 icon on your desktop
• Place a checkmark into the checkbox for "Apache + MySQL + PHP", "phpMyAdmin", and "Reboot after install"
• Click on the "Next >" button
• Make sure that the text box "Select the folder to install WinLAMP in:" reads "C:\"
• Click on the "Install" button
• After the install has finished a web browser window will open and say "WinLAMP installed successfully"
• On the install screen, click on the "Close" button and then the "OK" button

Configuring WinLAMP

Installing PEAR (The database library etc.)

• Click on the Windows "Start" button, select "Run..."
• Type: "c:\Apache\modules\php\php.exe c:\Apache\modules\php\PEAR\go-pear.php" and press the "OK" button
• After the new window opens, press the "Enter" key
• On the question about "HTTP proxy", press the "Enter" key
• On the question about installation parameters, type "1" and press the "Enter" key
• Type "c:\Apache\modules\php" and press the "Enter" key
• On the question about installation parameters, type "7" and press the "Enter" key
• Type "c:\Apache\modules\php" and press the "Enter" key
• On the question about installation parameters, press the "Enter" key
• On the question about PEAR packages bundled with PHP, press the "Enter" key ("Y" is the default)
• On the question "Would you like to alter php.ini...", press the "Enter" key ("Y" is the default)
• Press the "Enter" key
• The window should close
• Click on the Windows "Start" button, select "All Programs", "WinLAMP", "Apache Restart"

Setting up a password for MySQL

• Open a web browser and go to the web address: http://localhost/phpMyAdmin/
• In phpMyAdmin's main window click on the "Priviledges" link
• On the bottom of the "User overview" table you will see an entry listing "root localhost No..."; click on this line's "Edit" link
• On the newly opened page, under "Change Password", type and re-type a non-trivial password (such as "HDS#jw24"; but DO NOT use this exact one and write the password down so you don't forget it)
• Press the "Go" button
• Close the web browser
• Click on the Windows "Start" button, select "My Computer"
• Under "Hard Disk Drives" double-click on "C:"
• Double-click on "Apache"
• Double-click on "htdocs"
• Double-click on "phpMyAdmin"
• Right-click on the file "config.inc(.php)" and choose "Open With...", Select "Notepad" and press the "OK" button
• Scroll down and find a line that reads "$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = '';" (you may want to use the "Find..." function in the "Edit" menu)
• Modify this line to read "$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = 'HDS#jw24';" (Note: Instead of the password shown here type the one you have defined using phpMyAdmin)
• From the "File" menu, select "Save" and close the Notepad editor
• Open a web browser and go to the web address: http://localhost/phpMyAdmin/
• It should now show the phpMyAdmin user interface without any error message
  

Using PHP, MySQL and phpMyAdmin