Manual install on Windows 7 with Apache and MySQL

These are instructions for installing on Windows 7 desktop using individual components rather than a one click installer. This is intended only as a testing/evaluation install via 'localhost'. Proper server configuration and security is not considered.

Step 1: Install MySQL

• Install the MySQL database server on your PC. We will do this using the 'MSI' one-click installer for Windows. Go to http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/ and download the 'MySQL Installer for Windows'. At the time of writing this was from a very obvious graphic at the top of the screen (which I missed the first time).
• Run the installation. Click...
  • Install MySQL products
  • Accept the license
  • Allow the version check (optional)
  • At 'Choose a Setup Type' accept the "Developer Default" and click Next
  • A number of downloads of required software may be identified. Click Execute and follow onscreen instructions to install them.
  • At 'Installation progress' screen, hit Execute - the MySQL software will be installed
  • At 'Configuration overview' hit Next to go to the basic configuration screen.
  • Accept all the defaults on the 'MySQL Server Configuration' and hit Next.
  • On the password screen, supply a password for the 'root' (main administrator) user. Make sure it's one you won't forget. You can also create a 'User' account just for Moodle with more restricted access if you like. This would be good practice on a public server but just using the 'root' user will suffice for testing.
  • On the Service details page, accept the defaults and hit Next and then Next a couple more times for the configuration progress.
  • Click Finish. Job done.
• MySQL Workbench will open. Under Server Administration (right hand column, double click 'Local MySQL56' (or whatever you called it). A box should pop up asking for the root password. Enter the password you supplied
• The server management screen should appear. You don't have to worry too much about this. It just shows the install is working.

Step 2: Install Apache

• Install the Apache web server on your PC.