Install the MySQL Database Server on Your Windows PC

Databases like MySQL can be tricky to set up. To properly install and configure MySQL on your PC, follow these instructions.

Steps

  1. Log into the computer as an administrator. This will give you administrator rights, which will make the installation smoother. Note that, once installed, the program doesn’t need to be run as an administrator.
  2. Download the free MySQL Server Community Edition. Be sure to download a version that includes a Windows Installer. Save the file on your Windows Desktop.
    • If you’re not sure which version to select, download MySQL Installer for Windows.
  3. Double-click the downloaded file. The installation file comes as a .zip file, so double-clicking it should initiate your unzipping software and take you to an archive folder.
  4. Double-click Setup.exe. (It should be the only file inside your archive.) This will initialize the setup process.
  5. Click Next. This begins the setup.
  6. Click Custom > Next. This will enable you to specify where you want to install MySQL. If you have Apache installed in C:\Server, you will want to install MySQL in the same directory.
    • In the next window, highlight MySQL Server, and then click the Change.
    • In the next window, in the text box Folder Name, change the directory to C:\Server\MySQL\ exactly as it’s written here and then click OK.
    • On the next window, click Next. Now MySQL is ready to install.
  7. Click Install. Wait while the program self-installs.
  8. Click Skip Sign-Up and then Next. Once the installation is complete, you will be presented with a MySQL Sign-Up window. Skip signing up with MySQL for now since you can sign up later if you like. Once you’ve skipped, your new dialogue box should say Wizard Completed.
  9. Configure MySQL. Leave the check box Configure the MySQL Server Now checked and click Finish.
  10. Click Next. This will initialize the configuration setup.
  11. Check Standard Configuration and then click Next. This is the default configuration and is recommended for most users.
  12. Make sure Install As Windows Service and Launch the MySQL Server Automatically are checked, then click Next.
  13. Create a root password. Type in what you want your root password to be and make sure Enable root access from remote machines is checked. Make sure you choose a difficult to guess password and 'write it down so you don't forget it. Click Next.
  14. Click Execute. This will start the MySQL server. After MySQL has done its thing, click Finish.
  15. From the Windows task bar, go to Start > All Programs > MySQL > MySQL Server 4.x > MySQL Command line client. This will open a command window asking you for a password.
  16. Enter your root password and hit Enter. This should initiate the program.

Tips

  • If you want to install the Apache/PHP/MySQL combo on Windows, download the XAMPP package. It contains : Apache, MySQL, PHP + PEAR, Perl, mod_php, mod_perl, mod_ssl, OpenSSL, phpMyAdmin, Webalizer, Mercury Mail Transport System for Win32 and NetWare Systems v3.32, JpGraph, FileZilla FTP Server, mcrypt, eAccelerator, SQLite, and WEB-DAV + mod_auth_mysql.
  • MySQL supports the following Windows platforms: 2003 Server, 2008 Server, XP, Vista, and 7.

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