How to install Wordpress on Windows under IIS - Step by Step - Part 1

March 11, 2010 – 11:35 pm

This is an easy step by step tutorial on how to install Wordpress on a Windows Platform and run it under Internet Information Services (IIS).

The first time I tried to get Wordpress running on Windows and IIS, I gave up after a few hours and installed Apache just because I wanted to see how it works. The problem was that all my other sites were already setup and running in IIS. I was even considering using another IP address so I could use port 80 for apache and the other IP port 80 for IIS.

I decided to give it one last shot. I stopped the Apache service and started IIS services. And just like that WordPress was working under IIS. I was convinced that it was still running on Apache but after testing the port it said it was being used by IIS. I had indirectly fixed the IIS problem in the process of installing apache. I did this by installing WampServer.

Before writing this tutorial I went through the step by step process on another machine and was up and running without a problem. I have insert a few screen captures - just click to enlarge them. Also when I refer to paths or files for example “index.php” do not include the “” apostrophes when typing them in.

Let’s get started on Part 1.

BACKUP

Always a good idea to do a backup before installing new software.

Download WordPress
I assume you have already downloaded Wordpress. If not, go to http://wordpress.org. At the time of writing this tutorial I used WordPress Version 2.3.2.

Download WampServer
Download Wampserver - Go to http://www.wampserver.com. WampServer will install PHP, MySQL and Apache all at once. It will also configure the php.ini file for MySQL and WordPress. So you won’t need to change anything in “php.ini”.

Install WampServer.
Install WampServer.
1. Run the WampServer file you have just downloaded and go through the install wizard. It’s a pretty basic install wizard
2. After installation there should be a icon in the system tray. (I looks like a rev counter). If its not there double click the WampServer icon on your desktop.
3. Click the icon in the system tray then click -> MySQL -> Service -> Install the Service. (You might get an error after doing this…. don’t worry it will work after we reboot later.)
4. Again -> Click the icon in the system tray then click -> MySQL -> Service -> Start/Resume Service.
5. Again -> Click the icon in the system tray then click -> Put Online (You might get an error after doing this…. don’t worry it will work after we reboot later.)