How to Install and Configure WordPress Blogging Software

Preparing your web hosting account for WordPress
1. Ensure that your web hosting account meets WordPress' minimum requirements of PHP 4 or greater and MySQL 4 or greater. If you intend to use WordPress' built-in, search engine-friendly URL's feature, your web hosting account will also need the 'mod_rewrite' apache module installed. If the minimum requirements are not met, you will have to contact your web host for assistance, or switch hosts.
2. Create a MySQL database for WordPress to use. Some web hosts provide a database manager within the administrator's control panel. Others install third-party database management software such as phpMyAdmin. You may need to consult your web hosting account's user manual or contact your web host's support team for instructions. Note the name of the database.

3. Using whatever method your web host allows to create and modify MySQL databases, create a MySQL user and grant it permissions to access the database you created for WordPress. Note the name of the user and the password.
4. Unzip the WordPress software to a local directory on your PC. Using an FTP program, connect to your web hosting account and upload the WordPress software. If you cannot connect to your server, you may need to contact your web host's support team for assistance.
Installing the Wordpress software
5. Load your web browser and enter the URL where WordPress is installed. The WordPress install program will launch. If you receive any errors, check if you have uploaded all the files to the correct directory and that the correct URL is entered into the web browser. If you are sure you have done both, contact your web host's support team for assistance.
6. If there are no errors, the WordPress automated install program will launch. WordPress will prompt you to fill out a few questions regarding the location of the MySQL server, the database name and the database's user name. You will need to enter the location of the MySQL server. Usually, this is 'localhost.' Some web hosts require a special entry for this field. You may need to consult your web hosting account's documentation, or contact the support team. Enter the database name, the database user name and the database password. If the values you entered are correct, WordPress will successfully install and you will be directed to the administrator creation page. If not, WordPress will display a database connection error. If this occurs, recheck all information and enter your information again. If this does not fix the error, contact your web host's support team.
7. Next, you will need to provide WordPress with an administrator user name. WordPress will automatically generate an initial password. You can change the password later.
8. WordPress is now installed. Check the main page of the blog to ensure there are no errors. Log in to the administrator control panel by entering '/wp-admin.php' without the quotations at the end of your blog's URL. Enter the administrator's user name you created earlier, and enter the password that WordPress provided.
9. You can now begin customizing your WordPress blog! Explore the control panel to learn what each option does.