How to Install WordPress 2.9

WordPress.com Installation
1. Register for a WordPress.com account using your domain name as the 'Blog address' in the first field on the registration web page. At the time of publication, using a .com, .net or .org domain name with WordPress.com is $12 annually for each domain you associate with your account.
2. Change the name servers for your domain name to NS1.WORDPRESS.COM, NS2.WORDPRESS.COM and NS3.WORDPRESS.COM. Make these changes by visiting the DNS settings tab on your user control panel at your domain registrar's website. Allow 72 hours for the new changes to take effect and contact your domain registrar's customer service if additional help is necessary.

3. Log in to your WordPress.com account and choose the 'Domain' option in the 'Settings' tab on your dashboard. Select 'Add a domain' and wait for WordPress.com to verify the name server settings for the domain used during your WordPress.com registration.
4. Return to the 'Domain' web page on the WordPress.com dashboard. Choose your domain name from the list of available domains. Click the 'Update primary domain' button at the bottom left of the web page.
5. Wait 10 minutes and type your domain name in the address bar of your web browser. If the domain mapping is successful a WordPress blog will load.
One-Click Installation
6. Register for a domain name and an account with a web hosting company supporting WordPress one-click installations. Log in to your web hosting cpanel or dashboard and look in the software or services sections for one-click installation software. QuickInstall and Fantastico De Luxe are two popular one-click installation programs. If you have trouble finding the program contact your web host's customer support center.
7. Select your web host's one-click installation software and look for 'Blog software.' Choose 'WordPress' from the list of available blogging software and click 'Continue.'
8. Choose the root folder for your installation. Name an existing folder on your website that you would like to use for your blog, or type a name for a folder you would like the installation program to create. Typing the name 'Blog' will create a 'http://yourdomain.com/blog' web address for your new blog. Leave the field blank to have the blog appear on your main web page 'http://yourdomain.com.'
9. Provide a name, password and email contact for the MySQL database the one-click installation will create during the WordPress installation. This information is necessary for blog security, and some programs automatically generate usernames and passwords. Computer generated user names and passwords are sent to the contact email address.
10. Name your new blog and click the 'Install now' button. If installation is successful a web page providing the WordPress log in address, username and administrative password will load. Print or save this page for your records.
Manual Installation
11. Download WordPress 2.9 from the WordPress.org website. The download is free of charge and will start immediately. Select 'Save file' when the prompt appears. If the download does not start check your web browser's pop-up blocking settings. Unzip the file after completing the download.
12. Check with your web hosting provider to see if a WordPress MySQL is set up for you. If not, select 'MySQL' from your cpanel or dashboard's 'Databases' section. Choose a username and password before selecting 'Create database.' Write down the database name, username, password and host name shown on the next web page when installation is complete.
13. Open the WordPress 2.9 folder and find the 'wp-config-sample.php' file. Use a text editor to open the file and change the username, password and host name to your WordPress MySQL database account information. Rename the file to 'wp-config.php'.
14. Upload the unzipped WordPress 2.9 file to your domain name using your web hosting company's cpanel or dashboard file manager. Alternatively, you may use an FTP manager to upload WordPress to a domain. Place the file into the folder or directory you plan to make your blog. If you want the blog address to be 'http://yourdomain.com/diary' upload WordPress to the 'Diary' folder or directory on your website.
15. Complete the installation by visiting 'http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php' or 'http://yourdomain.com/diary/wp-admin/install.php'. During the installation you will receive prompts to name your blog, choose a username and create a password.