Install XAMPP on Windows

The Windows XAMPP download package is a very useful software package for web developers creating and working with dynamic websites based in PHP and MySQL. This is a critical tutorial for first time users of XAMPP in a Windows operating system environment. Note: If you are using the Ubuntu distribution of Linux and planning to install XAMPP, you can read this tutorial: Installing XAMPP on Ubuntu.

Getting started with XAMPP for Windows:

1. Download the installer here: http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html

As of February 2011, the latest released version is XAMPP 1.7.4 for Windows. Make sure you click the “Installer” package (file size is around 66MB).

See the screenshot below:

2. Take note of the MD5 checksum of the XAMPP install file you are downloading -- you will need it in step four. For example, the MD5 checksum provided on the download page is:

84d88cb5b9471dd8d1d7b7952df9c2bf

3. Download an MD5 checksum checker in Windows -- I suggest using http://www.winmd5.com/ -- and install the software.

4. Check to ensure the MD5 Checksum is correct:

Double click WinMD5.exe. In the select file, browse to the downloaded XAMPP installer package (e.g. xampp-win32-1.7.4-VC6-installer.exe) and click open. WinMD5 will automatically calculate the MD5 checksum of the downloaded XAMPP installer. Now compare this with the one provided on the XAMPP page (the one you took note of in step two). Paste it into the original MD5 checksum textbox. Then click “Verify.” It should match. See the screenshot below:

The purpose of an MD5 checksum is to check the integrity of the Windows installer to make sure it is not corrupted during the downloading process.

System Requirements:

The installation steps outlined in this tutorial have been tested to run successfully on Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 and 32-bit versions of Windows. To determine whether you are running on a 32-bit or 64-bit Windows system, you can read the tutorial located at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218.  Always remember to keep your Windows system up to date.

XAMPP Windows 1.7.4 contains the following bundled Apache/MySQL and PHP versions:

• Apache 2.2.17
  
• MySQL 5.5.8
  
• PHP 5.3.5
  
• phpMyAdmin 3.3.9

Most content management systems, such as Wordpress -- which runs on PHP and MySQL -- now have system requirements of at least PHP 5 and MySQL 5. This means that the latest XAMPP installer is up-to-date and lets you run these applications in your XAMPP localhost without any incompatibility issues.

Installing XAMPP

Now that we have completed the preparatory steps for downloading and checking your Windows XAMPP install, let's actually begin the installation process.

1. Close all open applications in Windows (e.g. browser, Office applications, etc.).

2. Double click the XAMPP installer (e.g. xampp-win32-1.7.4-VC6-installer.exe).

3. Click run and select language. In this tutorial, we will use English as the installer language.

4. You will then see the Setup Wizard of XAMPP. Click next.

5. The setup wizard will ask you where to install XAMPP. If your system drive is Drive C (the main system drive where the Windows OS is installed), the destination folder should be C:\xampp

6. You will then be asked to configure the installer. Check the following:

• Create an XAMPP desktop icon.
  
•  Create an Apache friends folder in the start menu.
  
• Choose to install Apache as a service.
  
• Choose to install MySQL as a server.
  
• Choose to install Filezilla as a service.

7. Click “Install.”

XAMPP will then extract all content from the installer package and start the installation process. This may take some time, so be sure not to interrupt the installation process. When you see the message: "XAMPP 1.7.4 has been installed on your computer," click Finish.

Let XAMPP check the ports in your computer; if Windows Firewall is running on your XP or Windows 7 system, it will likely throw some warnings. Just click "Unblock" when asked.

When you see "Service installation finished! Hint: Use the XAMPP control panel to manage services," click OK.

If there are no major errors reported during the installation, you should see "Congratulations! The installation was successful! Start the XAMPP control now?" Click "Yes" and start the Windows XAMPP services. You should then see the XAMPP control panel as shown below: