No "green running bar" in control panel

[cmmcwain]

I downloaded and installed XAMPP, everything seems to go just fine until I try and start the service. It says the server is busy and no green running bar indicates next to the service. Can't seem to find any place I went wrong during install. Here is what my control panel looks like.

[JonB]

You don't say what version of Windows, but I am guessing Vista or 7 from the look and feel.

before you try to start Apache, do a port check.

[cmmcwain]

I did & all of them are free. I have uninstalled and installed at least three times to see if it was just something wrong with the install.

installed c:/xampp

made sure when uninstalling that everything was deleted...even the recycle bin before re-installing...

so frustrated right now...lol

[cmmcwain]

Issue fixed

[JonB]

OK, come clean - what was it? LOL

You may save another user a lot of the same frustration...

[cmmcwain]

Oh sorry you are right!

When the install is finished and it gives you a list of things todo... ie go to control panel, relocate files ect. Exit out. Then go to the control panel shortcut on your desktop and run programs. Not sure why this worked but it did, except now after i created the database to install wordpress and then try to install i get a cannot find database error lol

[JonB]

you will have to create a database and user in phpMyAdmin. When you have a hosting compnay that is already done. The WordPress install will create TABLES in that database.

You did make MySQL a service, right?

In my install I called the database user wpcontrol, and granted that user all rights on localhost to that database.

[cmmcwain]

I did all that following this detailed tutorial http://sixrevisions.com/tutorials/web-development-tutorials/using-xampp-for-local-wordpress-theme-development/ but kept getting the same cannot connect error. My main goal is to design a custom wordpress theme for my site http://www.noordinarygurl.com , but I would like to test the theme on my computer before applying it to my site.

I am running Win7

My site is hosted by godaddy on a Linux platform, so I figured xampp would be perfect...but I feel like I am just not getting what the correct procedures are.

[JonB]

If phpMyAdmin works, MySQL itself is probably working right.

I would open up MyAdmin, and use the browse feature to make sure you have the database name correct (there are rules, and you may have broken one) Then use the Privileges tab to see who has rights to that database.

How far did you get in the WordPress installation, or are you doing a mover? In order to get it working, try installing clean rather than transferring and backing up. There are tricks in the WordPress backup & restore process, like URL's that may need to be edited in the database (JonB know from things not working right). If a clean install works, then you know your problem is with fixes in the wp-admin, or MySQL etc.

If you have done a move, this page has bee useful to me:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Moving_WordP ... New_Server

[cmmcwain]

I didnt went i went to install it said could not connect to database. And now i am just more confused than ever. I feel like i need to start back at the begininning. BTW thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I really appreciate it!

[JonB]

Well, I have recommended that page/tutorial before, and it looks to be correct.

can you run /localhost/htdocs/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php?

if so, when does it fail?

When you put in the database name, username and PW (that happems all at once, right?) then you OK it as I recall

its supposed to cook up an admin pw to show you...

[cmmcwain]

I don't even get that far when I put /localhost/htdocs/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php? into the browser, that is where I get the database connection error...I haven't gotten anything past that screen...I feel like a total idiot at this point...lol

[JonB]

have you done the checking in phpMyAdmin?

If it is too much, give yourself a break. I guarantee it works (eventually). The do-it-yourself world is very different than the hosted world, but the good part is you know what all the pieces are at the end. And if you want to be a designer/developer, (they go together in WordPress - its hard to build themes without grokking the code as well) then you have to know how things work.

Good Luck and don't be as hard on yourself as I am on me, LOL.



there should be no question mark at the end of the 'install.php' (that inplies an argument is to follow)

[cmmcwain]

a break might be just the thing I need...gonna work on the mock page and get the exact design down...then go back to the coding part....I can't wait until I reach the coding portion in school...I think that will help a lot as well thanks again!