Hopefully you will have already read my tutorial on how to install XAMPP so you need to ensure it is running before you start.

STEP 1

Using your favorite web browser type in http:localhostphpmyadmin and hit enter, you should see the screen below:

On this screen click “Privileges” from the top navigation menu.

STEP 2

Click “New User”, see image below:

STEP 3

Give your database a username, select “Local” from the dropdown menu, choose a password and re-type it.

Ensure that “Create database with same name and grant all privileges” is dotted and then click GO, see image below, areas circled in red:

TIP – make sure you write down the username and password for future reference!!

STEP4

After the confirmation screen click “Privileges” from the top navigation menu and then click the pencil icon next to the new user/database you have just created, see image below:

STEP 5

Click “Check All” and then click “GO”, see image below:

That’s it, you’re now ready to start using your database!! I hope this helps you get started.

Look out for upcoming tutorials on how to install WordPress, install phpBB, install Mediawiki and more.

INTRODUCTION

Using a local test environment will allow you to make as many websites as you like and experiment to your hearts content! I’m using the term “local test environment”, by this I mean that the websites will be on your computer and not on the internet. This also means that unfortunately next to nobody will get to see the results of your hard work!!

DOWNLOAD XAMPP

First thing you will need to do is download a package called XAMPP. You can download it from here, for this tutorial I’m using XAMPP Windows 1.7.3 (Basic package) and have downloaded the 100MB ZIP file.

INSTALL XAMPP

Once downloaded you will need to unzip (extract) the file and the copy the folder called xampp to your C drive, see image: For this tutorial I’m using Windows 7 but the process is the same for Windows Vista & Windows XP.

RUN XAMPP

Once you have copied the folder to your C drive you will need to start xampp, to do this open the xampp folder and double click xampp-control.exe, see image:

This will then load up the xampp control panel, see image:

You will need to first start Apache by clicking the Start button, and the start MySql by clicking the Start button, when both have started the control panel will look like this:

Once both are running you can close the control panel by clicking Exit, xampp will continue to run in the background.

To test and make sure the installation worked just open up your favorite web browser and type http:localhost into the address bar and you should get the following screen, just choose your language to see xampp demos and security information

CAUTION – installing xampp like this is only recommended for test environments and not for live websites.

TIP – For easy start up I set the xampp-control.exe as a shortcut on the desktop, do do this just right-click on xampp-control.exe in the xampp folder and select Send To/Desktop (create shortcut).

That’s it, you’re now ready to start creating websites!! I hope this helps you get started.

Look out for upcoming tutorials on how to set up a database in MySql using phpMyadmin, install WordPress, install phpBB, install Mediawiki and more.

Below are a couple of videos and photos.

This is how it is supposed to be done

And this is how I did it!!!

I would definitely  recommend to anyone who loves cars and/or driving to give it a go.

Now, off to order a Caterham!!!

Sequel to the smash hit Spartacus: Blood & Sand it is due for release in early 2012 however original star Andy Whitfield has been replaced by newcomer Liam McIntyre due to Andy having to pull out because of illness, (get well real soon Andy!!)

Furthermore, Starz have released a teaser trailer to whet our appetites, a longer trailer is rumored to be coming soon.

In an interview with OnFilm Magazine producer Rob Tapert gave a few insights on what we can expect from the upcoming series, sadly there will only be 10 episodes but we can expect the first episode will have 30 speaking parts and a core cast of 19 or 20, there will also be a more graphic environment and the whole thing will be more expensive to make.

Roll on 2012!!!