Installing Wordpress

From Cheeky Factor

Status: Resolved
Publication date: 2017-12-31
Last edited by: Garyf
Last updated: 2023 - 09 - 3

The problem

I used to be a Joomla! type of person. That was until 2014 when things kept breaking and simply not working. I started using WordPress instead when a company I worked for decided to switch from Joomla! to WordPress. This was really the first experience I had with WordPress, since I have primarily used WordPress with the occasions of using other systems such as MediaWiki, depends what work at the time I have on and what system is required.

To install WordPress, there are two ways of doing this, the easy way, and the hard way (but not that hard). I will go into more detail on the hard way soon, but first I will touch on the easy way.

The resolution

Please note: cheekyfactor.com or the owners of this site cannot be held responsible if things go wrong. You perform these tasks at your own risk.


Device: Server
Operating system: Ubuntu
Software: Wordpress

Guidance for Server, Ubuntu, Wordpress

Easy Install of WordPress

Most hosting providers use cPanel, or something equivalent. As part of cPanel you have Softaculous, find WordPress:

An image of the softalicious section within cPanel
An image of the softalicious section within cPanel

Click on it:

An image of the Wordpress entry on Softalicious.
An image of the Wordpress entry on Softalicious.

Go to the install page, complete the details and install.

A screen showing the install questions that is required for Wordpress on Softalicious.
Install Wordpress using Softalicious

Click on install. Job done.


Device: Server
Operating system: Ubuntu
Software: Wordpress

Guidance for Server, Ubuntu, Wordpress

A harder way to install WordPress, but not that difficult

This is still relatively easier, and WordPress do have an already comprehensive pages on how to install WordPress.

You will need to be able to create databases and have access to the file system.

cPanel database creation

If you are using cPanel you will need to create the database first using the database area:

A panel showing the Database options in cPanel
A panel showing the Database options in cPanel

Click on MySQL® Databases and create a new database:

This shows how to create a new database in cPanel
This shows how to create a new database in cPanel

Scroll down and create a new user:

Create a database user for MySQL
Create a database user for MySQL

Scroll a little further and associate the user with the database:

Assign test user to test database
Assign test user to test database

Click add, and set up the permissions, generally select all:

Database permissions for the user
Database permissions for the user

Make those changes.

phpMyAdmin database creation

If you aren’t using cPanel then you will need to create the database up in phpMyAdmin, navigate to it, in this example localhost/phpmyadmin. You may need to install phpMyAdmin.

Click on the Database tab:

The create database tabe in phpMyAdmin
The create database tabe in phpMyAdmin

Under “create database” give the database a name and create, your database has been created.

Download a copy of WordPress open in archive manager:

Archive manager Wordpress contents
Archive manager Wordpress contents

Using either FTP or Filemanager in your cPanel, or as I am in this instance, navigating using folders:

Empty directory ready for Wordpress files
Empty directory ready for Wordpress files

Extract the files from the archive to the folder you are install WordPress into:

Extract Wordpress into directores
Extract Wordpress into directores

In your browser navigate to your wordpress folder, in this instance localhost/wordpress

This is the initial screen that is displayed when installing Wordpress
Wordpress setup screen 1

Click on Let’s go!

Enter the details of your database confuguration
Enter the details of your database confuguration

Complete the details for your site, then hit submit.

In theory WordPress should be able to create the wp-config.php file, but you may be presented with:

This is a sample wp-config file that can be copied to generate the file. This in theory should be done automatically
This is a sample wp-config file that can be copied to generate the file. This in theory should be done automatically

With this you will need to create the wp-config.php file manually. You can do this in your preferred text editor. Once done, hit Run the installation and complete the information:

Setting up the Wordpress site, this includes your website name and initial admin details
Setting up the Wordpress site, this includes your website name and initial admin details

Setting up the Wordpress site, this includes your website name and initial admin details

You will be presented with:

The screen that you get after Wordpress has been installed.
The screen that you get after Wordpress has been installed.

WordPress is installed. To verify, click on login.

Enter your username and password in the default login screen.
Enter your username and password in the default login screen.

To verify, stick your password in and login. You will be presented with the WordPress Dashboard:

Shows the wordpress dashboard
Shows the wordpress dashboard

Job done.