How to install Drupal 6 on localhost in Windows

In this tutorial we will show you how to install Drupal 6 on localhost in Windows. This is probably the best way   to get started with Drupal and learn it. We will first setup local apache web server using XAMPP followed by installation of Drupal. Drupal is an open source CMS used to make dynamic websites. Just follow the steps listed below.

• Head over   to drupal.org and go to Download & Extend section   from the menu bar as shown below.

• Click on the green download button which indicates   latest release of Drupal and download it.  You will need a zip utility (such as WinRar, 7zip) to uncompress the Drupal   which is by default compressed as tar.gz file.

• Next we need to setup a local web server on our computer   along with PHP and MySQL. For this we will install XAMPP   which includes Apache, PHP, MySQL & phpMyAdmin. Go to   http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html and   download XAMPP for Windows and install it.
     
  

   
   Note: Because of missing or insufficient write permissions   in "C:\Program Files", we recommend to use alternate   folder for XAMPP ("C:\xampp").
   

• Once you have installed XAMPP, you will notice a shortcut for XAMPP Control Panel on desktop has been created; click   on it.

• This will launch the XAMPP Control Panel Dialog   Box. We need to start Apache and MySQL server in order   to run Drupal on the computer. Click on the two start   buttons in front of labels Apache and MySQL   respectively.

• Now before we install Drupal we need to create a MySQL database for it. In order to do this go to phpMyAdmin by   typing in this url - http://localhost/phpmyadmin. On the webpage you will see an option to create a new   database as shown below. Create a new database and name   it as drupal_test.

• We are all set to start with the installation of Drupal.   Create a new folder inside the htdocs folder (C:\xampp  \htdocs) and name it as drupal. Copy all the contents of    the unzipped latest release of Drupal inside this   folder. Now go to http://localhost/drupal from your browser and you will see the   following webpage.

• Click on Install Drupal In English in order to continue. You will get two messages on next screen. Both the   instructions are self explanatory.
• Go to the drupal   folder located in htdocs folder. Now go to sites->all->default and make a copy of default.settings.php   and rename it as settings.php.
• Also create a folder   named files inside the default folder.

• Click on try   again. It will take you to Database configuration page. Enter the database name as drupal_test. In database username and password field enter the username and password of the root user that you must have created during installation of XAMPP. By default for windows, username is root and password is BLANK/NULL. Now click on Save & continue.

• If the all database details provided by you are correct, the installation of Drupal will start and you will see a bar indicating current progress as shown below.

• After the installation is complete you will be directed to the Configure site page as shown below.

• You will be required to enter Site e-mail address and Administrator account details. After you have filled up all the necessary details click on Save and continue.

• You will get a success message as show below :D

• Click on your new site link (as shown in the screenshot above) and you will be directed to the default Drupal homepage. Thats it! Enjoy!

Do post your comments and suggestions.