WAMP Stack Setup

SET UP APACHE MYSQL AND PHP ON WINDOWS MANUALLY

This guide provides a step-by-step manual installation of the WAMP stack in a custom directory (e.g., D:/localserver/).

APACHE SETUP STEPS

1. Download: Get Apache 2.4 from the official archives.

2. Extract: Locate a directory and extract there (Recommended: D:/localserver/).

3. Configure Root: Update httpd.conf found in %PATH%Apache24/conf:

   • Define SRVROOT "D:/localserver/Apache24"

4. Locate Path: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and navigate to: D:/localserver/Apache24/bin/

5. System Path: Win + S -> Search "Environment Variables" -> System Variables -> Click "Path" -> New -> Add D:/localserver/Apache24/bin/.

6. Install Service: Run the following command in the admin CMD:

   httpd -k install

   • 6.1 If it fails to qualify the domain name (server reliability):
   • 6.2 Open httpd.conf.
   • 6.3 Find and replace #ServerName www.example.com:80 with ServerName localhost or ServerName localhost:80.
   • 6.4 Save and restart Apache: httpd -k restart.

7. Start Service: Run services.msc (Win + R) and start the Apache2.4 service.

8. Port Conflicts: If you encounter a port error, update the port in httpd.conf on the line: Listen 90

PHP SETUP STEPS

1. Download: Download the PHP 8.3.4 Thread Safe Compiled Zip file.

2. Extract: Place the extracted file in the same folder as Apache24 (e.g., D:/localserver/) and rename the folder to php-8.3.4.

3. Initialize: Rename the file php.ini-development to php.ini.

4. Environment Variables: Add PHP to the system environment variables. You can use the setx command in an Administrator Command Prompt or via PC > Properties > Advanced System Settings > Environment Variables:

   setx path "%PATH:D:\localserver\php-8.3.4;=%" /M

5. Link to Apache: Open Apache's httpd.conf and append the following:

   LoadModule php_module "D:/localserver/php-8.3.4/php8apache2_4.dll"
   <FilesMatch \.php$>
       SetHandler application/x-httpd-php
   </FilesMatch>
   # Configure the path to php.ini
   PHPIniDir "D:/localserver/php-8.3.4"

6. Restart: Restart the Apache2.4 service via services.msc.

MySQL SETUP STEPS

1. Download: Download the MySQL 8.2.0 installer from the archive section.
2. Installation: Select Full installation.
3. Configuration: Choose Dev computer or Server for the Config Type.
4. Authentication: Select Legacy mode (Retain MySQL 5.x compatibility).
5. Security: Set your root password on the "Accounts and Roles" screen.
6. Start: Start the MySQL82 service by opening services.msc (Win + R). Note: If you encounter existing version conflicts, resolve this by changing the port to 3340 (X Port: 33090).

Resetting MySQL Password

1. Save the following code in a text file named mysql-init.txt and save it to a location (e.g., D:\):

   ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'swordfish';

2. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run these commands:

   cd "%PATH%\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.2\bin"
   mysqld --init-file=D:\\mysql-init.txt

phpMyAdmin SETUP STEPS

• Download: Get phpMyAdmin 5.2.1.

• Extract: Place in %PATH%/Apache24/htdocs/.

• Set Index: Update httpd.conf to prioritize .php (found in dir_module):

  <IfModule dir_module>
     DirectoryIndex index.php
  </IfModule>

• Update php.ini: In D:\localserver\php-8.3.4\php.ini, locate and update:

  extension_dir = "ext"
  extension="D:\localserver\php-8.3.4\ext\php_mysqli.dll"

• Auth Configuration: Open config.inc.php in the phpMyAdmin directory:

  $cfg['Servers'][$i]['user'] = 'root';
  $cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = 'your_password'; // Password you set earlier
  
  // If you encountered MySQL version issues and used a different port:
  $cfg['Servers'][$i]['host'] = 'localhost:3340';