Run WordPress & Other Web Apps with Windows Web Platform

Microsoft has worked to make this easier, releasing the Windows Web Platform Installer.

This lets you install many popular web apps and free tools in Windows with only a few clicks.

This will download very quick, as it is just a small loader.

When you run this loader, it will download the Web Platform Installer files.

After a couple moments, the Web Platform Installer will open and load information about the latest web offerings.

Now you’re free to choose what you want to install.

you could quickly snag the recommended products for several categories such as Web Server, Database, and more.

Alternately, click Customize under the category

and select exactly what you want to install.

Note that items already installed on your system will be grayed out.

Or, for more preset choices, select Options on the bottom of the window.

Here’s the More Information pane for WordPress.

If you’re ready to install it, grab the checkbox.

Now you might go back and add more web apps or tools to the install list if you like.

The Web Platform Installer will now show you everything that’s selected, including components that it automatically selected.

Click I Accept to proceed.

Enter an administrator password for MySQL before the setup begins.

It will also activate optional Windows components that may be needed on your gear.

This may take several minutes, depending on the components you selected and your internet speed.

you’re free to simply accept the defaults or input your own choices, and then click Continue.

Now you’ll need to enter some information for your web apps.

When installing WordPress, you’ll need to choose a database and enter administrative usernames and passwords.

Click Continue when you’re finished.

You’ll need to wait a few more moments as it complete the setup of your web apps.

And you’re finished!

The installer will let you know everything it installed, and if there were any problems.

In our test, Visual Web Developer 2010 Express failed to install successfully.

Now you’re ready to run WordPress from your PC.

tap the Launch WordPress link or enter http://localhost:80/wordpress in your online window to get started.

You’ll only have a little more setup to do on WordPress to get it running.

After a few seconds, you should see a Success!

page with your username and a temporary password.

Copy the password, and then click jump in.

Enter admin as the Username and paste the random generated password, and click sign on.

WordPress will remind you to change the default password.

tap the Yes, Take me to my profile page link to do this.

Enter something easier for you to remember, and click Update Profile.

Now you’re ready to enjoy your new WordPress install on Windows.

Here’s the dashboard running from localhost.

And here’s the default blog running.

Once it’s installed, launch it from your start menu as normal.

It may take a few minutes to load on the first run as it is finishing up setup.

You may notice that the splash screen displayed while the program is loading says For Evaluation Purposes Only.

This is because you still need to register the program.

Click Help in the menu bar, and select Register Product.

Click Obtain a registration key online in the popup window.

You’ll need to sign in with your Windows Live ID, and then fill out a quick form.

Also, from the installer, you could cleanup the setup files downloaded during the installation if you want.

Uninstalling the apps is not as easy, unfortunately.

Link

Download the Microsoft Web Platform Installer