TO-DO List I: Setting Up New Blog

Here is one of the to-do list that I owe some blogger. Lately alot of blogger Mommies migrating to their own domain. So far I know at least 3 (done or still doing). And I’ve been getting alot MSN messaging, emails..how to do this n that. So I thought might as well I write it here and share with everyone.

I can vaguely remember how to setup 1 cause I did mine like last year. So happen lately I setup my photoblog, so I took down the steps and some print screen. Hope it helps. I hope I didn’t miss the step.

Disclaimer: This is just one of many ways of setting up. My way. It is not the 1 and only way and it’s not the 1 and only correct way. Use at your own risk, if I did miss any steps, I’m really sorry OK. And some parts I’ll just write quite brief, you should be more bold in playing with it :).

1. Get your domain
OK first thing, you have to get a domain name (your website add, e.g. jazzmint.net). How to register. Look for some hosting co that provides this service. I subscribe mine via Eternal Solutions. Well I don’t get commission from them haha..but so far I find they are quite OK.

The package: FreeBSD Hosting (RM135 – RM100 for space, RM35 for domain name). This is yearly payment.

It’s very cheap…downside is no backup. But OK lah, can DIY backup one hehe.

2. Get some space to store stuff
Notice on top the package includes space. Yup, that’s the one we talking about. Why you need space. Well, I’m sure you rather post your photos to your own site that host it at flickr or whatsoever rite. I paying for 10GB of space…more than enough for a few blogs hehe..
OK so once you got that sorted out, make the payment, bla bla bla…..they will send you email, with some password and what nots. Keep that first.

3. Download WordPress
I use WP to do my posting. Not MT or Pixelpost :P. So go to WP website and download the installation file. Unzip it on your PC.

4. Create DB
Login to control panel via the password given. The link should be blabla.net/cpanel or something like that.

Click on the create DB icon and go create a new DB. Put the name you want it to appear as your blog name..e.g. photoblog, then your blog will be blabla.net/photoblog

Click on create user and create a user for your DB. Whatever name you like (no spacing)

Give access to the user to access the DB (refer to screen) by selecting ALL.

Once that’s done, you will see some funny coding on top of the DB creation page..something like:

Connection Strings Perl $dbh = DBI->connect(“DBI:mysql:jazzmint_x-x-x-blog:localhost”,”jazzmint_x-x-x“,””); PHP $dbh=mysql_connect (“localhost”, “jazzmint_x-x-x“, “”) or die (‘I cannot connect to the database because: ‘ . mysql_error());
mysql_select_db (“jazzmint_x-x-xblog”);

5. Create blog folder and give access
Next, create a blog folder in your wwwroot/public_html folder. Like a subfolder lah. Make sure you change the permission of that particular folder to 777. Save and close.

You can now exit from Control Panel.

6. Configuring config.php
Now, go back to your WP folder, look for wp-config sample.php (something like this name). Open and edit with notepad. You will see likes like this:

define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘jazzmint_x-x-x‘); // The name of the database
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘jazzmint_x-x-x‘); // Your MySQL username
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘x-x-x‘); // …and password
define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’); // 99% chance you won’t need to change this value

This is where you gotta do some work. Those x-x-x values, you have to put in base on what you copied from the control panel earlier when you setup the DB thingy.

Make the changes, go save the file.

7. FTP software
I use Filezilla as FTP, there are alot out there you can get from download.com website. But don’t ask me how to use if you download other FTP software haha…

8. FTP WP to server (Left is your PC, Right is your host server)
Remember you got 10gb space..ahh now it’s the time to use lah. Login to your ftp, again base on the info provided in that email the host sent to you.

Once you are in, you should be able to see wwwroot or public_html. Double click that folder, go to blog (or whatever folder that you created earlier).

Now copy all those php files and folders all into the blog folder. Done.

9. Install WP
Launch your IE or Mozilla, go and type: http://sitename.net/blog/wp-admin/install.php (these steps are available from the WP setup tutorial, just follow oni lah)

It’ll prompt you for username and pwd, key it in…then it will scroll some words let you see, click Next. Done!! Fast eh

Don’t forget to copy down that pwd that wp gave you. You can change it later once you login.

10. Themes
OK so can login, very happy lah..now must put some mekap for the blog. Go google for some WP Free Themes. You can find tonnes of it out there. Choose 1 you like. You can choose alot and then try out. I very itchy, I chose like 10 last time hahaha…

Download all the zip file they give you. Unzip.

Login to FTP again. Go to public_html/blog/wpcontent/themes.

Dump all your theme files here.

Then login to WP, go to presentation, you can see all your themes there. Go have fun yah ;).

Whoa………I don’t believe that I can finish this in 10 steps!!!

So everyone, lets migrate to WP and start your own domain today :).

Any questions, pls drop me email or MSN me off-office hours, as lately my comment box seems to be gila gila…..sometimes termasuk spam and I deleted it *oops*.