How to Install and Configure Zen Cart with XAMPP

Step 1: Install XAMPP

1. Download XAMPP: Ensure that the PHP version matches the version required by your Zen Cart files.
2. Install XAMPP: Follow the installation instructions.
3. Locate the Root Directory:
o After installation, navigate to C:\xampp\htdocs\.
o Place your Zen Cart files in this directory.

Step 2: Start XAMPP Control Panel
1. Launch the XAMPP Control Panel.
2. Start Services:
o Click Start next to Apache.
o Click Start next to MySQL.

Step 3: Set Up the Root Password in phpMyAdmin
1. Open phpMyAdmin:
o In your browser, type localhost.
o Click on phpMyAdmin.

2. Change Root Password:
o Go to the User Accounts tab.
o Find the root (localhost) user and click Edit Privileges.
o Set a new password and confirm.

3.Update Configuration File:
o Navigate to C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin\config.inc.php.
o Open it using Notepad or a PHP editor.
o Locate these lines:
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type'] = 'config';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = '';
o Update them as follows
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type'] = 'cookie';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = 'Your_New_Password';
o Save and close the file.

Step 4: Restart Apache and MySQL
1. Go back to the XAMPP Control Panel.
2. Restart:
o Click Stop and then Start for Apache.
o Repeat for MySQL.

Now go into phpMyAdmin and create the database name.
Once that is completed all is left is to go to localhost/yoursite.com/zc_install
And begin the installation.