second shop on local computer

I am a newbie.
I am attempting to set up a second shop on my local computer to parallel the new one live. (not the old one)

this is what I have done:
the program for ZC is already there with my first shop in place.
I have copied the folder that customizes my cart, from my first shop as we are using that as a base (appearance wise only). Going to delete the product when things get going.
Renamed it to match the new site -as not to get things confused and corrupted I immediately went into the 2 config files and changed the database name, admin name and the shop name.

The database has been created but not poplulated.

Is this ok up till now?
I remeber reading that there should not be two carts within one area.
Not quite sure as to how to get the tables into the new DB uxcept do a BU of the old one and import. Suggestion here?
TIA

second shop on local computer
Hope that you are not attempting to run an operational shop from a local PC?

As long as the carts are in different directories (one in the root and one in /store, for example) and you name the databases differently and make sure the right cart is pointed to the right database, you should be OK. I would back up the original database before installing the new cart, just to be sure.

edit - Sorry, I didn't notice you were installing locally. Should be the same, but I've never done a local installation. so ...

not running this live on my own computer - goodness I am not savy enough for that!

I have both folders(separately) to customize both shops in the htdocs folder. like this.

xamp/htdocs/1st shop/
xamp/htdocs/newshop/

i think I have things figured out up till now - is there a tutorial on how I can copy the database from one to the other. I have already created a BU thru SQL and I have gone into Myphpadmin and there is tabs for export but not import. So it must be a bit more complicated than that.

suggestions?

ok so if I go phpmyadmin
click on the old database (the one to be copied) and
go to operations.
Copy database to:
I can type the name of the new DB
below this
highlight structure and data
also:
add drop table
add auto_increment value ????
but how about add constraints??? and
switch to copied DB????

Am I on the right path??? Or will i screw things up?
TIA

There are FAQ articles on the topic:

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=99
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=100
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=103

Dr Byte
at first I looked at your answer and thought how is this going to help i hve read all these - but with a fresh mind and determination I clicked on all three FAQs and read for the fifth time. Something clicked and the lightbulb when on:clap:

Thanks to everyone who answers these Q?'s for your expertise and knowing how to answer Q? in a way that helps the most!!

mission accomplished!!!