Setting up Zen Cart on Windows XP using Xampp - a howto

Hi All,
I just purchased the book and got started yesterday. Actually, I have a zen store up and running, but it is version 1.3.6. I didn't test it on my local machine prior to having it on a live server. It was on a subdomain and nothing was linking to it until I got it up and running. Anyway, I now want to upgrade to a newer version and am wanting to try out some more 3rd party mods, so I want everything running perfectly prior to replacing my old store with the new one. So, I downloaded and installed the version of xampp that was suggested, but can't get it working right. When I go in the xampp control panel, the only thing running is filezilla. I can get mercury to run, but am unable to get apache or mysql to run when I click on the start button. I'm guessing that either something else is using the needed ports or they are blocked, but don't know how to check if that is the problem or how to change it if that is the problem. I'm running window xp sp2 and have the windows firewall running. Any help would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks,
Melissa
http://store.equineshop.biz

saddlebred:

I downloaded and installed the version of xampp that was suggested, but can't get it working right. When I go in the xampp control panel, the only thing running is filezilla. I can get mercury to run, but am unable to get apache or mysql to run when I click on the start button. I'm guessing that either something else is using the needed ports or they are blocked, but don't know how to check if that is the problem or how to change it if that is the problem.

Chuck posted something in post #34 of this thread which might be of some help, if you're running Skype on your computer:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpost.php?p=403570&postcount=34

Wow, I am so glad I found this post!

chuck:

Some folks might have trouble getting XAMPP running if they have Skype installed and active.

Skype often uses port 80 for incoming connections. This can be changed:
Tools->Options->Advanced->Connections.
Uncheck the box next to "Use port 80 and 443 as alternatives for incoming connections".
Then click Save, and then quit and restart Skype before trying to start Apache in XAMPP.

I do have skype installed. When I did the above, skype wanted me to tell it another port, but I wasn't sure what to tell it. Anyways, I don't think this is my problem, because I signed out of skype and still can't get apace or mysql to start. I also tried disabling the Windows friewall and couldn't get it running either.
Melissa
http://store.equineshop.biz

Mail.....

Have been using XAMPP in test environment for a month or so and it is great.

Just received 'the book' and following it chapter for chapter....

Stuck at P38 Configuring Mercury Mail

I have made all the changes so far to use a domain instead of local host but when I configure mercury ALL my domain names goto a screen titled Mercury List not XAMPP front page.

?

If your windows machine is running Vista, turn off the user access control when installing xampp. Certain components of the install won't load if the user access control is on.

I ran the port checker and found that IIS admin was using the 80 port. I disabled this and got apache loading. now just to figure out why when enabling mercury I can't load my XAMPP main screen.

In case anyone is getting this problem when using Mercury/apache for testing local development - using XAMPP 1.6.5

Mercury runs a http webmail called MercuryB in later versions, this uses port 80 to listen for http. If running apache as well mercury overrides.

Change MercuryB Port in mercury.ini to port 85 ish.

ALFO

Thanks. I was having that problem and your solution worked.

I think apache isn't running for me? Only MySQL service says "running" next to it on the control panel. If I type in localhost/xampp I get page not found. I'm confused! I installed xampp on my second partition, D:\xampp, if that makes a difference?

As mentioned before run Portchecker and check what it says is using Port 80.

If anything but Apache is using it then it will not start.

AHHH I didn't see that....says inetInfo.exe is using port 80....

I turned off IIS Admin in the Computer Services page - not saying another program might eventually have a problem with this but.....- freed up the port.

I had to stop IIS as well...I'm also running MicrosoftPOS that runs it's own SQL server. I have to pause that to work on the test site, or things get a bit wacky...

DrByte:

XAMPP is never intended to run a live server. Your choice to do so is contrary even to apachefriends.org's recommendations to avoid such use.

Nevertheless, if you want CURL support, just enable it in your php.ini.
And SSL as well.

Since you're going to ask "how", just uncomment these lines:

;extension=php_curl.dll
;extension=php_openssl.dll
...so they look like this:
extension=php_curl.dll
extension=php_openssl.dll

I am back with ZC after a long absence and re-learning ZC.

I did both of the above on localhost to try to get rid of the error messages, and they still appear.

Anything I can do?? (I don't absolutely need curl on localhost, I would just like to know how to make this work!!)

Thank you, Tom

I got ZC working just fine by setting the various IIS services to manual and stopping them before installing the most current Xampp.

No other issues with the ZC install other than the above-mentioned Curl thing.

:) tom

After much confusion and hair pulling ................

............Click "Save Database Settings " and you should see all the pretty ~'s scrolling across the screen.

Till here all things goes well even i got error "CURL not compiled into PHP - notify server administrator' after i accept license.

Till system setup it is working but when i comes on phpBB setup, i choose "Choose whether you want to use the phpBB forum or not" with "no" options and click on "save phpBB Settings"

After that i i just see blank page, and i am not able to setup store setup.

Please help !.

I am runing Xampp 1.5.1 in windows xp sp-2

Hi,

I have followed the wonderful steps in installing the zen cart, but I am running into an issue. I get the following message when I type the address http://localhost/zencart/ into my explorer:

Hello. Thank you for loading Zen Cart™.
You are seeing this page for one or more reasons:
This is your first time using Zen Cart™ and you haven't yet completed the normal Installation procedure.
If this is the case for you, you will need to upload the "zc_install" folder using your FTP program, and then run zc_install/index.php via your browser (or reload this page to see a link to it). Not Sure how to do this as when I try to load the index.php in the browser it opens dreamweaver with a blank document

Your /includes/configure.php and/or /admin/includes/configure.php file contains invalid path information and/or invalid database-connection information.
If you recently edited your configure.php files for any reason, or maybe moved your site to a different folder or different server, then you'll need to review and update all your settings to the correct values for your server.

I have downloaded a few version of Zen Cart and can't find the file configure.php in the admins folder are anywhere. It seems to be missing.:lookaroun Any suggestions?

Thanks Peter

Peter-

Type in http://localhost/zencart/zc_install/. That should bring up the install screen and just reinstall zencart.

Dear Zenners,

i have been searchin for the ans for motnhs!!! and i finally found it here!!!!
however while i was installin zen cart, it says i do not have 'curl' will that be an issue?

also, what is my DB's password and user name as I did not create it in xampp under phpadmin?