Starting Joomla

Once you have bought your Hosting & domain and created your folder attached to that to domain, then you begin uploading Joomla. Joomla is different than WordPress, Joomla you do not have to modify any code before uploading the zip file. You can get Joomla secure zip file from http://www.joomla.org/. Please notice the .org. Joomla publishes new versions all the time. I find that Joomla 2.5 is the most stable version, plus you have to be careful with new versions. The versions still has bugs and most plugins/extension/templates will not be compatible with the newest version 3.0. With the most stable version 2.5 you can always upgrade to the newest version right from your admin panel. Joomla has not always been that way. If you are working with Joomla 1.5 then there is a whole process in upgrading to the newer versions.

I suggest you Download Joomla! 2.5.x http://www.joomla.org/download.html Once you have it downloaded it will be in a folder. On a Mac you would right click and click compress. On a PC I'm not exactly sure but you have to compress it into a .zip file. In order to install it must be a zip file. Also your MYSQL database must have already been created and active. I have had problems before when my MYSQL database was not ready I had to do it all over again.

Ok so MYSQL is ready and you know your username & passwords for your MYSQL, then you are ready for the upload. If you are in your File Manager then you can go to your public_html folders, choose the folder that is connected to the domain that you want to start your new site with and upload. Click the folder so it's open, then click upload. The upload will open your files in your computer. Choose the Joomla zipped file. Then ok- to upload. Once the file is uploaded then you have to extract or unarchive depending your File Managers terminology. Once the files are extracted, then you must select all the files and take them out of the original folder. Move them to the main folder. You can always delete the generic Joomla folder that the files came in on. Now go to your browser and type in your domain. www.yourdomain.com it should take you to an install page, here is where you have to put in the MYSQL database information.
You create the user name and password for your admin panel. Everyone says do not use the standard "ADMIN". Not a good idea.
With Godaddy you have to use the real Host name, with Cpanel I use "localhost"
If you have problems with this please contact your hosting company because they are the only ones who know what that should be, Hosting companies can be very different in some things.
Ok so once you have piyt in all the main username & passwords click install, then follow the rest of the directions.

Once everything is set up then you can go back to your domain www.yourdomain.com and you should see the homepage.If you type in www.yourdomain.com/administrator then you can put in your username and password to get to the admin panel.
In the Admin panel you can now start to upload your templates, extensions, components, plugins etc...
You can also start to create your menus, articles, and categories.

#1 Joomla Template Generator. Instantly create great looking and professional Joomla Templates.