WampServer step by step

WampServer is a software allows you to create development environment using PHP, Apache Server, MySQL, phpMyAdmin and some other useful add-ons. It facilitates you to install and manage different versions of PHP, Apache Server and MySQL database under single roof. Download the current version from its official website i.e. http://www.wampserver.com/

Whole article is moved to WampServer - Tips and techniques

Which operating system suits you

This article is written for newbies, who are totally new for computer operating

As we all know, due to tough competition many companies has introduced their own operating systems. They present dozens of features and claims that their operating system is best for you. All these things makes you quite confuse.

Many students and friends asked me which operating system should be used.

Remember one thing that the function of the operating system is just to manage your computer hardware resource and provides you certain services which helps you to operate home and office works. Nearly all operating system offers these services, its up to you which really suits your requirements. Plus ... operating system depends on your hardware profile. So you should contact your software vendor to ask minimum hardware requirements for you.

One time my student asked, "Sir I searched every where but unable to find an operating system having a player like one you installed on your computer.", I laughed and replied, "My dear this software is not coming with any operating system, you have to download and install it directly from its website." So remember; operating system not facilitate you with all software you want; you have to get your desired software copy from media like disc or website.

If you are working at small office or just working at home; not a technical person you are and you don't care about little technical mishaps as well as your budget is low (cannot afford heavy and fast computer) and if your requirements are

• preparing office documents, presentations, spreadsheets.
• disc writing and printing.
• using single computer (not working over network).
• multimedia (songs, videos).
• internet surfing (watching videos, checking emails, chatting, general web visits).

I suggest you to use Windows XP Home Edition (Microsoft announced that extended support for all the versions of Windows XP would end on April 8, 2014 and suggested that technical persons begin preparing to migrate to a newer OS), Window Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Started. Additionally if you are working over shared network then Windows 2003 Server and Windows Vista Business will be best choices for you.

You may ask me by providing your system hardware profile so I will suggest you which operating system is best for you.

Run WampServer and IIS on the same OS

Now your can run both IIS and WampServer (PHP, Apache, MySQL) on the same Windows OS, IIS Typically uses 80 port and WampServer (Apache) too, so by changing Apache listening port you will be able to run both services on single OS. Follow the lines


Open the file C:\wamp\Apache2\conf\httpd.conf and seach for Listen 80 and replace 80 with whatever you want like 8080.


Still one short to go; add :8080 at the end of http://locahost/ like http://localhost:8080/ ...


Remember this action will not change the shortcuts of "Localhost" and "phpMyAdmin" in context menu of WampServer in System Tray, by clicking on both links it will open regular http://localhost/ and http://localhost/phpmyadmin and the result will be quite different both links will not work; to make it workable follow the lines; 


Open the file C:\wamp\wampmanager.ini search for [Menu.Left] and under this section edit these lines (add 8080 where font is bold)



Type: item; Caption: "Localhost"; Action: run; FileName: "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"; Parameters: "http://localhost:8080/"; Glyph: 5


Type: item; Caption: "phpMyAdmin"; Action: run; FileName: "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"; Parameters: "http://localhost:8080/phpmyadmin/"; Glyph: 5


Type: item; Caption: "SQLiteManager"; Action: run; FileName: "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"; Parameters: "http://localhost:8080/sqlitemanager/"; Glyph: 5


Restart Wamp ... Done :) 


Now you will able to use both IIS and Wamp on the same enviroment

Missing show Desktop icon

Mistakenly deleted the Show Desktop icon from the Quick Launch bar? Still, you can use keyboard shortcut to show desktop, simply use a key with Window symbol on it and D to minimize all windows and show up you desktop. But if you don't want to use alternative and want to restore your Show Desktop icon, do one of the following steps.

1. Download Fix it for me file and run executable to restore your icon
2. Download this zip file, extract and copy Show Desktop icon to %userprofile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
   OR
3. Open note pad Start Menu » Run » notepad.exe, copy and paste following lines into new notepad document;
   
   

   [Shell]
   Command = 2
   IconFile = explorer.exe,3
   [Taskbar]
   Command = ToggleDesktop
   

   
   Save notepad document on Desktop with Show Desktop.scf name, click and drag the Show desktop icon to your Quick Launch toolbar ... NOW YOUR ICON IS RESTORED :)

Working with Taskbar and Start Menu Properties

You can change following settings under Taskbar and Start Menu Properties,

• Maintain appearance of Taskbar.
• Appearance of Notification area.
• Start menu style.
• Icon size.
• Number of programs in Start Menu.
• General Start Menu settings and
• Recent documents.

Use Alt+Enter combination or right click on Taskbar to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties

Maintain appearance of Taskbar: Under Taskbar appearance; "Lock the taskbar"; If checked, hides all sizing handles on the taskbar; stops you from resizing taskbar. Gain more screen space? Make taskbar automatically hide when it is not being used, check "Auto-hide the taskbar". You can keep the taskbar always visible, even when you run a program in full screen by checking "Keep the taskbar on top of other windows". You can group together multiple items into single button opened from the same program by checking "Group similar taskbar buttons". Check "Show Quick Lunch", a customizable toolbar known as Quick Lunch will appear right to the Start Menu.

Appearance of Notification area: Under Notification area; check/uncheck "Show the clock" to show or hide system clock. Use "Hide inactive icons" option to stop inactive program's icon from being displayed in system tray (left to system clock).

Start menu style: Switch between default Windows XP Start Menu or old or Classic Windows Menu. Further settings from this point depends on the selection. If you are selecting "Start menu" i.e default Windows XP Start Menu; go to the next paragraph else Click Here.

Default Windows XP Start menu settings

Select icon size under "Select an icon size for programs" and number of most frequently used programs being displayed in Start Menu under "Programs", minimum 0 and maximum 30. Click Clear List to clear current most frequently programs from Start Menu. Under "Show on Start menu"; check Internetand/or E-mail and select default browser and Email program (respectively) from the list to appear it on the top in Start menu.

This step is very simple, change the way submenu opens and highlight newly installed programs, as well as show or hide items of start menu under "Start menu items". Check "List my most recently opened documents" to display My Recent Documents menu in Start Menu, click Clear List to clear My Recent Documents menu items.

Classic Start menu settings

Click Add to add new Start Menu program icon and Remove to remove. Click Advance to manage Start Menu programs if you are smart enough. Sort command will sort Start Menu items alphabetically whileClear clears the My Recent Documents items. Hide/Show common items under "Advanced Start menu options".

How to add a new file extension in IIS

MIME or Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions is a set of specification for file formats. Although IIS (Internet Information Services) supports common file or mime types but many unique or non common files cannot be host on IIS, to host or use new file extension with IIS you should follow given steps.

NOTE: You can figure out easily if your server is configured to support desired file extension by posting that file on a server and navigating to the URL of that in a browser. If you see a LONG string of garbage on the screen or 404 not found error, your server isn't set up for that file and needs to have the MIME type set up.

Go to Start Menu » Administrative Tools » Internet Information Services, it will bring up IIS Snap-in. If Administrative Tools are not displaying in Start Menu refer to this article "Customize your Start Menu" or go to Control Panel and click on Administrative Tools.

Now IIS Snap-in is open, on the left pan "XXXX (local computer)", where XXXX is your computer/server name, click Web Sites and right click on any website (in my case it is gikso) and clickProperties.

Select HTTP Headers tab and click File Types (bottom right), it will bring up File Types window.

Click New Type and add new file type. Let me take .dmg file extension as example. Enter .dmg inAssociated extension and application/x-apple-diskimage in Content type (MIME) and press enter or click OK

New extension will be appear ... click OK twice and close IIS Snap-in, verify new extension by navigating to the file having .dmg file extension in a browser.