Title: Understanding the document root. Last modified: August 20, 2016 --- # Understanding the document root. * [Greg56](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greg56/) * (@greg56) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/) * In following the step 4: Downloading and Installing WordPress, would someone explain this: * “Click and drag all of the files from the wordpress folder to your MAMP document root (I use /Users/USERNAME/Sites/wordpress/).” * Is htdocs the document root that’s references here? * Would you also provide an example of /Users/Username/sites/wordpress/. * Thank you. Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 15 total) * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148590) * > Is htdocs the document root that’s references here? * Yes. * [Rewmer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rewmer/) * (@rewmer) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148627) * Copy the WP files onto the htdocs folder of wamp or into a seperate folder in htdocs if you prefer eg blog, and them using your browser go to localhost or localhost/ blog * Thread Starter [Greg56](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greg56/) * (@greg56) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148646) * Esmi and Rewmer, * Thank you for answering my question. Word Press still will not open for me. The file string that I am using is /applications/MAMP/htdocs/. When I type [http://localhost/blog](http://localhost/blog) or [http://localhost](http://localhost), I receive this message, * Not Found…The requested URL /blog was not found on this server. Apache/2.0.64( Unix) PHP/5.3.5 DAV/2 Server at localhost Port 80. * I see the logo for MAMP in my browser window, but Word Press will not start. * Do either of you have any suggestions. * Thank you again, * Greg56 * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148650) * Sounds like your web server isn’t set up or running correctly. * Thread Starter [Greg56](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greg56/) * (@greg56) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148665) * Esmi * Are you referring to the MAMP server or my Dreamweaver server? * Greg56 * [Rewmer](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rewmer/) * (@rewmer) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148666) * Your mamp server. * Thread Starter [Greg56](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greg56/) * (@greg56) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148668) * Rewmer, * My ports are set at default, PHP is 5.3.5 and Apache is /applications/MAMP/htdocs. The Apache server is currently running and the MySQL server is not. This has happened before and self-corrected, but this time I’ve had to uninstall/install twice for it to function properly. Finally, I was able to get through part of the installation process, but here’s what happened and what I have posted today. * I am getting conflicting messages from WordPress in an attempt to complete the installation process. * The first is this: The file ‘wp-config.php’ already exists. If you need to reset any of the configuration items in this file, please delete it first. You may try installing now. The last sentence is a link that takes me to the second message: * Error establishing a database connection This either means that the username and password information in your wp-config.php file is incorrect or we can’t contact the database server at localhost. This could mean your host’s database server is down. * Are you sure you have the correct username and password? Are you sure that you have typed the correct hostname? Are you sure that the database server is running * (The username and password are the same in both the wp-config-sample.php file and the wp-config.php file. The localhost was changed to localhost:8888. That’s it.) * As a backdrop to what’s going on, I am attempting to install WordPress on my local IMAC in order to work with it in DreamWeaver. Through my host I have Word Press installed and it can be found at [http://greenwithindy.com/blog/wp-admin/install.php](http://greenwithindy.com/blog/wp-admin/install.php), which is nothing but a generic page that was created by the program, through which I don’t understand how to change the look and feel of WordPress. * I am using the same database name, user, username and password on the local installation of WordPress but am unable to get pass the above error messages in order to complete the installation on my local computer. * Please help. This is getting to be very frustrating and I am thinking strongly about looking for another method. I am beginning to think that WordPress is to glitchy. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148669) * > The Apache server is currently running and the MySQL server is not. * Uh? You are trying to install WordPress without a MySQL server running? Well, that ain’t gonna work. * Thread Starter [Greg56](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greg56/) * (@greg56) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148670) * No Esmi, * Reread the post. * There’s is a glitch within the MAMP server. The status lights indicate that Apache is working (green), but that MySQL is not (red). As stated previously, this has happened before and for whatever reason, self corrected, but not this time. I have had to uninstall the the program twice just get into the final installation process and it too has been hanging up. You can re-read the message above or you can read it in the installation forum where I posted for help earlier today. It can’t and shouldn’t be this complicated of a process just to create a blog. * Greg56 * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148671) * > There’s is a glitch within the MAMP server. The status lights indicate that > Apache is working (green), but that MySQL is not (red). * Perhaps but that’s not a WordPress issue. It’s an issue with your server/machine. You cannot install WordPress without the MySQL running. No “ifs” and no “buts”. * Thread Starter [Greg56](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greg56/) * (@greg56) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148672) * Esmi, * That’s understood and it had been working previously until I went through the final installation process in order to view the console. So what’s the solution? * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148673) * As I said, it’s nothing to do with WordPress. Your local server appears to be unstable and you need to sort that out first (perhaps via a generic MAMP forum) before trying to install WordPress. * Thread Starter [Greg56](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greg56/) * (@greg56) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148674) * Esmi, * I am not familiar with a “generic MAMP forum”. Please explain. * Thank you. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148675) * Use Google to find a MAMP support forum. * Thread Starter [Greg56](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greg56/) * (@greg56) * [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148676) * Thank you Esmi. Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 15 total) The topic ‘Understanding the document root.’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [Installation Problems](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/installation-problems/) * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/) * 15 replies * 3 participants * Last reply from: [Greg56](https://wordpress.org/support/users/greg56/) * Last activity: [14 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-the-document-root/#post-2148676) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics