Now we’ve completed the preparatory steps, here comes the fun part.  The Zen Cart Installer is a special program that guides you through the installation process.  We then remove the Installer when we’re finished.  Let’s get started.

1. In your favourite browser, enter the URL of your new Zen Cart online store.  This is the address you uploaded the Zen Cart files to.  This will be something similar to www.domain.com (if you installed in the root folder) or www.domain.com/store or www.domain.com/catalog (if you installed in a sub-directory).  In my example, this is www.kerrinhardy.com/dsf/.The Zen Cart Installer home page will be displayed.  Click on the Click here to begin installation link as shown.

   

2. The Welcome screen explains the main features of Zen Cart.  Click on the Continue button.
   
3. On the next screen, you will need to confirm your acceptance of the Zen Cart GPL licensing agreement.  Click Continue.
   
4. You will find a lot of information on the next screen – System Inspection.  The Zen Cart Installer inspects the web server and reports if there are any incompatibilities with the technical requirements for running Zen Cart.  You will need to address any red warnings or error messages before the installer can continue .  Click on Recheck as required.  When ready click on Install.
   
5. On the next screen – Database Setup – complete the Database Username, Database Password and Database Name fields.  You would have recorded this information in Step 4 – Creating a MySQL Database in cPanel for Zen Cart Installation.  Click on Save Database Settings.
   
6. The Zen Cart Installer will now create the required tables and information in your new database.The next screen is the System Setup.  Review the Server/Site Settings provided.  At this stage it is best to leave Enable SSL as set to No for both the store and the admin.  You will be able to enable SSL at a later stage.  Click on Save System Settings.

   

7. Zen Cart provides the ability to integrate an existing phpBB Forum with Zen Cart.  This way customer accounts can be used for both the forum and online store.  In most cases, you will leave this set to No then click on Save phpBB Settings.
   
8. The next screen is the Store Setup.  Enter in your Store Information as required.Selecting Yes to Install the Zen Cart Demonstration Categories and Products is highly recommended.  These enable you to learn about the various Product Management techniques available in Zen Cart and they can be easily disabled when you no longer require them.
   
9. In the next step – Administrator Account Setup – you will enter your preferred Administrator Account information.  Note: both Administrator Username and Administrator Password are case sensitive.

   Ensure you record this information in your Zen Cart notebook as you will need this to log in to the Admin panel of your Zen Cart store.Click Save Admin Settings.
   

10. And you have now completed the Zen Cart Installer process.  Congratulations!
    
    Test that you can access your store front and both access and login successfully to your store Admin.
    

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