Installing MySQL on Windows 7 is easy when you follow the guidelines for downloading the database, installing it and then configuring it. To begin with, you will need to download MySQL Community Server Edition. This installer application is a 32-bit application that may seem to be complicated when you plan to install it on the 64-bit server. So, you may choose the option to download a smaller installer less than 2 MB or a full one which is more than 200 MB. The latter is recommended when you must install MySQL on computers having restricted web access. You will then be asked to log in, which you can choose to ignore and instead click on “start my download” option.
When you are running Windows 7 32-bit, it is advisable to install the MySQL Server 32bit. When you are using Windows 7 64-bit, you have a choice. But your decision depends on the kind of technologies you plan on using. When you arrive at the Welcome page, you can press the Install MySQL Products option. You need to check the box for accepting the terms of the license agreement on the next page. It is advisable to choose the “custom” option when you are selecting a set-up type because you then have the freedom to decide what packages to install.
When you come to the Check Requirements page, you can click on the Execute button to install missing requirements or return to previous page to change packages to be installed. After all this is done, you can click on the Next button. The Installation page displays a variety of software which is going to be downloaded and you can click on Execute to go ahead with these downloads. You must then add the “mysql” command to Windows PATH variable to run different commands. You should then click the Start Orb option and right click to select Properties menu. Here, you need to choose the Advanced system settings to get the Advanced tab. Under this, you will find the Environment Variables option. When you have selected the Path variable, you can click on Edit button. You must add the path to the MySQL server directory and then move to OOBC Connector page to get the 32-bit or 64-bit installers. You can run this OOBC installer and then click on the “custom” option. You have to verify the path hat you want to install the MySQL in followed by the Next button. Finally, you can click on the Install button.
