Home Joomla! TutorialsHow to install a Joomla site from a Quickstart file

How to install a Joomla site from a Quickstart file

Got a Quickstart from a site or your developer ?
Want to know how to install that and get the complete site in minutes ?
Facing errors while doing it ??
Going Crazy with the whole installation process??

OK, HERE IS THE SOLUTION AND ANSWERS TO ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS!!

Most of the Template Clubs and companies use to deliver a QUICKSTART file to you, when you want to download any template or are getting your project done. These files are normally big in size and contains lot of files and folders. Actually, its the whole website’s files and folders and database zipped into that, making it as dynamic quick installer for your complete website.
For making Quickstart, we generally use JoomlaPack or JoomTransfer tools for the websites. There is another method also, but thats going to pull your hairs and make you mad, so im not explaining that here.
Ok here is how to deal with a Quickstart and setup your whole website. Again , set it in your mind that, QUICKSTART is the whole site’s dynamic backup and not a template or component alone.
Before I describe how to setup the Quickstart file, I would like to ask a question. Do you have a hosting server which has CPANEL or not ?

If cPANEL is there, then follow these steps,
1.   Get the Quickstart file.
2.   Dont try to unzip it or open it. Just keep it safe.
3.   Upload it directly to your server’s root directly.
4.   Login at cPanel and goto File Manager.
5.   Select your uploaded zip file and then right click on it or look at the options above it. You will see a option, UNZIP or EXTRACT there. Just click there. If you want to setup your site at the main domain, then EXTRACT them to your public_html and if you want to set it up at a sub folder or sub domain, then EXTRACT them to the specified folder. For example, public_html/testsite
6.   After its all extracted, double check that folder, if your files and folders have got extracted or not.
7.   Now create a database and database users from your cPANEL and don’t forget to add the user to that database.
8.   Now goto your Internet browser and open your URL.
9.   Then proceed with the browser installation. It will guide you up directly on screen.
10.   Thats done for cPanel users.

Now for users, who don’t have cPanel based web server. Thats a very very pathetic thing as you have to waste time and money (optional) to get things done. Ok here is how to proceed,
1.   Get the quickstart file.
2.   Download the Joomla Native Tools for your PC from here http://joomlacode.org/gf/project/jpack/frs/?action=FrsReleaseView&release_id=10350   and install it on your computer . Now start the JoomlaPack eXtract Wizard from your desktop and select your Quickstart file to extract to a local drive on your computer.
3.   Once they are extracted to your local drive, just goto your FTP and upload that whole local folder, to which you extracted that zip file.
4.   Then proceed with the browser and try to open your URL and proceed with the browser installation.
5.   Thats it. Since you don’t have cPanel, we had to walk on this path to unzip the big quickstart file.

There are two other ways for non cPanel users also/ You can also use www.net2ftp.com and do this ,since they have UNZIP function in their online File Manager system and you can also use PHOCA UNZIP TOOL. They both works great!

While installing you may come across few problems . It doesnt happen always, but happens if you have some server misconfiguration or permission issues.

If you are getting 500 Internal Server Error , then check your files and folders permissions. Few Web hosts, consider 755 as writable and few 777 as writable and vice-versa. So,in case you are getting 500 Internal Server Error, then just swap the permissions to the one, they are currently. The recommended permissions are 755 for folders and 644 for files.

And if you are getting, INSTALLTION DIRECTORY IS NOT WRITABLE OR DAT FILE NOT FOUND , then also its your permissions bugging in. Double check then. If your installation folder is with 755 permission, then CHMOD that to 777 and then you can proceed with the installation.

Thats it.
If you have any questions, then post here directly..
Thanks..