Viewing Your Forum on Your Computer Before Registering a Domain

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around how to view a downloaded forum on a local computer before registering a domain or web host. Participants explore various methods for setting up a local web server to host the forum files, including considerations for different operating systems.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about how to view their downloaded forum locally without a registered domain or web host.
  • Another suggests placing the forum files in a location accessible to the web server, specifically mentioning the C:/Inetpub/wwwroot directory for Windows users.
  • A participant explains the need for a web server installation, recommending IIS for Windows and Apache for Linux, while noting that additional PHP support may be required depending on the forum's programming language.
  • Links to resources for downloading Apache and its Windows installer are provided by another participant.
  • A question is raised about the type of forum software downloaded, prompting a response that questions the relevance of this inquiry.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about simply placing files in the web root directory, suggesting that this alone may not make the forum functional.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessary steps to successfully view the forum locally, with some emphasizing the importance of proper server setup while others question the effectiveness of merely placing files in the web root.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various technical requirements and potential complications depending on the operating system, but do not resolve the specifics of the setup process or the effectiveness of different approaches.

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I downloade a forum but how can i see my forum on my computer. I not register web host/ domain yet. I want to play with it on my computers first. Can u tell me how to do that, what should I download and where should I put my forums so I can see my forums as I want to see my forums on my computer first.
Thanks
 
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put it some place your webserver can see.
 
which would usually be C:/Inetpub/wwwroot if you're using windows and you will also have to have web server instaled on your computer. The easiest way to set up a web server is to add a windows component called "IIS" (Internet information services)... when you have that your web server is able to serve asp web pages for example. But if your forum is written in php you will have to install php support as well.

Of course, if you're working with linux this might be a bit more complicated for you if you're not so keen to computers. With linux you have the same story... web server (I suggest apache for a start) and php support.

If you have no clue about what we're talking I suggest that you ask a friend for a help and explanation.
 
Last edited:
Apache is free and it's what most people use:

http://httpd.apache.org/

Here is the windows installer:

http://www.ip97.com/apache.org/httpd/binaries/win32/apache_2.0.54-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi

Of course the numbers don't lie:

http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2005/09/overallc.gif
 
Last edited by a moderator:
what kind of forum did you download?
 
im not the op'er but why you want to know ?
i think only puttin a buncho files in wwroot still not workable, it only gives u a bunch of links if see in ur web browser, nothing more.
 

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