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MySQL and Windows :: 1 Installing MySQL on Windows :: 1.1 Windows Installation Layout
1.2 Choosing An Installation Package »
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1.1. Windows Installation Layout

For MySQL 5.1 on Windows, the default installation directory is C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.1. Some Windows users prefer to install in C:\mysql, the directory that formerly was used as the default. However, the layout of the subdirectories remains the same.

For MySQL 5.1.23 and earlier, all of the files are located within this parent directory, using the following structure:

Table 1.1. Installation Layout for Windows using MySQL 5.1.23 and earlier

Directory Contents of Directory
bin Client programs and the mysqld server
data Log files, databases
Docs Manual in CHM format
examples Example programs and scripts
include Include (header) files
lib Libraries
scripts Utility scripts
share Error message files

For MySQL 5.1.24 and later, the default location of data directory was changed. The remainder of the directory structure remains the same:

Table 1.2. Installation Layout for Windows using MySQL 5.1.24 and later

Directory Contents of Directory
bin Client programs and the mysqld server
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\MySQL Log files, databases
Docs Manual in CHM format
examples Example programs and scripts
include Include (header) files
lib Libraries
scripts Utility scripts
share Error message files