#### 2.3.4.2 Creating an Option File

 If you need to specify startup options when you run the server, you can indicate them on the command line or place them in an option file. For options that are used every time the server starts, you may find it most convenient to use an option file to specify your MySQL configuration. This is particularly true under the following circumstances:

* The installation or data directory locations are different from the default locations (`C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0` and `C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0\data`).

* You need to tune the server settings, such as memory, cache, or InnoDB configuration information.

 When the MySQL server starts on Windows, it looks for option files in several locations, such as the Windows directory, `C:\`, and the MySQL installation directory (for the full list of locations, see [Section 4.2.2.2, “Using Option Files”](option-files.html)). The Windows directory typically is named something like `C:\WINDOWS`. You can determine its exact location from the value of the `WINDIR` environment variable using the following command:

```
C:\> echo %WINDIR%
```

 MySQL looks for options in each location first in the `my.ini` file, and then in the `my.cnf` file. However, to avoid confusion, it is best if you use only one file. If your PC uses a boot loader where `C:` is not the boot drive, your only option is to use the `my.ini` file. Whichever option file you use, it must be a plain text file.

Note

 When using the MySQL Installer to install MySQL Server, it creates the `my.ini` at the default location, and the user executing MySQL Installer is granted full permissions to this new `my.ini` file.

 In other words, be sure that the MySQL Server user has permission to read the `my.ini` file.

 You can also make use of the example option files included with your MySQL distribution; see [Section 5.1.2, “Server Configuration Defaults”](server-configuration-defaults.html).

 An option file can be created and modified with any text editor, such as Notepad. For example, if MySQL is installed in `E:\mysql` and the data directory is in `E:\mydata\data`, you can create an option file containing a `[mysqld]` section to specify values for the `basedir` and `datadir` options:

```
[mysqld]
# set basedir to your installation path
basedir=E:/mysql
# set datadir to the location of your data directory
datadir=E:/mydata/data
```

 Microsoft Windows path names are specified in option files using (forward) slashes rather than backslashes. If you do use backslashes, double them:

```
[mysqld]
# set basedir to your installation path
basedir=E:\\mysql
# set datadir to the location of your data directory
datadir=E:\\mydata\\data
```

 The rules for use of backslash in option file values are given in [Section 4.2.2.2, “Using Option Files”](option-files.html).

 The ZIP archive does not include a `data` directory. To initialize a MySQL installation by creating the data directory and populating the tables in the mysql system database, initialize MySQL using either [`--initialize`](server-options.html#option_mysqld_initialize) or [`--initialize-insecure`](server-options.html#option_mysqld_initialize-insecure). For additional information, see [Section 2.10.1, “Initializing the Data Directory”](data-directory-initialization.html).

 If you would like to use a data directory in a different location, you should copy the entire contents of the `data` directory to the new location. For example, if you want to use `E:\mydata` as the data directory instead, you must do two things:

1. Move the entire `data` directory and all of its contents from the default location (for example `C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 8.0\data`) to `E:\mydata`.

2. Use a [`--datadir`](server-system-variables.html#sysvar_datadir) option to specify the new data directory location each time you start the server.

