### 2.3.4 Installing MySQL on Microsoft Windows Using a`noinstall` ZIP Archive

[2.3.4.1 Extracting the Install Archive](windows-extract-archive.html)
[2.3.4.2 Creating an Option File](windows-create-option-file.html)
[2.3.4.3 Selecting a MySQL Server Type](windows-select-server.html)
[2.3.4.4 Initializing the Data Directory](windows-initialize-data-directory.html)
[2.3.4.5 Starting the Server for the First Time](windows-server-first-start.html)
[2.3.4.6 Starting MySQL from the Windows Command Line](windows-start-command-line.html)
[2.3.4.7 Customizing the PATH for MySQL Tools](mysql-installation-windows-path.html)
[2.3.4.8 Starting MySQL as a Windows Service](windows-start-service.html)
[2.3.4.9 Testing The MySQL Installation](windows-testing.html)

 Users who are installing from the `noinstall` package can use the instructions in this section to manually install MySQL. The process for installing MySQL from a ZIP Archive package is as follows:

1. Extract the main archive to the desired install directory

   *Optional*: also extract the debug-test archive if you plan to execute the MySQL benchmark and test suite

2. Create an option file

3. Choose a MySQL server type

4. Initialize MySQL

5. Start the MySQL server

6. Secure the default user accounts

 This process is described in the sections that follow.

