For MySQL 5.4, there are three installation packages to choose from when installing MySQL on Windows:
The Essentials Package:
This package has a file name similar to
mysql-essential-5.4.3-win32.msi
and contains the minimum set of files needed to install
MySQL on Windows, including the Configuration Wizard. This
package does not include optional components such as the
embedded server and benchmark suite.
The Complete Package: This
package has a file name similar to
mysql-5.4.3-win32.zip
and
contains all files needed for a complete Windows
installation, including the Configuration Wizard. This
package includes optional components such as the embedded
server and benchmark suite.
The Noinstall Archive: This
package has a file name similar to
mysql-noinstall-5.4.3-win32.zip
and contains all the files found in the Complete install
package, with the exception of the Configuration Wizard.
This package does not include an automated installer, and
must be manually installed and configured.
The Essentials package is recommended for most users. Both the
Essentials and Complete distributions are available as an
.msi
file for use with the Windows
Installer. The Noinstall distribution is packaged as Zip
archives. To use Zip archives, you must have a tool that can
unpack .zip
files.
Your choice of install package affects the installation process you must follow. If you choose to install either the Essentials or Complete install packages, see Section 1.2, “Installing MySQL with the Automated Installer”. If you choose to install MySQL from the Noinstall archive, see Section 1.5, “Installing MySQL from a Noinstall Zip Archive”.