Recently I have been working on a huge project took over 2 months. This project involved building a custom Joomla template , modules and modifying existing components and modules. After I finished this site I had like 12 modified component , 5 new and modified modules and a task to install it over 50 websites!!

There are some components help you create a backup of your website helping you to install it on new servers like JoomlaCloner. I wanted to do it without any 3rd party addons and it worked. I created my installer version loaded with all the addons and contents I need

To create a custom Joomla installer you need :

• A copy of the database.
  This can be done using any database backup utility. My favorites are JoomlaPack and eBackup. You can also create it using phpMyadmin from your control panel.
• A copy of your work files.
• Installation package from Joomla.org

1. Start by removing configuration.php file from Joomla! root
2. Copy the ( installation ) folder from Joomla's package and add it to your version.
3. Rename the database file to joomla.sql and move it to ( installation/sql ). You will have to replace the original file
4. On ( installation/install1.php ) find and remove :

  $DBSample = intval( mosGetParam( $_POST, 'DBSample', 1 ) );

and remove :

  <tr>
    <td>
    	<input type="checkbox" name="DBSample" id="DBSample" value="1" <?php if ($DBSample) echo 'checked="checked"'; ?> />
    </td>
    <td>
    	<label for="DBSample">Install Sample Data</label>
    </td>
    <td>
    	<em>Don't uncheck this option unless you are experienced in using Joomla!</em>
    </td>
  </tr>

This part remove the ( Install Sample Data ) from the setup to make sure no conflict occure between your version and Joomla's sample content.

Notice: During installation process, Joomla use 2 files to import the data

• joomla.sql which contain the basic structure of a fresh Joomla installaion.
• sample_data.sql which contain the sample data

Some may want to split their sql file into the 2 files. The previous step wont be necessary.

You're done You can now start installing your Joomla version loaded with all the addons and contents you created! Better than this you can send your clients this installer loaded with all configuration and their contents.