diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 36447cbe5f..b1084f21ee 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 .idea/*
 !.idea/tlcode.iml
+.claude/
 logs/
 config_db.inc.php
 /custom_config.inc.php
diff --git a/INSTALL_WINDOWS.md b/INSTALL_WINDOWS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..78dfd56034
--- /dev/null
+++ b/INSTALL_WINDOWS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+# TestLink 1.9.20 — Windows / XAMPP Installation Guide
+
+## Software Requirements
+
+| Component | Minimum | Recommended | Notes |
+|-----------|---------|-------------|-------|
+| **PHP** | 7.2.x | **8.0.x – 8.5.x** | Tested with PHP 8.5.0 on Windows (this fork) |
+| **MySQL** | 5.7.x | **8.0.x** | `log_bin_trust_function_creators = ON` required |
+| **MariaDB** *(alternative)* | 10.1.x | 10.6.x+ | Same `log_bin_trust_function_creators` requirement |
+| **Apache** | 2.4.x | 2.4.x | Bundled with XAMPP |
+| **XAMPP** | 8.0+ | **8.2+ / 8.5+** | Bundles compatible PHP + MySQL + Apache |
+
+> **Note:** MySQL 5.7 reached End of Life in October 2023.  
+> For new installations on Windows, use **MySQL 8.0** (bundled in XAMPP 8.x).
+
+---
+
+## Required PHP Extensions
+
+These are typically enabled by default in XAMPP — verify in `php.ini`:
+
+```
+extension=mysqli
+extension=gd
+extension=ldap       ; optional — only if LDAP auth is needed
+extension=xmlrpc     ; required for XMLRPC API
+extension=xml
+extension=mbstring
+extension=zip
+extension=curl
+extension=openssl
+```
+
+---
+
+## Critical `php.ini` Settings
+
+Open `C:\xampp\php\php.ini` and set:
+
+```ini
+; Needed for test plans with more than ~100 test cases
+max_input_vars = 5000
+
+; Prevent out-of-memory errors on large XML imports
+memory_limit = 256M
+
+; Allow file uploads
+file_uploads = On
+upload_max_filesize = 16M
+post_max_size = 16M
+```
+
+---
+
+## MySQL / MariaDB Setting
+
+In `C:\xampp\mysql\bin\my.ini` (or `my.cnf`), add under `[mysqld]`:
+
+```ini
+log_bin_trust_function_creators = 1
+```
+
+Restart MySQL after the change.
+
+---
+
+## Directory Setup (Windows — outside the web root)
+
+TestLink requires two writable directories that **must not be reachable from the browser**.  
+Create them at:
+
+| Purpose | Path |
+|---------|------|
+| Logs | `C:\testlink\logs\` |
+| File uploads | `C:\testlink\upload_area\` |
+
+### One-time PowerShell command
+
+```powershell
+New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "C:\testlink\logs"
+New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "C:\testlink\upload_area"
+```
+
+These paths are already configured in `custom_config.inc.php` — **do not change** that file unless you move the directories.
+
+---
+
+## Installation Steps
+
+1. Copy the TestLink files to `C:\xampp\htdocs\testlink\`.
+2. Verify `custom_config.inc.php` exists (already provided in this repo).
+3. Verify `C:\testlink\logs\` and `C:\testlink\upload_area\` exist and are writable by the Apache process (SYSTEM / NetworkService on XAMPP).
+4. Start Apache and MySQL from the XAMPP Control Panel.
+5. Open your browser and navigate to `http://localhost/testlink/`.
+6. Follow the web-based installer — choose **New Installation**.
+7. Provide MySQL credentials (default XAMPP: user `root`, password empty or `root`).
+8. After installation completes, **delete or rename** the `install/` directory for security.
+
+---
+
+## phpMyAdmin Configuration Storage Setup
+
+XAMPP's phpMyAdmin requires a `pma` control user and a `phpmyadmin` database for its
+advanced features. Without this, phpMyAdmin shows warnings but still works for basic tasks.
+
+### Step 1 — Create the pma user in MySQL
+
+Open `http://localhost/phpmyadmin/` → **SQL** tab → run:
+
+```sql
+DROP USER IF EXISTS 'pma'@'localhost';
+CREATE USER 'pma'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'pmapass';
+GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `phpmyadmin`.* TO 'pma'@'localhost';
+FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
+```
+
+### Step 2 — Create the phpmyadmin database and tables
+
+In phpMyAdmin → top menu → **Import** → **Choose File** → select:
+
+```
+C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin\sql\create_tables.sql
+```
+
+Click **Go**.
+
+### Step 3 — Verify config.inc.php matches
+
+Open `C:\xampp\phpMyAdmin\config.inc.php` and confirm these lines are present:
+
+```php
+$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controluser'] = 'pma';
+$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlpass'] = 'pmapass';
+$cfg['Servers'][$i]['pmadb']       = 'phpmyadmin';
+```
+
+The password in `controlpass` **must exactly match** what was set for the `pma` MySQL user.
+
+### Step 4 — Restart Apache
+
+Restart Apache from the XAMPP Control Panel and reload phpMyAdmin.
+The configuration storage warning should be gone.
+
+> **Root cause of the error `Access denied for user 'pma'@'localhost' (using password: YES)`:**  
+> The `pma` MySQL user had a different password (or did not exist) compared to what
+> `controlpass` specifies in `config.inc.php`. Always recreate the user and update the
+> config in the same step so they stay in sync.
+
+---
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### "Checking if /var/testlink/logs/ directory exists — Failed!"
+
+TestLink defaulted to its Unix example path. This is fixed by `custom_config.inc.php` which overrides `$tlCfg->log_path` and `$g_repositoryPath` to Windows paths. Make sure:
+
+- `custom_config.inc.php` is present in the TestLink root (`c:\xampp\htdocs\testlink\`).
+- The directories `C:\testlink\logs\` and `C:\testlink\upload_area\` exist.
+- The Apache process has **write permission** to those directories.
+
+### "1045 - Access denied for user 'testlinkUser'@'localhost'"
+
+The password in `config_db.inc.php` doesn't match the MySQL user. Run in phpMyAdmin SQL tab:
+
+```sql
+ALTER USER 'testlinkUser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password_here';
+FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
+```
+
+Replace `your_password_here` with the value of `DB_PASS` in `config_db.inc.php`.
+
+### "templates_c is not writable"
+
+Grant the Apache user write access:
+
+```powershell
+icacls "C:\xampp\htdocs\testlink\gui\templates_c" /grant "Everyone:(OI)(CI)F"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Security Checklist After Installation
+
+- [ ] Delete or move the `install/` directory.
+- [ ] Confirm `C:\testlink\logs\` is **not** accessible from the browser.
+- [ ] Confirm `C:\testlink\upload_area\` is **not** accessible from the browser.
+- [ ] Set a strong password for the TestLink `admin` account.
+- [ ] Restrict MySQL `root` access (set a password in XAMPP MySQL).
diff --git a/custom_config.inc.php.example b/custom_config.inc.php.example
index 18da7ddde3..30ffb54ac2 100644
--- a/custom_config.inc.php.example
+++ b/custom_config.inc.php.example
@@ -38,8 +38,17 @@
 // You need to be certain that these folders have correct permissions in order
 // to allow the user/daemon used to run the webserver service/daemon read/write access.
 //
-// $tlCfg->log_path = '/var/testlink-ga-testlink-code/logs/'; /* unix example */
-// $g_repositoryPath = '/var/testlink-ga-testlink-code/upload_area/';  /* unix example */
+// Unix/Linux examples (directories must exist and be writable by Apache):
+// $tlCfg->log_path = '/var/testlink/logs/';
+// $g_repositoryPath = '/var/testlink/upload_area/';
+//
+// Windows / XAMPP example (place directories OUTSIDE htdocs for security):
+// Create these directories first:
+//   mkdir C:\testlink\logs
+//   mkdir C:\testlink\upload_area
+// Then set:
+// $tlCfg->log_path = 'C:/testlink/logs/';
+// $g_repositoryPath = 'C:/testlink/upload_area/';
 //
 // 
 // ********************************************************************************************