CiviCRM Fatal error: Uncaught CRM_Core_Exception: [0: Found installation canary
I just did an installation on my Windows Laptop, and it worked. I describe below my configuration. Maybe it leads to a working configuration on your system.


I downloaded and installed the xampp-win32-5.6.28-0-VC11-installer installer from ApacheFriends. The installation decides for the default home C:\xampp.
After the installation, the Xampp control panel starts. I start Apache and MySQL.
I open the shell to create the databases (I am more at my ease with Unix). I create the databases with the following commands:

mysql -u root

create database wp character set utf8;
create database civi character set utf8;
grant all on wp.* to wpuser@localhost identified by 'wppwd';
grant all on civi.* to civiuser@localhost identified by 'civipwd';
flush privileges;

I install WordPress by unzipping the download in the C:\xampp\htdocs directory. I remove all other files (to keep the installation clean).
I do the WordPress configuration according to the documentation. (database wp, user wpuser, password wppassword).
I unzip the CiviCRM (civicrm-4.7.14-wordpress.zip) in the directory C:\xampp\htdocs\wp-content\plugins.
Now I activate the CiviCRM in the plugins menu and complete the installation with the Almost Ready invitation. (database civi, user civiuser, password civipwd).
Installation completes without problems.


The civicrm.settings.php file is generated in the directory C:\xampp\htdocs\wp-content\uploads\civicrm. In the file is a mix of forward slashes and backslashes, but CiviCRM does not seem to bother. For example:

$civicrm_root = 'C:\\xampp\\htdocs/wp-content/plugins\\civicrm\\civicrm\\';
if (!defined('CIVICRM_TEMPLATE_COMPILEDIR')) {
 define( 'CIVICRM_TEMPLATE_COMPILEDIR', 'C:\\xampp\\htdocs/wp-content/uploads\\civicrm\\templates_c\\');
}