why does tghe documentation keep referring to uploading files via ftp?
FTP is the normal way to get files from your PC to the webserver. If you are on the same machine as the webserver then you don't need to use FTP.
gotcha.
ok i moved all my coppermine files to my www root, and they are all rcognized as .php
i also set the security options for admin, creator and sever users. do i have to create a speceific user and give it rights?
if not then what should be my next step. i have mysql and imagemagik installed.
as suggested on the other thread you started: self-hosting is not recommended if you have no clue how to set up your server properly. This board is not dedicated to finding help on webserver setup issues. The pre-requisite to run coppermine is a fully functional webserver with proper settings in place.
Did you read the permissions section of the docs entirely?