Installation for Developers

So I am trying to learn how to develope my own wordpress themes.
I’ve been following the tutorial on “http://www.webhostingsearch.com/articles/installing-wordpress-locally.php”

I am making it through all the steps except the last one (installing wordpress locally)

I have the wordpress folder unzipped in my C: drive, and I have changed the “wp-config-sample.php” to “wp-config.php” and changed the data base to “wordpress”
username to “root”
and password to ” ” (leaving it blank)

I am trying to install this to learn how to make wordthemes because I am tired of finding one and having to tweak it, I am also tired of paying for themes I buy and wind up not liking. If someone could help me this would be great. Unless someone knows an easier and quicker way to learn/develope wordpress themes. I am completely new to this, but I am slightly familiar with understanding the coding..

Thanks in advance for your time.

-Christina