Installation on local host lost at paths for db mysql and unzip process

Lost but not as in the daft tv show where everyone is still lost but lost trying to install wordpress after sort of installing xampp and getting a little out of my depth I don’t seem to be getting where to unzip or I have unzipped to the wrong place – erm as I say I am a bit lost anyone any idea how to help me I just want to get on with looking at theme and widget/plugin development and this is the second time i have had this sort of problem trying to get a cms/script/whatever you call it working on a server