Cannot install WordPress – install.php is not taking me to a log in page

I am trying to install WordPress 4.1.1. I am trying to do the famous 5 minute install, but after 30 minutes, I still haven’t been able install it. I have read and reread multiple posts with similar questions and still cannot figure this out.

-I unzipped the package into an empty directory.

-I opened wp-admin/install.php in Chrome and just got a bunch of code.

-The installation instructions stated that if it did not work, there was a way around that. So as instructed, I proceeded to open wp-config-sample.php in WordPad and made the changes as directed. I saved the file with the name wp-config.php in the same location as wp-admin/install.php.

-Again, I opened wp-admin/install.php in Chrome and just got a bunch of code.

-So I tried Internet Explorer and recieved what appears to be a common message “WordPress requires that your web server is running PHP. Your server does not have PHP installed, or PHP is turned off.”

-I searched the support forums and saw a bunch of posts regarding this issue. However, none of the ones that I read had clear information. There were instructions to check some settings without telling me where to find the settings to check it. There was one that said “I fixed it” but did not provide how.

I am truly lost. I am pretty much a neophyte so anyone who can help me figure out what I am supposed to do would really be appreciated.