First, set the inner stop screw with the chain on the small/big combo. Then, move the chain by hand to the big/small or just eyeball it as close as you can to set the high stop screw.

Now you can proceed to the cable adjustment. Do you have a barrel adjuster? If not, get one. If so, detach the cable from the front derailler and wind the barrel adjuster all the way in. Now attach the cable making it reasonably snug (I always do this by hand so as not to fray the cable). Now, with the FD in the small ring position turn the barrel adjuster one full turn and try shifting into the big ring. If it goes (it likely won't), then just make sure you have clearance when using the big/small combo (may require a little more tension or adjusting the high stop screw). If it does not shift, continue to add tension using full turns to start then slowing down as you get closer (this will be easier with the FD in the small ring position) until it does complete the shift. That's it.

FWIW, some people here manage to set up FD's without the aid of a barrel adjuster. All of my bikes are triples which would be a nightmare to get working without an adjuster (though I managed to do it on my bro-in-law's bike as a temporary thing) but doubles are generally easier. However, if you are destroying cables trying to get enough tension, that's a sure sign you should be using a barrel adjuster.