How to Install and Configure Php 5.2.5 and Apache 2.2.8 in Windows Vista

Many web developers want to run Apache and PHP on their own computer. This article gives a step by step guide on how you can install and configure PHP5 to work together with the Apache HTTP Server on Windows Vista.

[edit] Steps

1. STEP 1: DOWNLOAD CORRECT VERSIONS OF PHP-5.2.5 AND APACHE-2.2.8.
2. To download apache 2.2.8, go the website http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi and then find and click on apache_2.2.8-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi in the page and then click on save. Choose the path where do you want to download and save the file.
3. To download php 5.2.5, go to the website http://de.php.net/downloads.php. In particular, download the zip package from the "Windows Binaries" section that is click on PHP 5.2.5 zip package. (Warning: Do not get the installer.) You should be directed to a page where you have mirror options to download. You can choose any option from the recommended mirrors which will be automatically detected. Click on that mirror and then download and save it to your hardrive.
4. Now that you have downloaded the required files, let us install them on by one.
5. STEP 2: INSTALLING APACHE 2.2.8
6. Double click on the installation file (apache_2.2.8-win32-x86-no_ssl).
7. Click on next.
8. Select “I accept the terms in the license agreement” and then click next. Click next again.
9. On server domain fill “localhost”,
10. Server Name box write “localhost” and
11. Administrator’s Email Address write your own email addresss.
12. Then select “for all users, on Port 80, as a Service – Recommended” and then click on next.
13. Select custom setup type and then click next.
14. Change the destination folder to “C:\apache” and then click on ok. Then click on next. Finally click on install.
15. Apache webserver should install in few minutes. Click on finish.
16. STEP 3: TESTING IF APACHE IS SUCCESSFULLY INSTALLED.
17. To check if apache has been successfully installed in your windows pc you need to open a web browser and then on the address bar type “//localhost” and then hit enter. You should see a page that says “It Works!” on the top left hand corner.
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19. STEP 4: INSTALLING PHP 5.2.5
20. Right click on the zip folder “ php-5.2.5-Win32” and then click on “Extract all”. On the Destination folder type “C:\php” then click on Extract.
21. STEP 5: CONFIGURING APACHE 2.2.8
22. Now that you have successfully installed both apache web server and php scripting language your next most important task is to configure them so that they can recognize each other.
23. Go to your apache installation path, and then open httpd.conf which is located under the conf directory “C:\apache\conf” double click on httpd.conf file. Find (ctrl+F) 'loadmodule'. After the last line of the loadmodule section type: LoadModule php5_module “C:/php/php5apache2_2.dll”
24. After you have done look for and then add the following lines
25. AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
26. AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps
27. before the closing statement for mime_module
28. After that on the same page find and then add DirectoryIndex indes.html index.php before if it already does not exists.
29. Also add the following line “PHPIniDir “C:/php” to the bottom of the file.
30. After you have done that save the file and close it.
31. STEP 6: CONFIGURING PHP 5.2.5
32. Inside the C:\php find php.ini-recommended and then rename it to php.ini. Open that file and then inside the file find the following and replace it as follows:
33. doc_root = C:\apache\htdocs
34. extension_dir = “C:\php\ext”
35. Then save it. After that go to start menu->> All Programs ->> Apache HTTP Server 2.2 ->> Control Apache Server ->> Restart. This should restart the apache server.
36. STEP 7: TESTING IF APACHE AND PHP ARE CONFIGURED SUCCESSFULLY.
37. To check if apache and php are configured successfully go to “C:\apache\htdocs” and open a new text document. In that text document type “ ” and then Save As: File Name – phpinfo.php and save as type “All Files”. And then click on Save. Now you have done that go to new web browser and then type “//localhost/phpinfo.php”.
38. If you get the following page then you have successfully downloaded, installed and configured php 5.2.5 and apache 2.2.8.
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