Installing and Configuring PHP

• Open up your php-4.3.0-Win32.zip file where you put your download of PHP (Files folder on the desktop in my case).
• Extract the zip file to E:\Inet.
  Now take a look at E:\Inet and you will find a php-4.3.0-Win32 folder there. Rename the folder to PHP.
• Inside the PHP folder you will see a php.ini-recommended file.
  Rename it to php.ini
• Open the php.ini file using Notepad. Search for doc_root, just about on line 431 (Edit/Go To... or hotkey Ctrl+G).
  Locate where it says doc_root =
  Make it doc_root = "e:\inet\www"
• 7 lines below, you should see extension_dir = ./
  Make it extension_dir = "e:\inet\php"
• Final step, in your PHP folder, cut the php4ts.dll file and paste it to your Windows folder. (Typically C:\Windows for XP, C:\Winnt for 2000)

Configuring Apache for PHP

We have PHP installed and configured now. But Apache doesn't know yet what to do when it comes accross a file with a php extension. So, now we have to tell Apache what to do when it sees anything php.
For this, we need to open up our infamous httpd.conf file. Incase you forgot already, it should be under E:\Inet\Apache2\conf.
Or you can find it under Configure Apache Server in the Apache program group in your Start menu.

• Having opened up httpd.conf file in Notepad, at about line 742, find the line where it says: AddType application/x-tar .tgz
• Copy & Paste the following underneath it:
  
  ScriptAlias /php/ "e:/inet/php/" AddType application/x-httpd-php .php AddType application/x-httpd-php .php3 AddType application/x-httpd-php .php4 AddType application/x-httpd-php .htm AddType application/x-httpd-php .html AddType application/x-httpd-php .phtml Action application/x-httpd-php "/php/php.exe
  
• PHP should be running now. But you just never know unless you test it.
  Open up notepad and paste the following:
  <?
  phpinfo();
  ?>
  Save the file under your WWW folder as test_php.php
  
  Or if you are just plain old lazy, well, then right-click here and Save-As to your WWW folder.
  
• If you have Apache running, left click on the Apache monitor icon on your system tray. Choose restart.
• Test your configuration: http://localhost/test_php.php
• Is this what you see?
  Yes? Continue on my friend.
  No? Oops, you have done something wrong obviously. Go back to the beginning and check step-by-step, the most common error is most likely capitalizing (E:\Inet\WWW for example, instead of e:\inet\www).

I just have to assume it worked and continue on. So much output for so little text aye? What you see there is every little detail about your PHP installation on your server.

Well, congratulations, the ever-so-godly PHP is installed and your webserver is configured to parse it. You can now go to hotscripts.com and browse all them amazing PHP scripts.
But believe me, it would be so much better if you super-powered your PHP with MySQL. Continue on for installing MySQL.

Return to Step 2 - Proceed to Step 4