Apache Cookbook, 2nd Edition

2.6. Installing mod_php on Windows

Problem

You want to add the mod_php scripting module to your existing Apache server on Windows.

Solution

This recipe needs to be described largely in terms of actions rather than explicit commands to be issued.

1. Download the PHP Windows binary .zip file with API extensions (not the .exe file) from http://php.net.

2. Unpack the .zip file into a directory where you can keep its contents indefinitely (such as C:\PHP4). If you use WinZip, be sure to select the Use folder names checkbox to preserve the directory structure inside the .zip file.

3. Copy the PHP4\SAPI\php4apache.dll file to the \modules\ directory under your Apache installation’s ServerRoot.

4. In a command-prompt window, change to the PHP4 directory where you unpacked the .zip file, and type:

   ...\PHP4>copy php.ini-dist %SYSTEMROOT%\php.ini
   ...\PHP4>copy php4ts.dll %SYSTEMROOT%

   (If installing on Windows 95 or Windows 98, use %WINDOWS% instead of %SYSTEMROOT%.)

5. Edit the %SYSTEMROOT%\php.ini file, locate the line that starts with extensions_dir, and change the value to point to the PHP4\extensions directory. For instance, if you unpacked the .zip file into C:\PHP4, this line should look like:

   extensions_dir = C:\PHP4\extensions

6. Edit the conf\httpd.conf file under the Apache ServerRoot and add the following lines near the other LoadModule lines:

   LoadModule php4_module modules/php4apache.dll

   Add the following lines in some scope where they will apply to your .php files:

   <IfModule mod_php4.c> AddType application/x-httpd-php ...