Before anything else, let me tell you a story; a story which begins about more than a year ago. I begin to know about server side scripting by learning Active Server Pages (ASP) and later been introduced to the php world by my mates, Crynobone. Although when I’m learning php, I’m still a little bit confused and mixed up between asp & php, I still manage to learn it by referring to codes example and ultimately depends on what I personally like to call as “Quick php Server Setup”, the phpTriad. To put it simple, PHPTriad is a complete PHP development and server environment for Windows that automatically installs PHP, Apache, MySQL, and PHPMyAdmin. It’s quite convenient for noobs like me at that time but I admit, besides the php syntax, I know nothing about what I’m using (more to I don’t really care actually). Be it the server or even the php engine itself, I don’t know or care. So when people around me chattering about what’s the version of php they’re using or what’s the version of the Apache server they’re running on their box….I begin to wonder, I’m absolutely missing something here. So, I took the so called “DIY steps”; uninstall the PHPTriad and begin to install everything appropriate one-by-one. The results? Good, if I may say that and it had been a long time since the first time I setting up all that stuffs manually (Apache, php, mysql, & phpMyAdmin).

Well, one of the obvious advantage of configuring this WAMP combination manually is; it can easily been updated to the latest version of each of the component. Now, I revisit back my local configuration and I had decided to make certain update. I do aware that more often than usual “newest” doesn’t directly translated as “greatest“, mainly because of the compatibality issues and such, but what the hell…Just try it even there will be a problem later because I’m a kind of person that really loves to learn in a hard way :-P. Or maybe I just don’t have anything to do for the moment. Well, let see…I update my Apache 2.0.x to Apache 2.2.2, mySQL 4.1.x to mySQL 5.0.21 and php 5.0.1 to php 5.1.4. Oh…don’t bother with the “x”, I just can’t remember exactly what my last version is…:oops:

If you begin to excite because you predict that I will give some tutorial on configuring all this stuff, well…I’m not. Why? Simply because you can use Uncle Google to find such tutorial. But if you want a reference example, how about from my mates Crynobone and the tutorial is located here. So what the hell this post will serve? Just to point out though, that after configuring all this stuff, my Apache 2.2.2 seems can’t load the php5apache2.dll. At first I suspect there is something wrong with my Apache, but apparently it’s not. Well, luckily we have google aren’t we? A quick check at Apache Lounge Forum had revealed to me the true culprit. After doing all the suggestion, my Apache is run on again. Hahaha….yup, newest really doesn’t translated to greatest in someway afterall. Up to the time when I’m writing this, there is no official solution from php.net, so the solution is okay for the time being I guess. Okay, some tip for sharing, if you don’t want to contaminate your Window’s system32 folder with php.ini or all necessary .dll files, here how to do it.

1. Go to Control Panel>System (shortcut key: WinFlag + Pause/Break). Then locate the Advance tab & down below, click the Environment Variables button.
2. In the System Variables section, locate the variable names Path. Double click on it, and go to the end of the line in Variable Value section.
3. At the end of the line, add this value (including the semicolon) ;C:\php. Now, don’t just copy and paste. Your value is according to where you extract your php binary (or simply said where your actual php.ini resides). If you extract it to let say “C:\php514“, then the value is ;C:\php514. Get it?
4. Next, create a new variable called PHPRC and put the same value as above step but this time without the semicolon.

Ok, that’s it. But, do note that this is not a must, just a self preferences. Although this is not a guide or tutorial in any way, don’t hesitate to contact me if there are any problem. Depends on my condition, I’m willingly to help. Till next time, cau. Oh, I forgot to explain what WAMP is. Just go here. I only will end up copy and paste the whole stuff if I try to explain the meaning. Also, I’m trying a new technique of writing here which is “explaination at the end of the post” (just joking)