PHP 5.2.5 + Apache 2.2.8 - Something Not Working

[Torey]

Hey, all.  I'm utterly confounded.  :'(

 

I had a score of problems with Apache installation, but got it to working.  I get the "It works!" page when looking for http://localhost:8080.

 

I'm using Windows 98SE.  I'm sorry, but it's all I had.

 

I did everything according to these directions:

 

http://www.thesitewizard.com/php/install-php-5-apache-windows.shtml

 

I used the "Install PHP as a module" option.

 

Someone said that Apache would list PHP beside it in the bottom of the service monitor window, but I'm not seeing that.

 

When I go to open my browser to point to http://localhost:8080/test.php, it comes up with either a page cannot be displayed or simply a blank page.  Then sometimes it says that there's a dnserror.

 

It will load .html files just fine, but PHP will do nothing...so I'm assuming that I've messed something up.

 

I have my .php test files stored in the htdocs folder, btw, which is the root.

 

In the tutorial it was suggested to test and run a command line for "c:\php\php-cgi test.php" which I did...and it returned the following error:

Status: 404 Not Found

X-Powered-By: PHP/5.2.5

Content-Type: text/html

No Input File Specified

 

Someone please help me. What am I missing?  I'm so new to this...this is so discouraging.  It's like you have to be born knowing this stuff.  :'(

[trq]

If the reason you attempting to install the amp (Apache, mysql & php) stack is simply to learn php might I recommend you un-install whatever you've installed and simply use a preconfigured package like xampp (google it). This will setup everything you need.

 

Otherwise, as it stands, I can't be of much assistance (maybe someone else can). Your using an operating system which is over 10 years old, that is absolutely ancient in computer / technology terms. It is also one with which (even modern windows) I am not very familiar.

[PFMaBiSmAd]

While the following is not directly related to your current problems, the link you posted gives instructions to turn on the short_open_tag, magic_quotes_gpc, and register_globals settings.

 

DO NOT turn these three settings on.

 

Using short_open_tag will result in code that is not portable between server settings and is against php.net recommendations (which is why the php.ini-recommend file has these three settings turned off.)

 

Using magic_quotes_gpc will also waste your time as they have been completely eliminated in php6 and any code you write that depends on this setting will need to be re-done under php6. The reason this setting has been removed is that it does not escape all the special characters that can break a query, so any server that has this setting turned on, needs to have the escapes removed and then re-inserted using a proper function that escapes all the special characters.

 

Using register_globals, in addition to being the biggest security hole ever deliberately added to a programming language, will also waste your time as they have been completely eliminated in php6 and any code you write that depends on this setting will need to be re-done under php6.

 

I recommend you follow the instructions in this thread as closely as possible - http://www.phpfreaks.com/forums/index.php/topic,189883.0.html This is a very concise list of the Windows/Apache/php installation instructions taken from the php.net documentation.

[Torey]

Thank you for your replies! 

 

I'm sorry about the Windows usage...I have just received my Puppy Linux disc in the mail (my internet connection times out during long downloads which is why I couldn't download Xampp or WAMP).

 

I have to upgrade the memory and will be able to use Linux on that machine (finally).

 

I do have good news in that I managed to get the PHP working!  I had to create a separate php conf file in the Apache /conf folder and edit the httpd.conf.  Now it's all working and at least I can play until my computer parts get here.  Thanks a million guys.  Sorry for the trouble.