Problems with new Install of PHP 5.3.1 on Win2K3

[thepip3r]

PHP 5.3.1

Win 2K3-64bit/IIS 6

 

I used the MSI installer to install PHP and selected IIS6 with the non-fast IIS installer.  I've done the following actions since then:

 

-  Installed PHP to C:\PHP. 

-  Copied php.ini to C:\Windows. 

-  Created Virtual Directory for my test-site

-  Enabled default.php and index.php for the VD

-  Created an website extension for PHP pointing to the php-cgi.exe and set to Allowed

-  Restarted IISAdmin

 

Every time I access the page, http://localhost/mysite/test.php, the php files is attempted to be downloaded.  test.html runs fine but when i change it to test.php, it tries to download the php file.

 

any thoughts?

 

why is the Windows install of PHP always so problematic?  I've never had it work right "right out of the box." 

 

Edit:  I followed http://www.php.net/manual/en/install.windows.installer.msi.php and the comments.