Check if i can use mod_write

[rossh]

Hi i wanted to know if i can use mod_rewrite on my server.  The site i maintain is in a subdirectory on the server and when i tried to use the following code in .htaccess it gave me a 500 internal server error

RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule !\.(gif|jpg|png|css)$ /your_web_root/index.php

Are there any pitfall from the admin giving me access to mod_rewite?

Thanks

Ross

[rossh]

I can see in php.ini that mod_rewrite is lodaded under the section, Loaded Modules