Installing, configuring and making everything work

[scottintexas]

I am currently running PHP 4.something on a Windows XP System.  I can't really tell because I'm not sure what is what.  There is a PHP_WIN, a PHP script interpreter and a whole lot of other files.  All this was installed using Firepages phpdev5.  My problem is that I want to install PHP 5.  So I went to the PHP web site, downloaded files, unzipped and "installed" them.  I followed a tutorial on "How to manually install PHP".  It didn't work and it also trashed my working stuff.  I had to re-install the phpdev5 to clean up the mess.  I have been looking at all the files and trying to figure out the relationship between the Apache httpd.conf and the PHP.ini files.  So I need to get a better understanding so I can put it together without trashing a working thing.  Eventually I will remove the other and have a nice tight working server parsing PHP pages. 

1) What kind of hidden files are there that aren't easily found without knowing where to look?

2) Is there anything in the registry that needs to be changed?

3) What about the PHP.INI file? Does it HAVE to be in the Windows directory?  The current one is buried in a subdirectory but there was also one in C:/Windows.  I don't know which one is being used.

4) How does PHP work?  Apache apparently passes stuff to it and it does its thing.  But is it being passed to php_win or the php interpreter or what?

No where on the web have I found a clear explanation of this.

 

Sorry for the VERY verbose post, but I wanted everyone reading this to have as much background as possible.

[wildteen88]

As you are using a pre-configured AMP setup it is usually not easy to to upgrade a certain component due to how everything is setup. Normally with these pre-configured AMP setups they tend to place files all over the place.

 

I personally prefer to install Apache, MySQL and PHP manually that way when you want to upgrade a component such as PHP. All you need to do is go to p[hp.net and download the zipped binaries package for the version you want and then extracting the contents of the zip to where PHP is installed - making sure you overwrite all existing files. Job done PHP is now upgraded. However if you are going from PHP4 to PHP5 then you may need to modify Apaches configuration, such as the LoadModule line (if PHP is setup as an Apache Module) or the ScriptAlias line (if PHP is set as CGI).

 

Also if you install AMP manually you'll get the added benefit of how x and y work together such as Apache and PHP or MySQL and PHP etc.

[scottintexas]

I am pretty certain I am using php as an apache module.  I have the httpd.conf set up as well as I understand.  But you mentioned the loadmodule line so I'll check that.

 

Thanks for your response.