php configuration problem?

I just setup my server and was testing a very simple script

filename: test.php

<?php
echo $repeat;
?>

nothing shows.

I uploaded this file to a web host and it works. is there something I need to configure in the php.ini to get this to work?

You probably have register_globals off. It's default off in newest versions. Try doing this instead

<?php 
echo $_GET['repeat']; 
?>

It's best to try to code with register_globals off. Read more about it here

so any lines that is trying to call up something like $repeat must be like $_GET['repeat'] ?

Either that, or you turn on register_globals.