Hi!I would like to learn php and i only the only language is html
and i would like to become a designer of web pages,and i see alot
of pages using php,am a novice i tried down loading it and i can't find it,and what does it mean to have a server on your computer.
is there any help for me?

    Hi kelt,

    Its a great idea to start learning PHP and MySQL. I will try to help you download and install all needed and basic

    components for a localhost web server. Remember, a localhost server is much like a "virtual" server (or service) which

    runs in the background. Here are the steps you will need to take to get everything working!

    This installation guide is going to be written for Microsoft Windows.

    1: You will need to download Apache Webserver. Here is the direct link:

    http://apache.mirror99.com/httpd/binaries/win32/apache_2.0.54-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi -- Make sure you install to

    "C:/program files/apache group/"
    2: Once you download it, install. Follow the onscreen display. Leave everything as default when installing.
    3: Once installation is complete, click start then run.
    4: Type in "C:/program files/apache group/apache2/conf/httpd.conf"
    5: Notepad should come up with a lot of words and commands.
    6: Add this line at the top of page:
    LoadModule php5_module "c:/Program Files/php/php5apache2.dll"
    7: Look for the word "Listen." There will be a number after it, which is usually port 80 or 8080, depending on how you

    installed.
    8: This is for the port. If you want to use this as a personal webserver, leave it (or change it) to port 80.
    9: Scroll down to DocumentRoot line. Replace it with this: DocumentRoot "C:/Web Server"
    10: Search for the line of "DirectoryIndex." There will be index.html index.htm. Add "index.php" at the end of that line

    (put a space after .htm)
    11: You will need to add application types. So search for "AddType." Add these 3 Lines on the bottom of all the

    "AddType" lines...
    AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .html
    AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps
    PHPIniDir "C:/windows"
    12: Once you are done doing all of this, save the file and close it.
    13: Go into your C: drive and create a folder called "Web Server"
    13: Now that we have the webserver installed, open up your browser and type this in:
    "http://localhost" -- If you changed the port and it is NOT port 80, then you need to do this: "http://localhost:8080" just

    replace 8080 with the port you changed.
    14: If you see the apache test page, your webserver has been installed successfully. If not, retry the steps above OR

    use the attachment which is included (You will still need to create a folder called "Web Server" in C: if you haven't done

    that already.) and replace your httpd.conf with this file.
    15: Now that you are this far, lets install PHP 🙂
    16: To download and install PHP, you will need to get this: http://us2.php.net/distributions/php-4.3.11-Win32.zip
    17: Open up your C: drive and go into Program Files
    18: Create a new folder called "PHP"
    19: Extract all files from "php-4.3.11-Win32.zip/php-4.3.11-Win32/" into your PHP folder that you just created.
    20: Now you have PHP installed.
    21: Go to start then run...
    22: Type in "c:/windows/php.ini"
    23: scroll down until you find this: ";extension=php_mysql.dll" and take the semi-colon off so that it looks like

    "extension=php_mysql.dll"
    24: Save and close php.ini.
    25: There will be an icon by your system tray that has a red feather with a white circle. Inside the white circle should

    be a green arrow pointing right.
    26: Click on the arrow (single, left mouse click) and select Apache2 -> Restart.
    27: Wait for a couple of seconds and then go back to your browser: Type in "http://localhost" or "http://localhost:8080"

    -- Once again, replace 8080 with the port you have specified when you installed apache2.
    28: If you see an empty directory again, apache server and PHP has successfully been installed.
    29: Now, lets install MySQL.
    30: We will start off installing mysql by downloading and installing from:

    http://mysql.binarycompass.org/Downloads/MySQL-4.1/mysql-essential-4.1.12a-win32.msi
    31: Once you downloaded, open it to install MySQL server. Follow all the onscreen display questions.
    32: When you are installing, leave everything for its default value.
    33: You will get to a phase in which it asks for you to create a password for "root"
    34: Type in your password in both boxes and continue the installation.
    35: Once this installation is done, MySQL will be installed.

    Conclusion: If everything has gone well, and you made it this far, Apache 2, PHP, and MySQL has been successfully

    installed. If not, then use this ZIP file attached to help guide you. Have fun! -Robert.

    Attachment: http://www.yuckfoo.net/robert/Apache%202,%20PHP,%20and%20MySQL.zip

      12 days later

      Hi and thanks for this excellent forum!

      I will try to follow your instructions. I already have many php files uploaded on my site by someone else but I'd like to learn the procedure by myself. I am a total ignorant so please bear with me..

      I'm in the process of installing Apache and I am asked for "my server's information". Who's my server? (!) they're asking for the server's name, network domain and email - is this info about my site or what

      I'm probably asking a stupid question, point is I'm stuck right from the start..

      Thank you
      Maria


        http://php.net/tut.php - A simple tutorial in PHP
        http://www.zend.com/php/beginners/index.php - For Absolute Beginners

        These 2 links are topclass introductions!!
        And they come from the VERY source, the heart, where they make PHP.

        Greetings from Sweden and
        /halojoy

        Now dont be surprised! He was once a beginner, trying to learn a new language
        The progamming language of PHP.
        Dont despair, it is easier than Java,
        and no problem when you are young ( children and younsters learn languages very fast ... )

        🙂

          Apache2Triad is a very nice, self installing package with a nice control panel, http://apache2triad.net
          It installs ans configures Apache, PHP, Mysql as well as a mail server (Xmail).

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