[TUTORIAL] How To easy install Apache 2.4 and PHP 7 on Windows

The Apache HTTP Server Project itself does not provide binary releases of software, only source code. You can obtain a binary package from third-party web sites:

• ApacheHaus
• Apache Lounge

Download either the 32-bit version (httpd-2.4.20-win32-VC14.zip) or 64-bit version (httpd-2.4.20-win64-VC14.zip). Check if your Windows is 64-bit, you should always try to install 64-bit version of software. To find the OS version, you can use the msinfo32.exe. You can use this tool to gather information about your computer, to diagnose issues with your computer, or to access other tools.

To start this one, Run > type msinfo32 > hit Enter.

After you have find the right version, download the Zip file and then extract the file to a directory called C:\Apache24

Before start the Apache server, if you want change the listen port to 8181

Open C:\Apache24\conf\httpd.conf file in your text editor. Find this line:

Listen 80 

and change it

Listen 8181

After the change, save it and you are ready to start the apache web server.

Open the Command Prompt as Administrator and change to the bin sub-directory

C:\Apache24\bin

Type httpd.exe and press Enter.

If you get an error dialog stating that MSVCR140.dll is missing, you’ll need to install the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015. (Select vc_redist.x64.exe if your Windows is 64-bit)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48145

Now open the browser and type http://localhost:8181 to see the demo web site up and running.

 Install PHP 7 on Windows

PHP 7, a major update to the server-side web development language PHP. Download the VC14 x64 Thread Safe (2016-Apr-29 00:38:19) zip file (if you downloaded the 32 bit version of Apache then download PHP x86, don't mix versions).

http://windows.php.net/download/

Create a folder named "php7" then extract the file php-7.0.6-Win32-VC14-x64.zip into the folder and move it to C:\

Configure Apache to use PHP

Open the Apache Configuration file C:\Apache24\conf\httpd.conf
Copy the following lines on the top of the file:

• AddHandler application/x-httpd-php .php 
• AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .html 
• LoadModule php7_module "c:/php7/php7apache2_4.dll" 
• PHPIniDir "c:/php7" 

In the section <IfModule dir_module> add the line index.php and place it before index.html

<IfModule dir_module>
    DirectoryIndex index.php index.html
</IfModule> 

Save all. Now rename the file C:\php7\php.ini-development to C:\php7\php.ini

Enabling mod_rewrite for URL rewriting

Open the Apache Configuration file C:\Apache24\conf\httpd.conf
Find the line #LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so and remove the hash ‘#’
Find any additional occurrences of the line "AllowOverride None" and change it to "AllowOverride All"

Configuring PHP with MySQL

Edit the php.ini file and uncomment the extension directory. Remove the ";" to uncomment:

; Directory in which the loadable extensions (modules) reside.
; http://php.net/extension-dir
; extension_dir = "./"
; On windows:
extension_dir = "ext"

Uncomment the following lines, this will enable the starting of the MySQL modules

extension=php_mysqli.dll
extension=php_pdo_mysql.dll

and these other lines if you use the installation in a development environment

extension=php_curl.dll
extension=php_fileinfo.dll
extension=php_gd2.dll
extension=php_mbstring.dll
extension=php_openssl.dll
 

Uncomment the error_log to enable file logging

; Log errors to specified file. PHP's default behavior is to leave this value
; empty.
; http://php.net/error-log
; Example:
error_log = c:\php7\php_errors.log

Save the file changes.

IMPORTANT! Set your PATH for Windows to find PHP

• Right-click on "My Computer"
• Properties 
• Advanced Tab > Environment Variables 
• Under System variables, scroll down to find "Path", select and click on Edit.
• Add path to your php install on the end (make sure to precede with semi-colon ";"). Example: ";C:\php7"
•  Click Okay.

How to check if php is installed

Create the following text file C:\Apache24\htdocs\phpinfo.php

Restart Apache and then go to your browser and write http://localhost:8181/phpinfo.php this page should show the details of your PHP installation.

Register Apache Service

If you want to register Apache as a Windows Service, open a command prompt and type:

C:\Apache24\bin\httpd -k install 

If do not want Apache starting automatically at start-up/reboot type:

C:\> sc config Apache2.4 start= demand