This page provides detailed step by step instructions on how to install Apache on Windows 7 operating system. You’ll probably follow that up with PHP and MySQL database installations. These are detailed in other articles; please check links at the bottom of this page.
Note: Though not required for installing Apache, I suggest you check the system type – whether the Windows 7 your computer is running is 32 bit or 64 bit. This information is available at Control Panel -> System and Security -> System -> System type. We’ll need it at the time of installing MySQL.
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Installing Apache web server with the Windows .msi file
- Point your browser to the Apache download page [Slide 1].
- Scroll down to locate Win32 Binary without crypto (no mod_ssl) (MSI Installer). Click on the link beside to download the file to your computer [Slide 2]. FYI, the file that I used for this tutorial was httpd-2.2.21-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi.
- Move to the folder to which the .msi file was downloaded and double-click on it to start Apache installation [Slide 3]. If you have an anti-virus running on the system, it may display a warning in a pop-up. Ignore it and click the Run button to continue.
- Click on Next in the introductory screen [Slide 4].
- Select the I accept the terms in the license agreement radio button and hit Next [Slide 5].
- Skip the following screen by clicking Next [Slide 6].
- Enter localhost for both Network Domain and Server Name. In the Administrator’s Email Address field I generally type in webmaster@localhost. Move to the next screen [Slide 7].
- Proceed with Typical installation type, unless you want to be adventurous! [Slide 8]
- By default, Apache is installed deep inside the Program Files folder [Slide 9]. I don’t like this and prefer to change it to keep things organized and accessible on my computer. I suggest you do the same. Click the Change button, enter the folder name, C:\Apache, in the next screen [Slide 10] and click the OK button. The installation folder will now be modified [Slide 11]. Move to the next screen.
- To start installing Apache on Windows 7, click on the Install button and sit back [Slides 12 and 13].
- By the way, if the installation process is interrupted by the anti-virus program on your computer, just provide permissions for it to continue. Also, you may get to see some terminal windows which will open and close quickly on their own.
- In less than a minute, the Apache web server will be installed on your Windows 7 computer [Slide 14]. Click the Finish button.
- To confirm whether the server is running, click the small arrow in the Notification Area (Windows 7 System Tray) and note the small Apache service icon [Slide 15].
- To test the installation, open a web browser window, enter http://localhost/ in the address bar and hit the Enter key. If an “It works!” page is displayed [Slide 16], celebrate, because you now have the Apache web server running successfully on your Windows 7 computer.
For the newly initiated, this ‘It works!’ page is the index.html file located inside the htdocs folder in the Apache install directory.
Note: Didn’t get the “It works!” page? You may need to start Apache. Go to All Programs -> Apache HTTP Server 2.2 -> Control Apache Server and select either Start or Restart. The Apache server can also be started and stopped from Services under the Control Panel.
Problems – Apache doesn’t start?
On certain systems, Apache might throw a ‘Requested Operation Failed’ message. This is generally because of a conflict with another program that’s using the same server port. Though it may sound really techie and intimidating, the solution to the Requested Operation Failed! Apache error is quite simple; click that link to resolve your problem. Following are solutions to some other problems you might face.
Now that Apache has been installed on your Windows 7 computer and is running successfully, it’s time to move on to PHP and MySQL – refer the links below.
