How do I install Apache on Windows 7?

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.

Installing Apache web server with the Windows .msi file

1. Point your browser to the Apache download page [Slide 1].
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Click on Next in the introductory screen [Slide 4].
5. Select the I accept the terms in the license agreement radio button and hit Next [Slide 5].
6. Skip the following screen by clicking Next [Slide 6].
7. 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].
8. Proceed with Typical installation type, unless you want to be adventurous! [Slide 8]
9. 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.
10. To start installing Apache on Windows 7, click on the Install button and sit back [Slides 12 and 13].
11. 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.
12. In less than a minute, the Apache web server will be installed on your Windows 7 computer [Slide 14]. Click the Finish button.
13. 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].
14. 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.

• Forbidden – you don’t have permission to access file on the server: Apache error
• Apache cannot load phpapache2_2.dll file

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.

• How to install PHP on Windows 7 laptops and computers
• Install MySQL on Windows 7

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