Installing Apache on Windows XP

This tutorial will show you how to install Apache 2.2.11 on machine running Windows XP.

To start with we will download all of the necessary applications which can be found at the following locations:

Apache: Apache download page
File to download: Win32 Binary (MSI Installer): apache_2.2.11-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi

Create a folder on your desktop and place all downloaded files inside of it.

Now go the the C:\ drive and create a folder with a name webserver.
This will be the folder where all of our apache files will be kept.

Installing Apache
Go to your desktop to the previously created folder and double click apache_2.2.11-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi. This will start installation of Apache web server. Follow the instructions:

Fig. 01 - Click next


Fig. 02 - Select I accept terms in the licence agreement and click next.


Fig. 03 - Click next


Fig. 04 - In the first two fields type in localhost and in the last one info@localhost. We will be installing Apache as a service which starts automatically when computer starts therefore we select Port 80. If you are about to use your web server just from time to time then you may choose Port 8080. This way you would need to start Apache manually everytime you are going to use it.


Fig. 05 - Select Custom and click next.


Fig. 06 - Because we want our server to be installed in C:\webserver click Change button to change the path of the installation.


Fig. 07 - Navigate to C:\webserver and click OK. On the next screen click next.


Fig. 08 - Now you are ready to install Apache. Click Install.


Fig. 09 - Once everything is done click Finish to exit setup.


Fig. 10 - You should now see a small Apache icon in the system tray.


Fig. 11 - In your C:\webserver folder you should notice an extra Apache2 folder has been created which stores your web server files.


Fig. 12 - Now let´s see if Apache is running. Open your browser and if you were installing Apache as a service (Port 80) then type in URL http://localhost and press Enter. You should see the same page as displayed above. If you were installing Apache using Port 8080 then you would need to first start it by going to Start > All Programs > Apache HTTP Server 2.0.59 > Control Apache Server and click Start. Then in your browers´s URL type http://localhost:8080. This should open the same page in your browser.
Make sure you allow Apache access on your firewall.