[]

Steps

1. First you must install IIS 6.0.
2. On Windows XP, Go to your control panel > add remove
   programs. Click on "Add/Remove Windows Components". Place a check
   for "Internet Information Services".
3. On Windows Server 2003 Go to your control panel > add remove
   programs. Click on "Add/Remove Windows Components". Place a check
   for "Application Server" and click on the details button. Here you
   want to make sure there is a check for "Internet Information
   Services". You can also add ASP.net very easily here.
4. IIS 6.0 is now installed. Now you must get the correct files
   for php5. Head over to and download the
   zip package under "Windows Binaries" Do not get the
   installer! In addition, while you are here you will need to get
   the "Collection of PECL modules" also under Windows Binaries.
5. Once Downloaded extract the first file you downloaded and place
   the files in "C:/php". Extract the PECL modules to
   "C:/php/ext".
6. Rename C:/php/php.ini-recommended to C:/php/php.ini and then
   COPY it to C:/Windows
7. Open both the php.ini file you have now and uncomment
   cgi.force_redirect in php.ini and set it to 0
8. Find SMTP = localhost and make sure it is uncommented. If your
   mail server is somewhere else you may specify it here. Also set
   this line just below the above: sendmail_from =
   someone@yourhost.com
9. Change session.save_path as "session.save_path=C:/php/sessions"
   and make the directory C:/php/sessions
10. Set the line "extension_dir" as "extension_dir =
    "C:/PHP/ext".
11. Uncomment all of the following items.
    extension=php_mssql.dll
    extension=php_msql.dll
    extension=php_mysql.dll
    extension=php_mysqli.dll
    extension=php_java.dll
    extension=php_ldap.dll
    extension=php_iisfunc.dll
    extension=php_imap.dll
    extension=php_filepro.dll
    extension=php_gd2.dll
    extension=php_gettext.dll
    extension=php_dba.dll
    extension=php_dbase.dll
    extension=php_dbx.dll
    extension=php_mbstring.dll
    extension=php_pdf.dll
    extension=php_pgsql.dll
    extension=php_sockets.dll
    extension=php_xmlrpc.dll
    extension=php_xsl.dll
    extension=php_zip.dll
    The rest require more attention and is out of the scope of this
    tutorial.
    Some of the items might not be there. In that case, simply copy the
    line to your ini file.
12. Now copy all of those DLL files in C:/php/ext to
    C:/windows/system32 or add "C:/PHP;" to your Windows path.
    • To add php to your Windows
      path:
      1. Right Click on My Computer and choose properties > Advanced
         Tab > Click "Environment Variables".
      2. Now add "C:/PHP;" to the very beginning.
      3. Now go to start > run > type: regedit and click ok
      4. Add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/PHP/IniFilePath = C:/php to the
         registry. If you change your windows path instead of copying the
         dll files then you will need to restart your computer before php
         will work. Updating php is easier when you add it to your Windows
         path. So bookmark this page and go restart. Now is the best time
         since we are done with file placement.
    • Ok, you are back. Now it is time to let IIS know that you have
      php and you are going to tell IIS how to use it and when.
    • Open Internet Services Manager in your Administrative Tools in
      the start menu.
    • Right Click on Web Service Extensions located on the left hand
      side and choose Add a new web service extension. Enter in php and
      click add. Browse to C:/php/php5isapi.dll. Also set extension
      status to allow. Click ok. (this step is only needed for Windows
      2003/IIS 6, not for Windows XP/IIS 5.1.)
    • Right Click on websites and choose properties. Go to the
      Documents tab and add index.php as a start document. Go to the Home
      Directory Tab and click on Configuration. Now go to the mappings
      tab and click on add. Enter .php for the extension and enter
      "C:/php/php5isapi.dll" in the executable textbox. Make sure all
      verbs is checked and click ok, click ok, click ok. You are done
      installing it. Now you need to test it.
    • Go to C:/Inetpub/wwwroot and delete everything in there except
      for aspnet_client. Now make a new text file and name it
      phpinfo.php. Open it up with your text editor ant put this in it:
      .
    • Open a web Browser and go to http://127.0.0.1/phpinfo.php
    • If you followed all the instructions, it should work fine.

[] Tips

• If you need help, you can always use php.net for help. It is a
  great place for learning php too.
• If php does not work, try uncommenting dll file extensions in
  the php.ini files. Remember there is one in your C:/Windows
  directory and one in your C:/php directory. It will use the one the
  windows path is.
• If you add C:/PHP to your env variables, you could end up
  loading the php.ini from the C:/PHP folder (or your equiv)
• For those that prefer visual learning, provides a comprehensive
  video tutorial for installing PHP in Windows XP and 2003.

[]

Warnings

• Once running, make a copy of C:/php and keep it. You may
  need this later. It is also a good idea to do an ISS
  configuration export.

[]

Things You'll Need

• A Windows XP SP2 or Windows Server 2003 Installation