Install Apache on Windows Vista

Installing Apache under Windows XP was trivial. Not so, under Vista.

Creation of the Apache service fails. The conf directory can’t be set up by the installer,

probably due to permission problems.

I finally got it working with the following procedure. I used the latest version of Apache (2.2.4) and Windows Vista Home Premium.

1. (most imp )Uninstall any previous installations of Apache Web server (Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features).
2. Stop any other services (like IIS) that use port 80 (if you still want to use IIS, give it another port). If you’re running Skype you have to uncheck Advanced Options > Connection: Use Port 80 and 443 as alternatives (Thanks Jacob!)
3. Stop User Account Control (UAC). (This isn’t absolutely necessary, but there will be less nagging if you do.)
4. 
   
5. Get the most recent version of the apache Win32 binaries from http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi and put it on your desktop. Rename it to apache (without changing the .msi extension, if that’s showing).
6. Start > All Programs > Accessories
7. Right-Click “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as Administrator”
8. Manually remove directories containing previous apache installations (like C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation…)
9. Change to your desktop folder directory (At the prompt type: cd desktop)
10. At the prompt, type: msiexec /i apache.msi
11. Run through the Apache installer. I’m running a development server, so I left the domain and computer name blank. You must specify an email address, though. Choose the default server on port 80 for all users option. Change the installation directory to c:\apache.
12. Reboot.
13. Browse to http://localhost. It should say “It works!” If it doesn’t, check your httpd.conf file by going to All Programs > Apache HTTP Server 2.2.x > Configure Apache Server > Test Configuration. Follow the directions for fixing the configuration file.
14. You can turn UAC back on, if you like that sort of thing. To each his own!