Prior installing Apache it’s necessary to get its executable from:

Apache.org

On entering the URL into the Browser’s address bar and clicking Go or pressing the Enter key the page as shown in diagram 1 will be rendered in the Browser.

Diagram 1.

When Apache’s home page loads take a look at its right hand side and locate the link HTTP Server. On click of the HTTP server link the page as shown in diagram 2 is rendered in the Browser.

Diagram 2.

Locate the Download link in the Apache 2.X.X Released as shown in diagram 2. On click of this link the page as shown in diagram 3 is rendered in the Browser.

Diagram 3.

From the Win32Source select the Apache binary that you desire. The choices available are expanded briefly in table 1.

Choices available for Apache Binaries:

Table 1.

Any of the above binaries will load successfully on Windows XP. If you want to play only with Apache then the Win 32 source should be just fine, i.e. option 1.

If you want to play with Apache and use SSL then choose Win32 Binary including OpenSSL 0.9.8h (MSI Installer) i.e. option 2

I am using Firefox as my Browser of choice, hence On click of either option 1 or 2 the file download window pops up as shown in diagram 3.

Diagram 4.

Click the File Save button and save the Apache binary chosen to an appropriate subdirectory on the hard disk.
For example c:\webserver.

Installing Apache:

Navigate to the previously created folder (c:\webserver) and double click the Apache executable file in that folder. This will start the installation of Apache web server on the computer. Simply follow the instructions shown by the installer:

The first screen that renders in the Browser On click of Apache’s executable is as shown in diagram 5.

Diagram 5.

Click Next

Select ‘I accept terms in the license agreement’ radio button as shown in diagram 6. Click Next.

Diagram 6.

Click Next.

The screen as shown in diagram 7 renders in the Browser.

Diagram 7.

Click Next. The screen as shown in diagram 8 renders in the Browser

Diagram 8.

In the Network Domain text box type in localhost

In the Server Name text box type in localhost

In the Administrators Email Address text box type in a legitimate Email address to which Apache can send messages to. We’ve used info@localhost. We have a mail box on the hosting server with the same name. Click Next. The screen as shown in diagram 9 is rendered in the Browser.

Diagram 9.

Select Custom and click Next. The screen as shown in diagram 10 is rendered in the Browser

Diagram 10.

Because we want our server to be installed in c:\webserver click Change to change inform Apache’s installer where you want Apache’s installation to be done. The screen as shown in diagram 11 is rendered in the Browser.

Diagram 11.

Navigate to C:\webserver and then click OK. The screen as shown in diagram 12 is rendered in the Browser. Click Next.

Diagram 12.

Apache’s installer has collected all the information it needs to successfully install Apache on the computer. Click Next to begin the Apache’s install process. After the install process completes the screen as shown in diagram 13 is rendered in the Browser indicating that Apache has been successfully installed on the computer.

Diagram 13.

Click Finish to complete Apache’s install process. You should notice a small icon in the system tray as shown in diagram 14.

Diagram 14.

Testing Apache’s Installation

Type in the URL http://localhost in the Browser’s address bar and press Go or Enter. The screen as shown in diagram 15 should render in the Browser indicating that Apache has been installed correctly.

Diagram 15.

Apache has been installed successfully and is running perfectly on your computer