A great question

[DaveinLondon]

What is the best way to install Apache PHP and mysql.
I am running Windows XP home and use eTrust antivirus and firewall.

Is ıt best to use WAMP5
OR should I use XAMPP ?
Does this install Apache 1.3 or 2.? and which should I be using ?

Actually is it best to go for PHP5 mysql5 and Apache2
or should I stick to PHP 4 and Apache 1.3 ???

A few questions in one really :)

Thanks

[TiGGi]

IIS + ColdFusion + MS SQL
:P

[NogDog]

I've found XAMPP to be simple to install and quite effective.

As to what version of PHP, I would go for PHP5 unless you're planning on installing your code on a server which is still on 4.3 (which many - maybe a majority - still are), in which case it might be best to be on similar versions.

[Stephen Philbin]

If you have a little patience, you can just get the software from their respective sites and install them each individually. That way you can have exactly the setup you like.

I went even further and compiled everything right from the source code its self, that way I not only have the versions of software I want, but they also behave in exactly the way I want them too as well. They do everything I want them to, and nothing I don't want them to. :D

One of the best things about having them all installed individually is that if I want to update just one thing, I don't have to rip the whole lot out and re-install every single thing. If PHP just needs a little version update, I just install it right over the old one and I don't have to touch the other stuff. No idea if the same is true on Windows or not though.

[drhowarddrfine]

Yep. Especially FreeBSD where it's simply 'portupgrade apache' (or whatever) and you're done.

[pcthug]

I'm with Nog, you can't go wrong with XAMPP. Then install the version relating to your situation

[DaveinLondon]

Hi pcthug

I did the search (for code in Google)and it came up with nothing - a completely blank screen !