Quick Start Guide

Configuring your system (PHP) 305
With PHP 5, the extension that allows PHP to work with a MySQL
database server is not installed or enabled by default by the Windows
installer. You must install and enable it manually.
To install PHP 5 on a Windows system:
1. If applicable, log into your Windows system using the Administrator
account.
2. Download the Windows PHP 5.x installer from the PHP website at
www.php.net/downloads.php.
3. Double-click the installer file you downloaded and follow the onscreen
installation instructions.
4. After PHP is successfully installed, download the Windows PHP 5.x zip
package from the PHP website at www.php.net/downloads.php, and
then extract the package in a temporary folder on your hard disk.
The zip package contains the extension you need to work with
MySQL.
5. In the temporary folder containing the unzipped files, locate the folder
called ext and copy it to the C:\PHP\ folder.
The ext folder contains common PHP extensions, including the
MySQL extension.
6. In the C:\Windows folder, locate the file called php.ini and open it in
Notepad.
You must edit this file to enable the MySQL extension.
7. Find the following line in the php.ini file:
extension_dir = "./"
This line specifies where PHP looks for extensions.
8. Edit the line as follows:
extension_dir = "C:\PHP\ext\"
9. Find the following line in the php.ini file:
;extension=php_mysql.dll
The semicolon (;) at the start of the line tells PHP to ignore the line.
10. Delete the semicolon at the start of the line to enable the extension.
extension=php_mysql.dll
11. Save and close the php.ini file.
TIP
Don’t omit the final
slash.