Testing PHP on localhost

[melon]

I'm trying to be able to test PHP on my local computer. After finding a site that suggested a way of doing it, it told me to install Apache and set it up to the localhost (127.0.0.1). All would be well, except that some computer setting is continually blocking it! I renamed the HOSTS file to something different, and, while I got all my ads back, the localhost was still blocked. Is there something I'm missing? I can't even test to see if my PHP installation is correct, until I can get the localhost to work. So what do I need to do to get it working on an XP Pro machine here?

BTW, is there any other easier way to test this than to, essentially, install all this server software? The above is all freeware, which is why it has been appealing to me.

Melon

 

[SPeedY_B]

Try this : http://www.ntfs.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25153

 

[melon]

The only question this doesn't solve is why my localhost is blocked. Any theories?

Would my cable router have anything to do with it?

Melon

 

[SPeedY_B]

Is everything blocked?

http://localhost
http://127.0.0.1
http://computername
http://your ip here

 

[melon]

Both localhost and 127.0.0.1 are blocked. The folder I've been putting stuff in is correct.

As for the computer name and computer IP, I don't know how to check those.

Melon

 

[SPeedY_B]

For the computer name his WinKey+Pause then go to the "Computer name" tab, its the "Full computer name" part.

 

[Zedric]

Maybe you're running a firewall blocking incoming requests on port 80, even on localhost?

 

[melon]

Hmm...you may have it, Zedric. I installed PHP Triad and http://localhost:1005 works, but http://localhost does not. The only problem is that I don't know what is blocking it! I don't have the XP firewall on and I doubt that my cable router would be affecting it.

I tend to think it is something software-wise, because it responds exactly the same way as if I have a blocked server in my HOSTS file. However, when I rename HOSTS to something else, all the ad servers come back, but localhost still is blocked. What else could be causing the problem?

Melon

 

[Zedric]

I does sound strange, and it's not the router. If you're not running any firewall it sounds more like some other program is hogging port 80. I think Kazaa can do that for instance.

 

[SPeedY_B]

you could try running apache on a different port (more secure this way anyway )
Change the following line in C:\apache\conf\httpd.conf

#
# Port: The port to which the standalone server listens. Certain firewall
# products must be configured before Apache can listen to a specific port.
# Other running httpd servers will also interfere with this port. Disable
# all firewall, security, and other services if you encounter problems.
# To help diagnose problems use the Windows NT command NETSTAT -a
#
Port 80