many preconfigured options are available
I would suggest using a preconfigured stack instead of manually installing. Especially on Windows.
I used to use Uniform Server, but now I am trying out XAMPP. SourceLabs and SpikeSource are two other options. I have pasted some info from our internal wiki below:
+++ [
http://www.uniformserver.com/ Uniform Server]
"The Uniform Server is the pre-packed popular web development software. It is a small WAMP package, and it is also very easy to use and setup. At the moment Uniform Server includes Apache, PHP, Perl, MySQL, PhpMyAdmin, ..."
This is the one that I (matt) have been using for over a year. The most recent version has had a lot of improvements done to it.
+++ [
http://www.apachefriends.org/xampp-en.html XAMPP] (GPL)
"XAMPP is an easy to install Apache distribution containing MySQL, PHP and Perl. XAMPP is really very easy to install and to use - just download, extract and start."
Uniform Server rated this one their highest competition.
They are part of [
http://www.apachefriends.org/en/ Apache Friends].
+++ [
http://www.sourcelabs.com/AMPstack.htm SourceLabs]
This is a local Seattle company that also has a certified stack simular to SpikeSource. The have also create [
http://swik.net/ Swik]-- "The free and open database of Open Source projects that anyone can edit."
+++ [
http://www.spikesource.com/ SpikeSource]
They have a SugarCRM Partner Stack to get SugarCRM up in running in 15 minutes.