install localy window xp

I’ve recommended this guide in the past to install Apache, MySQL and PHP as individual applications on windows XP.
http://oss.segetech.com/wamp.html

While I can’t say for certain that this statement concerning PHP still holds true with more recent versions of the installer; “PHP for Windows must be installed from the zip package, not using the installer because the installer does not work correctly when setting up the configuration files”, I do remember the instructions being short, sweet and very accurate. I imagine it’s still a good reference. Worth a read, even if you don’t try it.