WSOD when creating local development environment

Hello.

While trying to create a local development environment as per

Drupal.Org Local Install Guide for Redesign Implementers
http://groups.drupal.org/node/56788

i got a WSOD.

here's the steps i took to debug

1 - search issue queue
http://drupal.org/project/issues?text=local+environment&projects=Drupal....

2 - put loggers in the code i.e. index.php and bootstrap.inc files and finally noticed that after 5 phases of bootstrap the code exits

function _drupal_bootstrap($phase) {

      // If there is a cached page, display it.
      if (is_object($cache)) {
        header('X-Drupal-Cache: HIT');
        drupal_page_cache_header($cache);
        // If the skipping of the bootstrap hooks is not enforced, call hook_exit.
        if ($cache_mode != CACHE_AGGRESSIVE) {
          bootstrap_invoke_all('exit');
        }
        // We are done.
        Logger::ll_function(20);
        exit;
      }

Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] entering function drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] entering function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] $phase = 0
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] leaving  function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc - 30
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] entering function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] $phase = 1
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] leaving  function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc - 30
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] entering function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] $phase = 2
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] leaving  function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc - 30
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] entering function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] $phase = 3
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] leaving  function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc - 30
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] entering function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] $phase = 4
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] leaving  function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc - 30
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] entering function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] $phase = 5
Mar 22 15:08:19  [info] leaving  function _drupal_bootstrap() in bootstrap.inc - 20

so in phase 5 the exit is happening in the code giving me a WSOD.

my local devel env is not on the internet and hence i cannop put up the url or provide access.
any help is appreciated to debug/fix the above problem.

thx.

yashesh