It took me weeks of research and frustration to get the above working in Vista, so I thought I would save others the pain. This is what I did to get it to work:
I started with a clean install of Windows vista ultimate >
Download and install apache2triad1.5.4.exe from http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=93507
then Download and install
http://www.apache.org/dist/httpd/binaries/win32/apache_2.2.4-win32-x86-o...
ensure you alter the install directory to c:/apache2triad (or whatever you chose in the first install)

You will get a Security warning about apache http server > say [Unblock]
finish install
small error message > [ok]
delete the shortcut [Monitor Apache Servers] in the all programs/start folder
reboot

IE > http://localhost/ >yellow bar > enable intranet settings

You should now find you can go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin and create a new empty database and then put a new instance of Drupal in c:/apache2triad/htdocs, then browse to that directory, give it dbname/username and password
and be up and running

Comments

karna’s picture

Not as elegant, but you can also start apache manually from the command prompt:

c:\> httpd

and leave the command prompt open.

--
F.J. Jungen
www.boria.nl

aesedai’s picture

Thanks so much for your comment! I'm working through the beginning of the Drupal 6 book and immediately had a problem with this

Thanks for saving my hair!

Maia

BDS’s picture

Thanks for the info! Combined with this link, I was able to successfully install on Windows Vista Ultimate:
http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2008/03/11/installing-and-using-drupa...

miriam_e’s picture

thanks very very much!......I was getting crazy.

It works!!

markh_’s picture

I came across a similar problem on Windows 7 and I found the only way to install Apache and MySQL was to log in as administrator and install them from that account. To enable administrator account run the command prompt in administrator mode and type:

NET USER ADMINISTRATOR /ACTIVE:YES