Setup PHP for the first time

I am new to PHP, learning, understanding how to install PHP on my computer...XP home , or professional...both have service pack -3:
Using:
http://www.w3schools.com/PHP/DEfaULT.asP
as my guide.
1. Install PHP...read manual...have some basic understanding of the install process.
2. when installing PHP 5.2.8...select ISS CGI for web server ?
3. Install server ISS-7 (Windows Server R2 Beta
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
...Install (7000.0.081212-1400_server_en-us-GB1SXFRE_EN_DVD.iso) ?


Now what?
Is there a PHP coding program ?

Am I close to having PHP server installed?

Correction: Don't need MS 2008 server ?
Apache Server ?
http://www.w3schools.com/PHP/php_install.asp

If I was you I would download and install wampserver. You can find it here . Some may say that it is better to install it yourself but it is better to get an understanding of how it works first. WAMP is your all in one Windows, Apache, Mysql, PHP, hence the name lol. Included in wamp is a very useful tool called phpmyadmin. So I would suggest going that route. Once you have a better understanding of what everything is or how it works then you can go back and install it from scratch.

As far as a php coding program goes, I personally like dreamweaver. It does the highlighting of the code really well like visual studio does for visual basic. Dreamweaver however is not free so you may want to google php editor and find one that you like that is. I think that zend has an editor you may try their website.

Another note. I would check out http://ww.tizag.com. There are some really good examples on there. If you need anything else feel free to ask.

Thanks, Installing WampServer, then looking for a PHP editor

You could always download the trial for dreamweaver too if you wanted to see what it was like.

There is no default php editor like there is for VB6, VB.net, ASP.net, etc.

It all depends on how you can work. Do you need color syntax highlighting? NotePad++ is great as it is very basic, and has syntax highlighting.