How to install PHP on IIS7 (RC1)

Thanks to some small tweaks we made in RC1, it is now easier than EVER to get PHP working on IIS.  Here is a step-by-step guide:

1) Download PHP from http://www.php.net/downloads.php.  I get the zip package because I think it is just as easy, and gives me control over setup.

2) Unzip the php...zip file to your drive.  I usually unzip it to C:\php

3) Copy the c:\php\php.ini-dist file to c:\windows\php.ini.  Tweak it as needed.

4) Install IIS7, making sure you install the ISAPI Extension component (for PHP-ISAPI - which is what I use) or the CGI component (if you prefer CGI)

5) Open the IIS Manager (C:\windows\system32\inetsrv\inetmgr.exe

6) Click on "Handler Mappings"

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7) Click on the "Add Script Map" task on the right (in blue):

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8) Fill in the dialog box like this:

9) Pause to enjoy this handy dialog box that I had added late in RC1 just for you, then click "yes"

If you click "Yes" it will automatically register this ISAPI /CGI with the extension restriction list - the feature we added in IIS6 to prevent unauthorized executables from running on the server.  This saves time, and considering the fact that you're adding the scriptmap, it's a safe bet you want it to run. :)

10) go to your C:\inetpub\wwwroot directory and create a test.php page.  You can use the simple

<?  phpInfo()  ?>

function to test if PHP is working correctly. 

Enjoy!