problem installing apache 2.0

[isobel]

I'm a relative newbie to all this and I've encountered a problem. I'm teaching myself apache/php/mysql, and had all the required programs running on my PC. But I got a virus a few weeks back and decided the best solution was to format the HD and start again. Which I have done. But now I'm having to reinstall the above programs and - unsurprisingly - it's not working in a straightforward manner this time round!

I've installed apache, and get the command box when I start it up. However when I try to access http://localhost:8080 in my browser it asks if I want to connect to the net. When I say no, I get the 'page can't be displayed' error message. However when I *am* online I can get the correct apache page in my browser from localhost.

This can't be right though, and I'm sure when I had it running before I didn't have to be connected to the net to run apache. Am I right or wrong with this? Do I need to be connected? Is there something I need to modify so I can run it offline?

[VGR]

hummmm I see various very minor reasons for this to happen.

could you try this first ? thanks

http://127.0.0.1:8080/

[isobel]

Hi, thanks for the reply, sorry it's taken me a while to post again - too busy with normal work!

I tried using that, still doesn't work unless I'm online.
The only page (from my ultra basic stuff) so far which does work when offline is the phpinfo.php page. Everything else wants me to be connected to the net in order to work....

[VGR]

could you change the "listen" in httpd.conf to 80 or to a value <>8080 ? and then try again with http://127.0.0.1/ (don't forget the trailing slash). If it works ok, try without the trailing slash.

are you at "bindaddress *" ?

[isobel]

I changed the 'listen' to 80 and tried the url, still had the same problem. I also found that with it set to 80 I couldn't even get the phpinfo.php page to come up offline.

are you at "bindaddress *" ?

sorry, being a newbie to all this I don't know what you mean!

[VGR]

nevermind (it is in httpd.conf, if you wwant to know, and usually is ok)

I wonder if you are not using Internet Excploder with the settings "always ask to connect to the internet" or the like. Depending on your network connection, you should perhaps check "never establish a connection" or "always connected".

I hope you jnow where to search (tools, options, connection, LAN settings and then choose a radio button)

[isobel]

aha! When I change it to 'never dial a connection' it works! How weird. I dont' really understand because when I had it all set up on my PC before I reformatted the HD and had to reinstall I had it set to dial the internet and things worked OK.

Never mind, it's a solution that works so I'll go with it!

Thanks :o)

[VGR]

happy it works as it should (windobe...)

it's not "one solution", it's THE solution. IE/outlook (never use them! Use Thunderbird and Firefox!) are by default configured to establish a connection as if you were using a modem. I ***think*** you installed windaube and used "modem connection" when the network wizzard came to the screen ;-)

I'm not ***sure*** Firefox will try to establish a network connection when using localhost or 127.0.0.1 because of better name resolution, but again I'm not sure. establishing a real connection when you connect to the outside world makes sense.